Cactus Gallery and Gifts - Art for the People

Cactus Gallery is a vibrant Latina owned and operated gallery and gift shop. Our space is an eclectic mix of contemporary art and folk art. Find us in Elysian Valley (aka Frogtown) at 3001 North Coolidge Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039. Hours: Thurs-Sat 11a-5p. Art is available to browse 6 days a week, as Treeline Woodworks is open Mon-Sat 9a-4p. The gallery is open to installment plans to help you grow your collection. Contact Sandra Mastroianni at semastroianni70@yahoo.com for purchase info.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

"Sense" at Cactus Gallery - 6th Annual Solo Exhibit by Patricia Krebs

Cactus Gallery is proud to present "Sense" - a solo exhibition by multimedia artist Patricia Krebs.

For this -- her 6th annual solo show at Cactus Gallery -- Krebs presents a series of paintings about what we experience through our senses and emotions in contrast with our need to control such experiences and 'make sense of things' in a logical way. Like in all her previous works, she seduces the viewer using the whimsical as an excuse to reflect about more profound ideas: what's hidden below the surface of appearances; the complexity of humanity; the connections within ourselves, between each other, and to the world.

The reception, which coincides with Northeast Los Angeles' (NELA) Second Saturday Gallery Night, is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, will take place on Saturday, October 12th, from 6 to 9 pm at the Treeline Woodworks showroom, the gorgeous brand new space we exhibited in for the Frogtown Artwalk, located at 3001 N. Coolidge Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039.

If you have a question regarding availability of work, please contact Sandra Mastroianni @ semastroianni70@yahoo.com or 323.801.8669

Patricia Krebs grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she received her degrees as Professor of Fine Arts and in Contemporary Visual Arts. In 2001 she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she works full-time as a free-lance multimedia artist. Her works have been exhibited in galleries and cultural centers, and have been featured in book covers, CDs, and educational publications.

Patricia has illustrated and designed over a dozen award winning children's picture books, She builds puppets and objects for theater and video, and recently debuted as art director and production designer for stop-motion animation. She is also a singer-songwriter, and she has recorded Spanish voice-overs for films such as Corpse Bride, Harry Potter, Happy Feet and Beowulf.

Her work has received special recognition from the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), and the 2012 Vision Award from the Reel Rasquache Arts Film Festival. To know more about her work, visit www.patriciakrebs.com.ar

"Custodian" - mixed media on canvas, 24" x 30"- $660 - SOLD

"Custodian" (close up) - mixed media on canvas, 24" x 30"- $660 - SOLD

"La Culpa de la Pulpa" ("The Octopus Lady's Guilt") - 36" x 30" - $770 - SOLD

"La Culpa de la Pulpa"- (close up) - 36" x 30" - $770 - SOLD

"Inflammable" - acrylic on canvas, 12" x 36" - $550 - SOLD

"Inflammable" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 12" x 36" - $550 - SOLD

"My Ride" - acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24" - $550 - SOLD

"My Ride" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24"- $550 - SOLD

"Revelation" - acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24"- $550 - AVAILABLE

"Revelation" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24"- $550 - AVAILABLE

"Shame On You" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 20" x 23" - $550

"Shame On You" - acrylic on canvas, 20" x 23" - $550

"Disarmament" - acrylic on canvas, 30" x 10" - $440 - SOLD

"Disarmament" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 30" x 10" - $440 - SOLD

"Assembly Line" - acrylic on canvas, 12"x36" - $550 - AVAILABLE

"Assembly Line" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 12"x36" - $550 - AVAILABLE

"Attention" - acrylic on canvas, 12"x36" - $550 - SOLD

"Attention" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 12"x36" - $550 - SOLD

"Blues" - acrylic on canvas, 30"x10" - $440 - AVAILABLE

"Blues" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 30"x10" - $440 - AVAILABLE

"Como Tocarla" - acrylic on canvas, 12"x36" - $550 - SOLD

"Como Tocarla" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 12"x36" - $550 - SOLD

"Step By Step" - acrylic on canvas, 30"x10" - $440 - SOLD

"Step By Step" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 30"x10" - $440 - SOLD

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"The Feast" - acrylic on canvas, 30"x10" - $440 - SOLD

"The Feast" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 30"x10" - $440 - SOLD

"Tonight's Plans" - acrylic on canvas, 30"x10" - $440 - SOLD

"Tonight's Plans" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 30"x10" - $440 - SOLD

"Words" - acrylic on canvas, 12"x36" - $550 - SOLD

"Words" (close up) - acrylic on canvas, 12"x36" - $550 - SOLD

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Cactus Gallery will have its first POP UP EVENT on Saturday, September 28th from 4-10p. This one day event is in conjunction with the annual FROGTOWN Art Walk in the Elysian Valley (east of Dodger Stadium; 4 miles from old Cactus Gallery location).

For artwalk info: http://www.frogtownarts.com/

We are very excited to have been invited to share a brand spankin' new space at the Treeline Woodworks showroom. Our host, Treeline Woodworks, is a custom woodworking shop using solely reclaimed and US made materials. We will be exhibiting in their brand new showroom. For Treeline info: http://www.treelinewoodworks.com/

Address for showroom: 3001 N. Coolidge Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Contact Sandra for more info: semastroianni70@yahoo.com or 323.801.8669

Check out the huge walls!! New work by all our gallery favorites: Walt Hall, Patricia Krebs, Rasa Jadzeviciene, Ulla Anobile, Kelly Thompson, Lena Sayadian, Daisuke Okamoto, Janet Olenik, Roger Triviños, and more. Hope to see you out!

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

"Listening to the Birds" - new paintings by Lacey Bryant for Cactus Gallery

For purchase info, contact Sandra Mastroianni at semastroianni70@yahoo.com or at 323.801.8669.
To view other/larger works by Lacey: Lacey Bryant at Cactus Gallery

The following was written by Lacey about the new series...

I just finished a small series of paintings on cigar boxes. Typically, I hate to explain my work. I like for my work to remain ambiguous, allowing for the viewer to bring their own meaning to each piece. This series, however, revolves around a common theme, so I wanted to actually take a minute to write a bit about them. This series features women interacting with small birds, which on the surface may seem rather straightforward, I wanted to give you some background on some of the ideas I had while working on this collection in order to help put it in context.

Birds in mythology are often spiritual messengers and are associated with the soul. The birds are there to bring a message of comfort, hope and cheer. Perhaps, the nurturing of something more delicate than one’s self helps in the healing of wounds inflicted by the callousness of the world. I also associate small birds with the health of the environment. When miners would dig in the earth, they would bring small songbirds with them. These fragile birds, being more sensitive to toxins in the air, would be the first indicator of poisonous fumes that could be released through careless mining. If the bird died, the miners would know that they had to reach the surface quickly or suffer the same fate. Even in our modern day world, the first signs of the declining health of the ecosystem can be seen in the death of the smallest of these animals.

The girls in these paintings at first seem to be wounded. Battered and a bit worn down. The presence of the birds, however, points at the resilience of these women. There is a sense of comfort and peace that accompanies them, and in some cases the bird represent a defiance in the face of adversity. Like the canary in the mine, the healthy presence of these birds indicates the continued survival of the subject of the painting. More importantly, the birds bring with them a message of hope; even though they may be damaged on the outside, the core of their self endures.

"Lean In" - oil on cigar box, 9"x11" - by Lacey Bryant - $150 - SOLD

"Safe" - oil on cigar box, 9"x11" - by Lacey Bryant - $150 - SOLD

"Chatter" - oil on cigar box, 9"x11" - by Lacey Bryant - $150

"Some Advice"- oil on cigar box, 7.5"x9.5" - by Lacey Bryant - $150

"Message" - oil on cigar box, 7.5"x9" - by Lacey Bryant - $150

"Return" - oil on cigar box, 9"x11" - by Lacey Bryant - $150

"Whispers" - oil on cigar box, 8"x10" - by Lacey Bryant - $150 - SOLD

"Visit"- oil on cigar box, 9"x11" - by Lacey Bryant - ON HOLD

Friday, May 10, 2013

Fading Time: Rasa Jadzeviciene at Cactus Gallery

Please join us for the opening night party for FADING TIME, an installation of mixed media works by artist RASA JADZEVICIENE. For Rasa's first solo show at Cactus Gallery, she explores memories and the passage of time.

Rasa has been working with Cactus Gallery for Rasa has been working with Cactus Gallery for three years and her wondrous mixed media dolls and paintings have all found new homes.

Opening Reception: May 11th from 6-9pm
Exhibition dates: May 11- June 6, 2013

PLEASE RSVP to Sandra at semastroianni70@yahoo.com or 323.801.8669 to attend the reception. Rasa will be in attendance.

Contact Sandra at semastroianni70@yahoo.com for purchase or commission info.

The gallery is open to installment plans to help you grow your collection.