Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock presents

Rebus Reconstructuring

February 20-March 25, 2010

Opening Reception Saturday February 20, 2010, 7-10pm

March 13, 2010 Panel Discussion 4-6pm: Art and Architecture: Merging the contemporary and the historical" Panelists: Gwynne Pugh (Pugh + Scarpa), Isotta Poggi (Getty Research Institute), John O'Brien, Cielo Pessione

Followed by NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night 7-10pm

Curated by John O'Brien and Cielo Pessione

Participating Artisits: Wendy Adest, Nena Amsler, Daniel Brodo, Matty Byloos, Jamison Carter, April Durham, Samantha Fields, Margaret Griffith, Mary Addison Hackett, Erika Lizee, Mara Lonner, Meg Madison, Nancy Monk, John O'Brien, Cielo Pessione, Rebecca Ripple, Stee Roden, Joe Santarroman, Jose Sarinana, Elizabeth Saveri, Telemachus Studios, Carolee Toon, Shirley Tse, Hoang Vu and Andre Yi.

This is an exhibition of 25 contemporary LA visual artists who participated in collaboration with Sistema Museo in the Umbria region of Ital. Artwork was selected or created by these artists to travel and be exhibited within the existing archeological fragments on view in the Archeological Museum of Amelia in summer 2009. Placing their artwork within these archeological remains provided artists with a unique opportunity to find a significant and unusal setting for their work and to interact with thse important art historical sources. Rebus Reconstructuring documents the results of this process by displaying the selected artwork and photoraphic images of the artworks within the museum collections.

John O'Brien and Cielo Pessione's curatorial premise is intended to create bridges between the contemporary and the historical, between Los Angeles and Umbria. This exhibition cycle allowed the Archeological Museum of Amelia a chance to see how contemporary L.A. artists might interact with their historical collections. They were interested in the way this process puts their artifacts and historical holdings into a new and unexpected light. The curators and artists were interested in what happens when contemporary art is placed in proximity to objects and images from antiquity.

The March 13, 2010 panel discussion about "Art and Architecture: Merging the contemporary and the histrocial" is particularly relevant at CFAER, a historically listed 1914 Carnegie library Building, that was itself transformed into a multicultural community center for the arts and culture.