This weekend, Plummer Park’s Great Hall in West Hollywood, California becomes the epicenter of artistic innovation and exploration as it hosts Air Conditioning, a multifaceted group art show. Running from October 13 to 15, the event is the brainchild of The New Arts Foundation and is curated by Greg Jenkins, a CalArts graduate with a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Video.
The show is being billed as the foundation’s most ambitious endeavor yet, with a focus on exploring the “critical possibilities of worldbuilding.” The event delves into questions about the formation and reformation of reality, the intersection of fantasy with the everyday, and the power of collective agency. It aims to foster a sense of community through play, imagination, mutual presence, and shared action.
Friday evening marks the opening of the exhibit with a film screening session, featuring six short films commissioned by The New Arts Foundation. The films have been carefully selected by curator Advik Beni, also a CalArts alum and a 2022 Sundance Ignite Fellow. Among the filmmakers showcased are several current and former CalArts students, including Gavati, abbi page, Rob Rice, Linx Fong Selby, Seokyoung Yang, Manaka Nagai, and Kaori Takahashi.
The main event takes place on Saturday, promising a dynamic line-up that includes an opening reception, live performances, and music. The event will culminate in an afterparty at Las Perlas WeHo. A total of 25 artists are participating in the show, many of whom are affiliated with CalArts. These include Ross Edward Doyle, Siena Foster-Soltis, Max Harper, Vanessa Holyoak, Christine Yerie Lee, Antonio Okun, Liz Quezada-Lee, malavika rao, Nikki Ochoa, and Yanbin Zhao.
Sunday’s schedule features a music and reading series organized by another CalArts alum, Kevin Terrell. This provides an opportunity for the public to engage with the themes and artistic visions presented throughout the weekend.
The event has received financial support through an arts grant from the City of West Hollywood and proceeds will benefit The Trevor Project, a local organization dedicated to providing mental health services to LGBTQ youth.
Those interested in attending can look forward to the following schedule of events:
- Film Screening: Friday, October 13, 7 pm at the Great Hall/Long Hall, Plummer Park, 1200 N Vista St, West Hollywood, CA 90046.
- Main Event: Saturday, October 14, 5-9 pm at the Great Hall/Long Hall, Plummer Park, 1200 N Vista St, West Hollywood, CA 90046.
- Music/Reading Series: Sunday, October 15, 1 pm at the Great Hall/Long Hall, Plummer Park, 1200 N Vista St, West Hollywood, CA 90046.
