Topanga Visionaries Show - 5/31 Santa Monica

Group show by three of the more noteworthy (or notorious?) characters who once haunted the legendary Rodeo Grounds artists’ community at the bottom of Topanga Canyon: James Mathers aka ‘Toylit’ (paintings, & maybe words), Jean Batiste (sculpture) & Norton Wisdom (paintings). All happening in a brand new Frank Gehry performance space/"hangar" on Main Street, so it seems (I don’t recall ever seeing any hangars on Main Street, but then, I can be pretty oblivious).

Mathers: “These pictures are my lifeline into the synchronistic plasma that keeps me afloat in this twisted up world. Are they the ravings of a madman or the work of some sorcerer? I only know that when I am not working, I am dying. For anybody that is paying any kind of attention at all, it should be obvious that this phenomenal universe is some kind of fiendishly exquisite, multi- dimentional, artistic creation. For some it is enough to observe the fantastic coincidance of Gods symbolic language and that is enough. For others, who perhaps do not know their place, we must speak back to the thing that is creating us. We are that. Lunatics, Upstarts, radiant children of a world consumed by psychedelic fire."

Opening & cocktail reception 7-10 pm, Thursday May 31 with musical performance by Magic Box and Wisdom’s trademark live painting ritual. Runs until July 20th, 12-5pm; Edgemar Center for the Arts, 2437 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405.

http://www.nortonwisdom.com

http://www.jeanbatiste.com

http://www.edgemarcenter.com