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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

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