Pasadena, L.A. Shows Take a Look at the ’92 Election

With the city still inundated with exhibitions examining the aftermath of the Rodney G. King verdict and the quincentennial of Columbus’ voyage to America, another political topic, the 1992 election, enters the arena in shows opening next week at Pasadena’s Armory Center for the Arts and the downtown L.A. Center for Photographic Studies.

In “Beyond the Politics of Exclusion Toward an Art of Inclusion,” Los Angeles conceptual artists Ruth Honegger and Marino Pascal present photos and statements from the presidential candidates--and not just Bill Clinton and George Bush. The show includes entries from 104 of the 254 candidates registered with the Federal Elections Commission and attempts to turn the tables on candidates who have made art into a political subject. It opens at the Armory next Sunday through Dec. 23.

At LACPS, area visual artists are invited to create and deliver (by hand, mail or fax) photography-based artworks and objects addressing the current political climate and upcoming election for an open exhibition titled “Four (More) Years Of . . . ?” Works must be received by Friday and be no larger than 20-by-24 inches. The works will be displayed salon style, beginning Oct. 15. Information: (213) 482-3566.

GALLERIES: Paul Kopeikin is moving his 1-year-old photography gallery a few blocks south on La Brea Avenue to the ART:170 building that houses the Jan Baum and Ovsey galleries. Kopeikin--who will take over the space recently vacated by the defunct Parker/Mark Gallery--will celebrate both his anniversary and the move with a reception (featuring photographs by Nicholas Nixon) at the new site on Oct. 17, from 3-5 p.m. The site’s first opening, with the work of Marcia Lippman, will be on Oct. 23. Information: (213) 876-7033.

RAIL ART: An inside look at public art projects from Long Beach MetroRail stations is presented in “From Studio to Station: Public Art on the Metro Blue Line,” an exhibition of drawings, models and other design materials at the FHP Hippodrome Gallery through Nov. 21. Included are designs by Jacqueline Dreager, whose “Great Gathering Place” will be dedicated at the Wardlow Station on Monday at 9:30 a.m., as well as Terry Braunstein, Ann Preston, Patrick Mohr, Jim Isermann, June Edmonds, Joe Lewis and Paul Tzanetopoulos. The show is part of “October Is Arts Month,” a citywide celebration of the arts in Long Beach that includes exhibitions, performing arts programs and lectures. Information: (310) 499-7777.

ACQUISITIONS: The L.A. County Museum of Art has purchased nine cast bronze objects by Torrance-based artist Nick Agid. Agid uses found objects such as figurines and knickknacks sold in souvenir shops, and inscribes them with adages or famous quotes related to their subjects. The acquisition was funded by LACMA’s Marvin B. Meyer Family Endowment, which was established in 1989 to support the yearly purchase of work by a local emerging artist. Agid’s objects, grouped under the title “Brazen Aphorisms,” are currently on view at the B-1 Gallery in Santa Monica through next Sunday.

MAPPLETHORPE PROGRAM: The late artist Robert Mapplethorpe and his impact on public arts funding is the subject of “Probing the Controversial,” an Oct. 17 UCLA Extension lecture. More than 200 slides, including all the images in the “X Portfolio” exhibition, which sparked the NEA funding debate, will be shown. Information: (310) 206-1423.

EVENTS: “The 20th Century, a Theatre Piece by George Herms” will be performed at Barnsdall’s Gallery Theatre at 8 p.m. on Oct. 17. The event is held in conjunction with Herms’ retrospective at the Municipal Art Gallery. Information: (213) 485-4581.

Michelle Clinton, Luis Alfaro, Wanda Coleman, Linda Albertano and Sandra Tsing Loh are among the artists scheduled for “Word/L.A., An Oral Response to the Rodney King Violence,” at 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at Barnsdall’s Gallery Theatre. The program is free. Information: (213) 485-4581.

Jacki Apple, Hye Sook, Liz Young and Sergio Zenteno are in “Order/Disorder: An Evening of Performances and Readings by Breaking Barriers Artists,” on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. The free program is in conjunction with the museum’s current show responding to the Rodney G. King verdicts. Information: (310) 399-0433.

PUBLICATION PARTY: A book signing for Craig Cowan’s “Concrete Abstractions: Details of Hollyhock House, Los Angeles, California,” featuring photographic details of the famous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed residence, at Barnsdall Art Park, will be held Oct. 18 from 4-8 p.m. at La Brea Avenue’s Couturier Gallery. The book’s 17 platinum/palladium prints will be on view during the event. Information: (213) 933-5557.

BENEFITS: LACE’s 13th Annual Benefit Art Auction, including a 3 p.m. “High Tea” with bidding beginning at 4:30, takes place Oct. 18. A preview reception will be held this Friday from 7-9 p.m., with a presentation by Edward Leffingwell and Merry Norris at 7:30, and the works will be on view at LACE through Oct. 17. Artists include Fred Fehlau, Karen Finley, Gronk, Mike Kelley, Nobuho Nagasawa, Manuel Ocampo, Raymond Pettibon, Adrian Saxe, Alexis Smith, May Sun and Jeffrey Vallance. Tickets are $45. Reservations: (213) 624-5650.

CONFERENCE: “Power on Our Own Terms,” the third annual Southern California Women’s Caucus for Art conference, is Saturday at Cal Poly Pomona. The 8 a.m.-5 p.m. program includes panels on “Power and Exposure,” “Funding for Women in the Arts” and “Art as a Tool for Change.” Fees are $45. Information: (714) 869-2222.