Joella March
"Sign Language : Between The Lines"(An Illuminated Text Installation)
Dates:
December 5, 2009 – January 15, 2010
Part of “Let There Be Light” 28 Light Based Art Installations throughout Downtown Long Beach illuminating the Darkest Days of the year.
Location:
257 Pine Ave
Long Beach, 90802
This location is for lease. Blair Realty at 562.495.6070
Artist Contact:
joellart@yahoo.com
illuminatedaily@gmail.com
Artist Statement:
I am inspired by the infinite potential of the imagination and the alchemy inherent in art making where otherwise benign materials and objects transform and redefine themselves when juxtaposed.
“Sign Language : Between The Lines” is a work in progress which began 5 years ago as a series of animated neon text installations. Currently, this series utilizes an LED alphabet to create a variety of short text phrases. In the tradition of signage these text pieces generate an initial message and upon closer examination reveal other subtexts (words within words), which are delineated by the use of different color LED’s. Playful, luminous and colorful, this new series seeks to transform and merge the use of signage and advertisement with contemporary & political themes to create a public message through language, sub-text and context.
(Public Art Installation at 257 Pine Ave Long Beach Calif)
Phantom Galleries Long Beach
“Let There Be Light” Group Art Exhibition / Curator: Liza Simone
December 5th, 2009 thru January 15th, 2010
Physically defined by color, light and constructed text, this installation can be viewed as didactic wordplay, semantics or a checklist of inspirational P.C. new years resolutions. Either way, beyond the decorative and whimsical, these illuminated phrases (and layered sub-texts) pose a variety of philosophical questions, statements and suggestions, and unlike traditional holiday advertisement, this signage series does not wish to promote consumerism, monetary sales or financial gain, but rather wishes to stimulate and provoke thought and dialog, while touching on themes of personal transformation and public activism.
Some of the texts include:
SEDUCE LIFE
TREASURE
FREEDOM
CONJURE
JUSTICE
CULTIVATE
IMAGINATION
TRANSFORM
REALITY
MANIFEST PEACE
CONJURE JUSTICE – CON US
TREASURE FREEDOM -- R U FREE
WHO WILL CHOOSE -- WHO WILL LOSE
WHO WILL WHO CAN WHO DOES -- SEE A NATION FOR REAL PEACE
Copyright 2009 Joella March
I am attracted to the alchemical nature inherent in art making, where otherwise benign materials and objects transform and redefine themselves when juxtaposed. I am inspired by the infinite potential of the imagination and themes of transformation and regeneration, the conscious and sub-conscious mind, the collective unconscious, memory (what is repressed and revealed), the weight and volume of thoughts and ideas and the alluring cycles and compelling dichotomy of the creative process.
Joella March lives and works in Los Angeles, California. She received her Bachelors degree from UCLA in Fine Arts and also attended the Santa Monica College of Art, Design and Architecture (an experimental artist in residence program). She is a fine artist, a free-lance designer, an art exhibition curator, an art educator, a political activist and the co founder / director of “The Art of Daybreak” Multi-Arts Outreach Program. Her background includes: art/museum education, site specific public and environmental art, research and development, set and kinetic sculpture design for experimental film and theater, neon art design and development, art consulting, grant writing, arts outreach program development, multi-arts curriculum development and curatorial / exhibition design.
Joella’s artwork has primarily focused on participatory kinetic installations and sculptures where the viewer is directly engaged in the artwork creating a “cause and effect” as they become a part of the installation narrative. Throughout the years, she has participated in many group exhibitions, her latest solo exhibition “The United States of Imagination” was held at the 16:1 gallery in Santa Monica in Fall 2007.
As kinetic and multi-media installation artist her materials vary from organic to fabricated, they have included: glass, sand, electronics, paint (in liquid form), found objects, branches, water pumps, copper wire, filing cabinets, silk, neon light, cast aluminum, wood, plexi-glass, scrap metal, water, brass, stones and sound.
“Sign Language” is her most recent kinetic work. This series in progress involves both animated neon and static l.e.d. text pieces with contemporary-political conceptual themes. She has exhibited these neon and l.e.d. text installations in a variety of galleries and public art venues, including Bert Green Fine Art, M.J. Higgins Fine Art, James Gray Gallery, The Museum of Neon Art in Los Angeles and currently at the Phantom Galleries LA Exhibition in Long Beach Calif. She is also developing and exhibiting a new work utilizing liquid and light called the “Waterfiles” a series of kinetic sculptures integrating flowing liquid and fiber optics.
Joella has curated numerous group and solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, the largest being a socio- political look at the holidays entitled “Twisted Christmas” – A Hitch Hikers Guide to The Holiday Season” a group exhibition of 85 artists (from throughout the U.S.) presented at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, Ca. in 2005. Most Recently, Joella culminated a 2 year curatorial project entitled “Just How Does A Patriot Act ?”, a politically-charged group exhibition involving 51 multi-media visual artists responding to US policy at home and abroad. This exhibition was held at the Orange County Center For Contemporary Art in October 2008. Excerpts from “Just How Does A Patriot Act” were also on view at SPARC Gallery in Venice, Ca in Nov/Dec. 2008. (Archived documentation can be viewed on the OCCCA website at: www.OCCCA.org ).
In addition to creating art and curating art, Joella is an art educator and the director / co founder of “The Art of Daybreak” Multi - Arts Outreach Program. “The Art of Daybreak” outreach brings fine artists, writers, actors, poets, musicians and dancers into local Mental Health Wellness Centers and Shelters to teach hands on workshops in fine art, creative writing, dance, music and drama/ improve to the day clients and shelter residents, (men, women and young adults with mental illness). This outreach program has been in existence for over 12 years and has received grant funding from The Puffin Foundation, Santa Monica Cultural Affaires Dept. and The L.A. County Department of Mental Health. The AOD Multi-Arts Outreach Program services Santa Monica, San Pedro, South Bay and Long Beach with future outreach sites located in West Los Angeles, Culver City, Hollywood and East Los Angeles communities.
(Donations can be made to support this program at the website of it’s fiscal receiver www.MHALA.org. Go to “donate on line” page, check special projects and write in The Art of Daybreak Multi-Arts Outreach Program).
In a constant state of creativity, Joella is currently pursuing her career as a fine artist, an exhibition curator, an art educator and multi-arts outreach program director. Her next solo exhibition is scheduled for October 2010.
Speical Thank you to Dr. Ilya Zak
This location is for lease. Blair Realty at 562.495.6070
Partners:
The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency is proud to partner with Phantom Galleries LA, not only to revive empty storefronts along our major corridors, but also to showcase the arts and build a sense of community and culture in our Downtown," said Craig Beck, Executive Director of the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency. LongBeachRDA.org
