Galleries Lose Out to Recession, Motherhood

The local gallery community suffered several blows this week when four respected galleries decided to close, either permanently or temporarily.

Perhaps the biggest loss is Santa Monica’s Pence Gallery, which will close Feb. 1 after five years of showing such artists as Sabina Ott, Nelsen Valentine, Cam Slocum and Tom Knechtel.

But unlike several other galleries that have blamed their recent closures on the economy, owner Putter Pence says her decision was a purely personal one: She wants to be a full-time mother.

“It’s a bittersweet decision, but I couldn’t do both well, and this is too important to compromise,” said Pence, who is seven months pregnant. “I feel that we did do something positive for L.A. It’s been a wonderful five years, and it’s sad to see it end.”

The recession is to blame, however, for the planned April 1 closure of the local branch of New York’s Luhring Augustine Hetzler, after three years, and the demise of The Gallery at 817, a conceptual-photography gallery that opened last year.

“There’s just no money,” said Luhring Augustine Hetzler’s Melissa Chappell, who said the Santa Monica site will close upon completing its just-opened exhibition of recent works by Stephen Prina.

Chappell added that New York’s Luhring Augustine, however, “is doing all right” and will remain intact.

Already closed is La Brea Avenue’s 817, which shut its doors abruptly Jan. 11. In an after-the-fact letter to clients and supporters, owner Catherine Whyte Rhodes said she hopes to reopen when the economy picks up.

And preparing for what the gallery stresses is only a temporary closure is La Brea Avenue’s Parker/Zanic, which will remain open through Jan. 28.

“The economy is definitely a major factor,” said Dani Tull, assistant gallery director. “We’re taking a couple of months off to relocate, restructure and look at our budget. We’ll probably move into a smaller space--we’re looking at Beverly (Boulevard) or towards Santa Monica--somewhere off the beaten path.”

Tull added that one of the gallery’s owners pulled out about six months ago and that the gallery hopes to find new investors or partners before reopening.

MORE GALLERIES NEWS: In an effort to raise awareness of galleries that have remained in Los Angeles and not followed the trend to Santa Monica, 30 Beverly Hills, Hollywood, downtown, La Cienega and Wilshire Center venues have banded together to form the Los Angeles Art Galleries consortium.

A main focus of the consortium will be to develop marketing tactics--such as extended evening hours, newspaper ads, banners and possibly a billboard--to increase awareness.

The group will hold a kickoff event from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 5 to launch extended Wednesday evening hours for many of the galleries. Information: (213) 933-5557.

DONATIONS: The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has announced plans for an estimated $8-million expansion in two stages over the next four years. Three major donors have already pledged $4.5 million for the project, which will provide more exhibition space for the museum’s permanent collections, as well as extra room for educational and other programs and staff members.

Phase I consists of redesign of the entryway, front approach and other existing areas, and Phase II calls for construction of a new wing in 1993 or early 1994. The exact configuration of that wing will be determined by a space study by the Santa Monica firm Stegeman and Kastner.

EVENTS: Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions pays tribute to internationally recognized male-erotic artist Tom of Finland (1920-1991) next Sunday when it turns its upstairs gallery into a “Tom of Finland World.” The 2-6 p.m. event is free and will feature a no-host bar. Information: (213) 624-5650.