So Much Activity

Well, we're putting up more announcements and focus stories BUT here in LA, the buzz is on the inaugural MONTH OF PHOTOGRAPHY LOS ANGELES. http://www.mopla.org/

LALOP AT THE PIER is on MOPLA's exhibition schedule and LALOP photographers are participating as well in several other exhibitions. Check them all out.

If you are in LA, be sure to be at the major opening, April 4th at Bergamot Station at Frank Pictures Gallery. Helen K. Garber, our guest photographer at LALOP AT THE PIER, has organized the first of an ongoing project, "GroupLA 2008", the first presentation of which will be a project at MOPLA's opening and then has its own opening on 11 April. More to come!

Focus on LALOP pier photographer ANN MITCHELL

Ann Mitchell, whose two SX-70 photographs are in the show, announces that her Austin Val Verde project will be the inaugural exhibition at the newly re-opened Long Beach Playhouse Gallery. Featuring 18 images, the show will run from March 28th - May 2nd in conjunction with the romantic comedy "Sabrina Fair" by Samuel Taylor.

Ann's book from the project: "Austin Val Verde: Impressions of a Montecito Masterpiece," published by Balcony Press was reviewed by Doug Stockdale, March 24th on "The Photo Book".
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Check out Ann's website for more photographs of this historic Montecito estate and other of Ann's imagery. Working with 4x5 Polaroid negative film, Ann has created emotional images as she pursues her photographic interests in structures and how we interact with our environments. (all images © 2008 Ann Mitchell).



Ann is also the former department head of Long Beach Community College's Art Department where she continues as Professor and LBCC Photography Program Coordinator. Together with her faculty, Ann has created PhotoFest@LBCC. This second year of 4 days of free photography-related events takes place in early April.

What A Great Opening!

Considering the challenge of installing a fine art exhibition in an alternative space - although what a great one and with such distractions! - the LALOP AT THE PIER opening was just terrific. Probably several hundred+ people attended and notwithstanding the amazing charms of free carousel rides and Jim Harris' new book, everyone loved, commented upon and spent a lot of time with our photographs.

We so thank the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation for inviting us down to the Pier.

The show continues until April 18th during Carousel operation hours (see our March 6th invitation blog below).
photos © 2009 Sara Jane Boyers

Jim Harris signing the SM Pier Book at our opening!

During our opening Friday night, Jim Harris, Pier Historian for the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation, will be signing his new book, SANTA MONICA PIER: A CENTURY OF THE LAST GREAT PLEASURE PIER.

Did you know that Popeye was born on the Pier? Get the book and talk to Jim about Joan Baez, Robert Redford (who wrote the introduction) and many fascinating historical facts about this Southern California landmark.

Getting Ready for the Exhibit!!!

Installation today at the Pier. Two of the co-curators, Martin Cox and Cindy Bendat (photo Deborah Arlook), discussing placement for yes, it really IS inside the Carousel Hippodrome! Fabian Lewkowicz grabbed a shot of our other curator, Sara Jane Boyers.
(www.fabianlewkowicz.com)


We are getting calendared in the various event blogs and newspapers and hopefully more after the opening. We look forward to seeing all our LALOP photographers and friends and others this coming Friday night at the Pier.

Love this blog note from Pix Feed, the Hollywood sales and rental shop where we're called "[Los Angeles'] ... own superhero photography group."
L.A. City Beat which hand picks events, on 19 March features LALOP AT THE PIER (with Larry's great invite photo) and says," LALOP at the Pier "The Los Angeles League of Photographers celebrating the centennial of the Santa Monica Pier opens its “LALOP at the Pier” exhibit this Saturday night at the Carousel Hippodrome. The jutting hunk of old wood and whimsy is one of California’s great treasures, and the League has been busy since February snapping and developing studies certain to enchant fans of the taken image. Carousel Hippodrome, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, (310) 458-8786; ... Exhibit opens Fri., March 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free carousel rides at opening! Through April 18. (Ron Garmon)."

LALOP AT THE PIER on Facebook

There is a Facebook Page now for LALOP AT THE PIER where some of the LALOP pier photographers have displayed their work.

Focus on LALOP pier photographer CINDY BENDAT

Cindy Bendat is co-curating and participating in the LALOP at the Pier exhibit. Some of her photographs of the Santa Monica Pier are also included in the recently published book Santa Monica Pier—A Century On The Last Great Pleasure Pier written by James Harris.

Commenting about the Pier:
I live in the city of Santa Monica, and the Santa Monica Pier is its most important symbol. While the Pier has gone through many changes through its 100 years of existence, it remains as originally intended: a place for people to enjoy the ocean, to revel in the views, and to have fun. In conjunction with the book project, I found myself photographing the Pier from many unique and wonderful vantage points, including from a Cessna airplane, a Harbor Patrol boat, the Pacific Park Ferris wheel, and even from a moving roller coaster. I was able to spend time on the Pier, enjoying the sunlight and the ocean, as its builders envisioned.

Focus on LALOP pier photographer MATHIEU GRANDJEAN

Mathieu Grandjean, one of our LALOP photographers, has been photographing the Pier for years now as part of his project documenting the Arlington West Memorial, set up every Sunday by the stairs leading down to the beach and parking lot. His vimeo of the pier is at Arlington West Memorial.

LALOP AT THE PIER on March 20!

The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation & the Los Angeles League of Photographers (LALOP) invite you to LALOP AT THE PIER, A Santa Monica Pier Centennial Exhibition, featuring the photographic vision of the Los Angeles League of Photographers

opening reception:
FRIDAY, March 20 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the historic Carousel
exhibit continues through Sunday, April 18 during Carousel operating hours which are Monday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

LALOP photographers:
Deborah Arlook, Cindy Bendat, Devadatta Best, Sara Jane Boyers, Larry Brownstein, Martin Cox, Margery Epstein, Helen K. Garber, Barbara Gluck, Mathieu Grandjean, Ken Haber, Mark Indig, Bianca le Mouël, Douglas McCulloh, Ann Mitchell, Don Schwartz, Aline Smithson & Angela Spieles. Helen K. Garber joins us as a LALOP guest for this exhibit.

contact: Anne Railsback: anne@santamonicapier.org or Sara Jane Boyers: lalopblog@gmail.com

check out:
www.lalopblog.blogspot.com
www.santamonicapier.org

Check Out the March 2009 Rangefinder!

Martin Elkort, one of the founding members of LALOP and a regular contributor to Rangefinder Magazine, has a terrific story in the March 2009 issue entitled "Visual Recorders of Time" and illustrated by LALOP members Deborah Arlook, Sara Jane Boyers, Mark Indig and Angela Spieles.

You can view the article and pics at Rangerfinder Magazine.