'Art and Spirit' at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles

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John Nava, Teresa of Avila, 2004, Woven Tapestry, 93.5" x 39"

Beginning on February 27th the Shatto Chapel of the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles will be displaying the works of 69 artists in a themed exhibition titled Art & Spirit.

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Lynn Aldrich, Rose Ghost, 2015, Tulle, 72"x72"

"I'm so pleased to open the doors of First Church as wide as we can as we invite everyone in the city of Los Angeles to explore that fascinating intersection where Art meets the Spirit." says First Church's Senior Minister, Dr. R. Scott Colglazier, who, along with Joan Agajanian Quinn, first conceived the idea of Art & Spirit as a theme for the show. "Not only are we creating this opportunity for the public, but our connection with Art Division has allowed us to tap some of our city's new artists to respond to this theme in their own unique way."

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Sam Francis, Untitled, 1967, Acrylic on paper, 40" x 27" (42"x 29" framed)

While the theme of the show focuses on the idea of "spirit," many of the works are not overtly religious in nature. The collection of paintings, sculptures, and tapestries will include images by Rembrandt and Albrecht Dürer, along with contemporary works by Sam Francis, Ed Ruscha, Laura Lasworth, and Corita Kent, among others.

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Rembrandt Van Rijn, Good Samaritan, 1633, Etching and engraving, 22" x 15.5"

A portion of the show will focus on art created by students from Art Division--a school that offers a professional training program for underserved young adults--who were asked to create works as a reaction to the theme. "The students had many reactions," explains Art Division's Executive Director, Dan McCleary, "confusion, excitement, resistance, bewilderment. They were given enormous freedom to respond as they saw fit - and the work they produced is as varied and imaginative as they are."

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Victor Reyes, La Virgen de Guadalupe, 2016, Graphite on paper
Robert Ortiz, Walt Disney Concert Hall Chair #4, 2015, Acrylic on Panel, 36" x 36"

Joan Agajanian Quinn, the longest sitting member appointed to the California Arts Council, is co-curating the exhibit. "The theme Art & Spirit is something that isn't the norm for a show title," she explains. "Gallerists and curators don't think it's politically correct to bring religion into the art world per se, butI have always felt that art is an experience, either good or bad. It can move a person in a way that nothing else can. Maybe it's the spirit within the piece, maybe it's the spirit within the viewer; but no matter what, there is a transforming moment."

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Cathedral Virgin Study, 2001, Cast bronze with patina, wood and bronze base

Art & Spirit February 27, 2016 - April 24, 2016 
540 S. Commonwealth Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90026 
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 4:00-6:00pm 
The gallery will be open each Sunday from 9:00am-3:00pm 
Other hours by appointment only

Artists:

TONY ABATEMARCO LYNN ALDRICH PETER ALEXANDER JEFF ADAMS ALFREDO ALVARADO BILLY AL BENGSTON JAMES BROWN PETER CARAPETIAN JAVIER CARRILLO DAVIS CARRINO KAREN CARSON FABIAN CEREIJIDO JULIA CONDON MIKE CHEARNEY JESSICA CUAUTLE ROBERT DOWD ALBRECHT DURER LIN EVOLA SAM FRANCIS MARIA GALICIA EMMANUEL GALVEZ CHARLES GARABEDIAN DILLAN GARCIA FRANK GEHRY ROBERTO GIL DE MONTES JOE GOODE ALEX GONZALEZ STEPHANIE GORDIAN EMILY GORDON ROBERT GRAHAM PHYLLIS GREEN PORFIRIO GUTIERREZ ANTHONY HEIM LUIS HERNANDEZ IVA HLADIS VANESSA JUAREZ KONSTANTIN KAKANIAS MYRNA KATZ CORITA KENT LAURA LASWORTH LUIS MATEO DAN MCCLEARY OLIVIA MIRKOVICH JIM MORPHESIS GWYNN MURRILL JOHN NAVA LINDSEY NOBEL STEPHANIE ORTEGA ROBERTO ORTIZ PIERRE PICOT LEOPOLDO PENA ELIZABETH PEREZ GUILLERMO PEREZ INCARCERATED PRISONERS LUCAS REINER REMBRANDT ANDY ROMANOFF ED RUSCHA PAUL RUSCHA LEZLEY SAAR FERNANDO SANDOVAL LUIS SERRANO KATHERINE SHERWOOD WAYNE SHIMABUKURO JOHN SONSINI ROB SULLIVAN JACK TAYLOR RUTH WEISBERG PATRICIA YOSSEN