There’s nothing we like better than curating unique experiences. Pop ups are about experiences, and at Openhouse Gallery, we’re always working on making pop ups into an art form. Not the dusty easel-and-paint type of art – the landscape art that wraps you in an artistic experience. Nature does a pretty good job at that – from the snow-capped Rocky Mountains to the endless Atlantic beaches – so for the PULSE Contemporary Art Fair in Los Angeles, we decided to mimic her.
PULSE invited us to curate the VIP Lounge at its inaugural LA fair where they feature emerging contemporary artists. PULSE, which has made a name for itself in New York and Miami is breaking into LA market for the first time. Sixty art galleries from around the world are showcasing the upstarts and the art fair includes Pulse Projects’ large sculptures, installations and performances; videos curated by Todd D. Smith, Marina Fokidis, Magde Gonzalez-Mora, Bill Arning and Christopher Eamon.
Instead of plastering the walls with Openhouse Gallery logos and strewing swag bags everywhere, we recreated a park with the help of Cali-based companies NatureMaker and Fleuretica. Friday through Monday, the VIP Lounge will be decked out with beautiful grass, park benches, bird houses, flower arrangements and a central tree by NatureMaker that looks like a CGI creation from Lord of the Rings.
We took a different take on a PULSE VIP Lounge by creating a pop-up park with NatureMaker and Fleuretica.
The VIP Lounge is not just a pleasant, artistic way to connect with PULSE VIPS and gallerists, it’s a preview of our Pop-Up Park at Openhouse Gallery. The Pop-Up Park enters its second year here (read about last year’s park) and runs from Dec. 5-Feb. 15.
Photos by Aamina Ganser.
Greg Spielberg | September 29 2011
greg@openhousegallery.org
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Loving the open PULSE VIP Lounge design which allows viewers to peek in and guests to peek out.
The PULSE Contemporary Art Fair features 60 galleries from across the globe.
A PULSEr takes a much-needed break on set-up day, Thursday at PULSE.
Pop-up urban landscape.
POPsicles by Dean Project.
TV's pop-culture flow chart from Melrose Place to Freddy Krueger.
What's Pain backwards? Pleasure.
Behind the scenes, art is a lot of hard work.
Artist statement: The Southern Hemisphere is primarily comprised of Grateful Dead fans.
An absolutely tremendous sculpture at the PULSE Contemporary Art Fair in Los Angeles.
A group of artists does the Fathead thing but with a bit more flair.
Thank you, NatureMaker + Fleuretica, for helping us provide a twist on the typical VIP lounge!
Check out Aamina’s installation video too!