Second Presence Almanac

PRESENCE ALMANAC

Cover photo by Elliott Desai

Inside Cover photo by Elliott Desai

FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ARTS & CULTURE

I learned of Alan W. Watts through a song named “Dream” - a recording of him speaking, layered over music.

The audio begins with this premise: Awaken from the illusion of daily life and feel yourself not as “a stranger in the world” but as “the fabric and structure of existence itself.”

Watts then suggests a fascinating scenario: “Suppose that you were able, every night, to dream any dream you wanted to dream... and the power within one night to dream 75 years... or any length of time.”

In these dreams, we would fulfill all of our wishes, experience every kind of pleasure, and eventually become more daring - dreaming of surprises and allowing for more adventures.

Night after night. Until finally, “you would dream the dream of living the life that you’re actually living today.”

... Wow.

I heard this quote 3 months after becoming an entrepreneur and quickly converted “morning pages” (a daily habit from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way) into an intentional practice of imagining my life in its most abundant form.

I then read more books by Alan Watts throughout 2022 and 2023

— Become What You Are, The Book

On The Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are, The Way of Zen, and The Wisdom of Insecurity

As a result, Eastern philosophy has become a guiding principle to navigate my daily life: enjoying every moment and allowing a curious mind to narrate each day.

And this way of living evidently led to publishing the Presence Almanac.

The Second Chronicle begins with El Miradero - a high place overlooking a wide view - known as the Brand Library & Art Center in Glendale, California.

In February, I enjoyed Nexus IV: RAIZ - a group show of emerging artists curated by Thinkspace Projects and hosted in the library’s galleries.

My favorite pieces were made by Baby Mueller, Guillaume Ollivier, Jacqueline Valenzuela and Sara Chakmakian

Additionally, Anthony Clarkson‘s Enigmatic Dreams - a solo show of acrylic works - and Matthew Grabelsky’s Riders - a solo show of oil paintings - were also on view in the art center and a delight to see.

I returned to the library last week to photograph the architecture, and then viewed Brand 51: 98 works-onpaper selected from an open call of over 1,222 entries. This show closes September 1, and then It’s About Time will open September 23 to feature seventeen LA-based Artists.

I recommend driving to Glendale in the early afternoon to eat lunch in

Kenneth Village, see a show at the galleries, and watch the sun set behind the Verdugo Mountains.

However, if you’d like to explore East Hollywood or Mid-Wilshire this week, Anat Ebgi Gallery is a beautiful place to be too.

I explored the location a Fountain Avenue last month and loved the whimsy of Mónika Kárándi’s oil, acrylic works in Remember Where We Started Out

Amplifying her pieces in this week’s chronicle reminded me of Janet Werner’s oil paintings in Call Me When You Start Wearing Red at their Wilshire location in February. This space shares a patio with two neighboring galleries and fosters a lively atmosphere for patrons to gather on Saturday nights.

As you enjoy this week’s chronicle, look up at the night’s sky and see a beautiful half moon.

These recommendations are published on July 25 at 3:08 PM as the new moon becomes 50% full.

Sincerely,

Elliott Desai

GLENDALE

© Elliott Desai

© Elliott Desai

© Baby Mueller | Red Hair Shanks with Spicy Chicken Sandwich, 2022

Nexus IV: RAIZ

Installation photography courtesy of Thinkspace Projects

© Guillaume Ollivier | Beacoup, 2022

Nexus IV: RAIZ

Installation photography courtesy of Thinkspace Projects

© Sara Chakmakian | Prayers for Protection, 2022

Nexus IV: RAIZ

© Anthony Clarkson | Pulling Stars From The Sky, 2022 Enigmatic Dreams

Installation photography courtesy of Thinkspace Projects

© Anthony Clarkson | When Life and Death Unite, 2022 Enigmatic Dreams

Installation photography courtesy of Thinkspace Projects

© Matthew Grabelsky | Crow-Magnon, 2022 Riders

Installation photography courtesy of Thinkspace Projects

© Matthew Grabelsky | Texas Hold’em, 2022 Riders

Installation photography courtesy of Thinkspace Projects

© Matthew Grabelsky | Polly Wanna Cracker, 2022 Riders

Installation photography courtesy of Thinkspace Projects

Photo by Elliott Desai

Artwork courtesy of Brand Library & Art Center

EAST HOLLYWOOD

Installation photography courtesy of Anat Ebgi Gallery

© Mónika Kárándi | Running in the shadows, 2023 Remember Where We Started Out

Installation photography courtesy of Anat Ebgi Gallery

MID-WILSHIRE

© Janet Werner | Pierce, 2022

Call Me When You Start Wearing Red

Installation photography courtesy of Anat Ebgi Gallery

© Janet Werner | Valentin, 2022

Call Me When You Start Wearing Red

Installation photography courtesy of Anat Ebgi Gallery

© Janet Werner | Alice, 2022

Call Me When You Start Wearing Red

Installation photography courtesy of Anat Ebgi Gallery

© Janet Werner | Dolores (Girl with Flowered Hat and Landscape, 2018 Call Me When You Start Wearing Red

Installation photography courtesy of Anat Ebgi Gallery

GLENDALE

Baby Mueller

Nexus IV: RAIZ

January 21 - March 17, 2023 babymueller.net

Guillaume Ollivier

Nexus IV: RAIZ

January 21 - March 17, 2023 instagram.com/funkysquash

Jacqueline Valenzuela

Nexus IV: RAIZ

January 21 - March 17, 2023 jacquelinevalenzuela.com

Sara Chakmakian

Nexus IV: RAIZ

January 21 - March 17, 2023 instagram.com/ssaramics

Anthony Clarkson

Enigmatic Dreams

January 21 - March 17, 2023

thinkspaceprojects.com/artists/ anthony-clarkson

Matthew Grabelsky Riders

January 21 - March 17, 2023

thinkspaceprojects.com/artists/ matthew-grabelsky

Brand Library & Art Center

1601 W Mountain St, Glendale, CA 91201 brandlibrary.org

Thinkspace Projects thinkspaceprojects.com

Mónika Kárándi

Remember Where We Started Out

June 3 - July 15, 2023

anatebgi.com/artists/monika-karandi

Anat Ebgi Gallery

FOUNTAIN 4859 Fountain Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90029

anatebgi.com

EAST HOLLYWOOD MID-WILSHIRE

Janet Werner

Call Me When You Start Wearing Red

January 21 - February 25, 2023

anatebgi.com/artists/janet-werner/

Anat Ebgi Gallery

WILSHIRE 6150 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90048

anatebgi.com

July 25 at 3:08 PM Los Angeles, CA

Elliott Desai

presencealmanac.com

©