Something Within: Curated by Manual History Machines

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 7, 2014 - PRLog -- The Downtown Art Center (DAC) Gallery is pleased to present Something Within, curated by Manual History Machines in collaboration with the ECF Art Centers.

Something Within is a group art exhibition featuring the diverse practices of adult artists living with disabilities from the ECF Art Centers, in dialogue with invited guest artists. The selected artists mine their own personal reservoirs of experience, intuition and desire to create worlds that range from animated and lively, to quiet and mysterious - all with the intent to communicate an inner-narrative that could only be conveyed through imagery. These worlds are realized through various media including drawing, painting, animation, installation, sculpture, collage and performance.

Guest artists Bridget Beck, Kio Griffith, Jay Lizo and Matthew Waller contemplated the practices of ECF artists in their studio environment at the Downtown Art Center in order to create unique responses for the exhibition, while guest artists Esmeralda Montes, Ben Sanders and Ayler Fielder create playful imaginary realms displaying a boldness of characteristics similar to that of the work of the selected ECF artists.

All of the artists in the exhibition are compelled to realize their visions with an immediacy and direction that beckons viewers to wonder how much of the content is driven by something within the artists’ own experiences, and how much is informed by something external, something beyond. The work in the exhibition manages to exist in a state of play and action, while coming from a place of great emotional depth. ECF Art Centers’ studio environment is a professional developmental arena for the artists they represent, as well as a therapeutic service. The results inspire many who also seek to find something omnipotent within, and wish to express it outwardly, unknowingly.

The reception for Something Within will take place on Friday, November 14th, 2014 from 6-9pm, with special readings by “Zolshie” from the Tarot Card Deck created by ECF artist Harvey Schwartz.

Selected artists from ECF Art Centers: Deborah Alexander, Angelica Alvarado, Thomas Birdsong, Tammy Brackens, Wilbert Brent, Tony Brown, Laksmi Camp, Leesa Chacon, Jose Hernandez, Maria Kim, Justina Ko, Judy Lopez, Erin McCullough, Medhi Mohammadi, Helen Paik, Larry Pearsall, Jarred Phillips, Chris Romero, Harvey Schwartz and Jose Zamora.Invited Guest Artists: Ayler Fielder, Bridget Beck, Ben Sanders, Esmeralda Montes, Jay Lizo, Kio Griffith, and Matthew Waller, with a performance by Yoshie Sakai.

Free to attend, light refreshments served. Wheelchair accessible and open to all ages. Parking available at meters and pay lots (see posted signs for details). DAC Gallery does not validate parking. Gallery hours: Mon-Fri, 11:00am – 3:30pm or by appointment

About DAC Gallery
Throughout its years of operation, the DAC has sought to create a point of convergence for emerging and mid-career local and International artists, while bringing attention to a community of individuals whose works reflect experiences rarely presented to mainstream audiences. Adjacent to the DAC is ECF’s Downtown Art Center, a large studio space where adult artists living with intellectual disabilities develop their work and receive ongoing training in the field of visual arts. This professional art studio (one of four in Los Angeles) is staffed by gifted instructors, all exhibiting artists in their respective fields. ECF Art Centers is an adult program of the Exceptional Children’s Foundation (ECF), a nonprofit organization that has been improving the lives of children and adults with special needs since 1946. Online at www.ECF.net and at www.facebook.com/ConnectwithECF

For more information on Manual History Machines please visit manualhistorymachines.tumblr.com
or e-mail manualhistorymachines@gmail.com