Chain Reaction at Bergamot Station - July 2011

Chain Letter,  "an exponentially massive, artist-curated group show" opened this month at Shoshana Wayne Gallery in Santa Monica's Bergamot Station. Five weeks of ten artists inviting ten artists inviting ten artists... predictably created huge crowds, long lines, traffic snarls, etc, but resulted in a energy-filled exhibit of tremendous originality that turns the usual gallery-curated show on its head..

My artist pals who arrived at 8 AM got their work in the show - while those of us arriving later met with mixed fates. The main gallery filled quickly and work spilled over into two annexes before there simply was no more room. But over 1,600 determined artists -who often stood in line for many hours - have their work included in this exuberant, eclectic exhibit.

THE JOURNEY...lines, more lines, Santa Monica traffic police on duty.

THE DESTINATION...

THE EXIT...  a random yarn bombing, traffic cones and traffic police still on the job

THE OPENING...

California Fibers members Gail Fraser, Carrie Burckle, Polly Giacchina, Peggy Wiedemann, and me.

Gail wirh her work, Carrie's piece, Peggy's finger pointing toward her and Polly's pieces...

other work from the show...

Who is Doug? I think he's the organizer guy still trying to identify the remains of the 10 to the 10th power artists who were fighting for floor space and AC outlets!