Notes from the Director

Director's Notes.....

With the fast approach of the holiday season, the Don O'Melveny Gallery is also swiftly preparing for the inaugural show in our new Mid-Wilhsire gallery.

Our new home will be along the renowned Miracle Mile corridor (close to LACMA, next ddoor to ACE) at 5472 wilshire, corner of Dunsmuir. The Melrose location is currently under the shadow of tear-down rennovation. Pre-emptively, we took the course of transitioning now on our terms instead of when we were forced to. The old gallery space(s) on Melrose are currently being sub-let out to other gallery endeavors.

The new Wilshire location offers the gallery a terrific opportunity to upscale our whole enterprise. And it couldn't come at a better time. We recently received our first art review in Art in America, September '04 - for a terrific artist, Bruce Helander - who showed with us in April. Check it out in the "Recent Reviews" section on the website menu - along with the other recent reviews and critical mentions the gallery has received in the past few months.

As tough as it is to generate critical accolades in the competitive art market, I believe our new location will allow our artists a decisive edge in this regard: wonderfully elevated 16 foot high ceilings; a marvelously restored 1929 craftsman floor; an ampale secondary exhibition area perfect for a permanently rotating selection of gallery fvorites; recessed administration quarters; second-story storage for ample on-hand available inventory.

Simply - with the move to our new location with it's dramatic setting, we've got a stage now to produce some absoslutely brilliant exhibitions. (Hint: look for some MAJOR names to be joining our ranks and exhibiting) And, thus arriving at this critical stage of our growth, I have brought on board a rare individual to fill a pivotal position for our upward effort - a Director of Sales and Marketing. His name is James B. Hopkins, a native of Los Angeles, possessing a a keen eye, a warm heat and a passion for the Dharma and people and art. We welcome him aboard.

On a secondary note, I would like to welcome aboard Danielle Sheng, who will be taking over the reigns at the Melrose location. Born in China, Danielle has longed for an opportunity to run her own gallery. And, reluctant to give up the Melrose location (after all,it is The Avenues of Art and Design) I put a post on Craig's List for a sub-let to new gallery - to which Danielle respsonded. Thus was born the Solaris Gallery with Danielle at the helm as director. She will initially run it as an artist's subsidized space until getting it's sea legs. It will be open to all forms of modern/contemporary. Her mission is to showcase the incredible talent pool of younger and emerging artists here in L.A. that need, and deserve a chance to exhibit their work. I think they do, too. I know first hand how many great and truly gifted individuals are out there working steadfastly - longing for a chance to have their work seen in a quality gallery environment. As John Leennon might also have said: "Give art - and artists, a chance!"