Hive Gallery in Downtown L.A. gets sexy

There was quite a rambunctiously sensual shin-dig that took place at the Hive Gallery and Studios located at 729 South Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles, on Saturday August 7th. The doors opened at 8pm revealing a rather risqué hodge-podge of art scattered about the walls. Beerotica 3 and Erotrospective: The Best of Bluegirl curated by the lovely Heidi Calvert were the themes of this exhibition. An erotic art show can be a hit or miss, and in this case, it was definitely a delightful hit in the face for the sadomasochist. The somewhat pornographic work on the wall was smoldering with hedonistic expression, rich with fetish and spice.
The six featured artists Cate Rangel, Melody Duenas, Janet Kim, Sophia Gasparian, Anna Todaro, and Celene Petrulak brought an enchanting and more subtly seductive element to the foreground. There is a marked dreaminess radiating through the work of each of these women. Duenas showed a few exceptionally detailed pencil drawings and oil paintings with hauntingly beautiful cool color palates. Her work explores a tragically romantic fairy tale of a siren whose was the daughter of a black widow that would kill all of the suitors who fell in love with her songs. Rangel paints woman with piecing stares amidst the intimidating buildings of Downtown LA. Kim’s shockingly violent oil paintings of fauns literally bring viewers into her work, using antique mirrors as her canvas. Gasparian’s child-like, innocent aesthetic is an interesting contrast to her rather in-your-face use of text spelling out serious social issues such as racism, and HIV. Todaro’s paintings look good enough to eat with her incredible use of candy-like colors. There is something truly fun and sultry in her heavily decorated sugarplum fairy characters. Petrulak’s smooth pastel pieces depict women exposing windows, doors, and tunnels into their souls.
This exhibition is absolutely one to check out. Prepare to be seduced upon entering this rather naughty art show that runs until August 28th. The Hive gallery is open Wednesday thru Saturday from 1pm to 6pm, so cruise Downtown and check it out.