A.G. Geiger Presents, Tales from the LA Art Underw

Assemblage artist Monica Wyatt discusses her upcoming solo show at MorYork, a magical space filled with unreal sculptures, assemblages and fascinating objects that doubles as the studio of craftsman extraordinaire, Clare Graham. 

An insightful interview with the legendary feminist performance artist Barbara T. Smith who recently celebrated her 90th birthday and remains a force in the southern California art scene. An huge trove of her work, writings, videos, and correspondence were recently purchased by the Getty Museum’s Research Institute Library where they are being cataloged, ensuring that her work will go on to inspire new generations of artists and activists alike. Smith looks back on her work, the tumultuous 60's and 70's and updates us on what informs her art making now. 

Paul Symth, who together w Andy Merritt is one half of the London based art duo Something And Son, the highly acclaimed artists whose exhibitions at the Tate Modern have met both critical and popular acclaim discusses the Something and Son origin story, dream projects and the future of social practice art.

Segal discusses group sex in dystopian landscapes rendered masterfully in the unforgiving medium of watercolor as they appear in her new, impressive show at Luna Anais Gallery.

Visual artist and film maker Don Edler discusses his latest film "Devil You Know", a fascinating dive into the worlds of artificial intelligence, deep fakes and media echo chambers that lays bare the frightening reality of the unreality driving the post truth assault on the very foundation of human discourse.  

In a tumultuous year, artists have proven up to the challenge of addressing both personal and societal upheavals.  The legendary artist Larry Bell as well as emerging artist of color Yuge Zhou spoke of fresh insights into their artistic practice. MOCA Santa Barbara Chief Curator Alexandra Terry describes the work of Genevieve Gaignard and influential art and cultural writer Lawrence Weschler reflects on a pivotal moment in his career. LA's poet laureate, Luis J. Rodriguez reminds us of the rewards of resilience.

A resident at New Inc, the world's first museum led incubator for art, technology and design founded by New Museum in NYC, the internationally renown artist Yuge Zhou discusses her work and upcoming projects. 

The Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara's Curator discusses the current exhibition by LA based artist Genevieve Gaignard, their upcoming 2021 schedule including a show with Shana Moulton, a 45th anniversary celebration, their current fundraiser and an exciting mentoring program to foster more diverse leadership in the arts. 

In a fascinating discussion of what it means to be American, award winning photographer Cornwall talks about her latest book "Necessary Fictions".  After the blockbuster "Welcome To Camp America", in which she photographed both the captors and captives at the notorious detention center of Guantanamo Bay,  "Necessary Fictions"  continues her examination of the state sponsored fictions that we tell ourselves in the service of  empire.  

Represented by the William Turner Gallery in Los Angeles and by Nancey  Toomey Fine Art in San Francisco, Brindle discusses the unique southern  Californian light, as well as car and surf cultures and their combined  influence on his work.

What do Wonder Woman, Superman and Cat Woman have in common with a charitable foundation to benefit arts education among under-served communities in schools and non profit organizations? Leinenger talks about life with her father, the Pop Art legend, Mel Ramos, the Foundations mission,  and a fantastic opportunity to purchase rare monographs and lithographs in support of their work. 

Internationally renown artist Lezley Saar discusses her intricate work, what it was like growing up in an artistic family and why as an artist of color she won't be making art about Covid or police brutality in the near term.

LA Times Bestselling author Carolyn Campbell talks about her new book "City of Immortals, Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris." Working for nearly 30 years to complete the book, Campbell's exhaustive research has yielded fascinating information on the history of funerary architecture and the Napoleonic era  as well as refreshing insights on the many luminaries buried there.

A staff writer for the New Yorker for 20 years, Weschler has won the prestigious George Polk award in Journalism - twice. His books of political reportage include The Passion of Poland (1984); about the Solidaity revolution; and A Miracle, A Universe: Settling Accounts with Torturers (1990) which examines how fledgling democracies in countries such as south Africa, Uruguay, Cambodia and Bosnia reconciled with their previously toxic security apparatuses. More recently Weschler published an update to his book "Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees" about his work with and insights on the godfather of the light and space movement, Robert Irwin.  Weschler also offers a glimpse at his upcoming book centered on the provocative tableau 5 Car Stud by Ed Keinholz.

In a wide ranging,  lively interview,  the artist Mike Kelly called "one of the few truly important West Coast painters",  talks with us about what it means to paint, how an artist should live their life and why its time for revolution. 

Lodato's work spans several decades and began in the late 1960's when he created installations exploring the nature of perception , specifically in the way physical spaces can be transformed into immersive experiences. Peter discusses his work and even gives up some of the secret techniques in his masterful paintings. 

The Founder of the influential website Art F City, Paddy Johnson explains why artist statements tend to suck and what to do about it. While chatting about her work as a writer for the New York Times, the Economist and other major publications, Paddy offers tips to artists on how to better present themselves while talking about their work. 

Artist Wayne White best known for his "Word Paintings" and his broadcast career as the strong creative force behind Pee Wee's Playhouse, introduces his return to puppetry in a new project for Instagram.

In a special edition for our time of quarantine, 12 of LA's finest wordsmiths offer readings dedicated to the idea of Los Angeles as a unique sense of cultural place, time and energy. Instead of focusing on pandemic and isolation, it's a reminder of why we live here and why we would live nowhere else. Participating poets in order of appearance: Ellyn Maybe, Laurel Ann Bogen, Bill Cushing, Lynne Thompson, Brendan Constantine, Susan Hayden,  Suzanne Lummis, Gail Wronsky, Richard Modiano, Candice Kelsey, Nicelle Davis, and Luis J. Rodriquez.

On special assignment for Art Report Today dot com,  I had the opportunity to speak with the world renown artist who explains why not knowing what you are doing is the best part of the creative process.