17th Presence Almanac

PRESENCE ALMANAC

Seventeenth Chronicle

Curated by Elliott Desai

Cover photo by Elliott Desai

Inside Cover photo by Elliott Desai

FOR THE A DVA N C E M E N T OF ARTS & CULTURE

Four months ago, I reinvented how I want to amplify visual artists and recommend spaces and experiences.

Instead of producing videos for your entertainment, I decided to create these immersive maps as slower, more present sources of inspiration.

And as I curate this Seventeenth Chronicle, I’m thinking of those initial intentions while reviewing 12 months of travel...

So in typical Elliott Desai fashion, I completed a comprehensive audit of everywhere I’ve been this year, and the remaining features throughout 2023 will summarize Los Angeles.

Daunting... but authentic to who I am and how I navigate arts & culture.

SANTA MONICA

MELROSE HILL

Originally located in Jefferson Park, Harkawik’s LA location is now in the Melrose Hill neighborhood.

My first visit to this gallery was last November for Brad Stumpf’s solo show Shadow Plays.

I arrived on Wednesday afternoon to gaze at the city during golden hour, and then walked along the river that flows into Gwen Moore Lake.

I instinctively loved his oil paintings, and a brief conversation with Brad led to visiting his studio in Chicago at Mana Contemporary.

There are endless trails wrapping around the property and every perspective provides some of the best views of LA that I’ve ever seen.

The subjects of his paintings are sets that he builds in real life placing props and figures on a desk and inside this wooden box before adapting the scene onto a panel.

FASHION DISTRICT

I’m consistently drawn to artwork that feels like a translation of real life, so I’m also featuring Stephanie H. Shih’s solo show American Gothic.

These ceramic pieces simply spark The city of Santa Monica has a lot to joy and encourage a reverence for offer, but if you’re not dining in one of everyday objects around us. the restaurants or sitting directly on the beach, where can you go?

It seemed impossible that the only green space was a strip of land along Ocean Avenue, and then I discovered Tongva Park.

At the end of 3rd Street Promenade, near the Metro E Line, and on Main Street across from City Hall is six acres for a beautiful afternoon.

I love this park as an escape from the busy corner of tourists at the pier, and for a more elevated view of the sun setting across the Pacific Ocean.

But after peeling off La Cienega Blvd and continuing along the path past the visitor center, you will reach Kenneth Hahn View Point.

I attended a group show at Nicodim Gallery this past spring and seeing a variety of styles in bright showrooms always makes me feel like I’m at the epicenter of creativity.

Detailed photos may not evoke that same sense of wonder, but I hope flipping through these pages still sparks an uplifted feeling.

LADERA HEIGHTS

My favorite pieces were made by Joshua Hagler, Hugo Wilson and Nicola Samorì.

Located at the border of Baldwin Hills and Culver City is the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area.

Published November 13 at 1:27 AM

I’ve seen photos of Los Angeles that feature snow capped mountains, the downtown skyline and neighborhood streets, but assumed this image was superimposed in photoshop or only available from a helicopter.

Sincerely, Elliott

SANTA MONICA

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

MELROSE HILL

© Brad Stumpf | Beating in Sync, 2022 Shadow Plays

Courtesy of Harkawik

© Brad Stumpf | Can I Squeeze You Until Our Bones Fuse, 2020 Shadow Plays

Courtesy of Harkawik

© Brad Stumpf | I Have Your Fingers in My Fingers, 2020 Shadow Plays

Courtesy of Harkawik

© Brad Stumpf | To Be Eclipsed By You, 2020 Shadow Plays

Courtesy Harkawik Photo by of Elliott Desai

© Stephanie H. Shih | Bananaphone, 2023 American Gothic

Courtesy of Harkawik

© Stephanie H. Shih | Reference Materials, 2023 American Gothic

Courtesy of Harkawik

© Stephanie H. Shih | White Wale, 2023 American Gothic

Courtesy of Harkawik

LADERA HEIGHTS

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

FASHION DISTRICT

© Joshua Hagler | I Would Not Speak of the Mountain (Peradam), 2022

Courtesy of Nicodim Gallery

© Hugo Wilson | Tacit, 2022

Courtesy of Nicodim Gallery

© Hugo Wilson | Bind, 2023

Courtesy of Nicodim Gallery

© Nicola Samorì | Dirty Dogs, 2023

Courtesy of Nicodim Gallery

© Nicola Samorì | Santiera II, 2023

Courtesy of Nicodim Gallery

SANTA MONICA

MELROSE HILL

Tongva Park

Brad Stumpf

1685 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Shadow Plays November 18, 2022 - January 20, 2023 harkawik.com/stumpf-shadow

Stephanie H. Shih

American Gothic September 16 - October 14, 2023 harkawik.com/shih-gothic

Harkawik 5538 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038 harkawik.com

LADERA HEIGHTS

FASHION DISTRICT

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

Joshua Hagler

4100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90056 parks.lacounty.gov/kenneth-hahnstate-recreation-area

April 8 - May 13, 2023 nicodimgallery.com/artists/joshua-hagler-1

Hugo Wilson

April 8 - May 13, 2023 nicodimgallery.com/artists/hugo-wilson

Nicola Samorì

April 8 - May 13, 2023

Nicodim Gallery Los Angeles 1700 S Santa Fe Avenue, #160, Los Angeles, CA 90021 nicodimgallery.com

November 13 at 1:27 AM Los Angeles, CA

© Elliott Desai

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