Either Way LA
Los Angeles based pop-up art gallery Either Way was created by Julia M. Leonard to foster a more personal community of artists.
Leonard, who recently concluded the LPP+ residency with Adobe Books in San Francisco, curates monthly art shows that are typically held in co-op or outdoor spaces. Leonard’s previous work with Luggage Store Gallery has strongly influenced her stress on community and the reason why she came to bring Either Way to life “I see Either Way as a place for emerging artists to look at each other without a big while wall. A sort of meeting place to encourage a conversation and more than seeing works as commodities.”
Many of the artists featured are Leonard’s close friends and family, an extensive community that includes artists such as Nick Kramer and Chris Lux. The cooperative space and desire to foster a strong sense of community work to create the “safe space for artists to work” that she strives for. Leonard works closely with the artists to create functional works that are then sold at Either Way shop.
Either Way shop originated as a format which saw Leonard shop for her friends as well as sells work generated by the gallery. Filled with handmade objects, Leonard‘s aim with the shop is to encourage a relationship between the objects in the store and the buyer, similar to that of hanging art. She shops at estate sales, thrift stores, and auctions with specific customers in mind. Located in her backyard, Leonard creates a highly personal and welcoming atmosphere of clothes, books, furniture, and ceramics.
The most recent objects found in the pop up shop, included works by Gus Thompson and Daniel White. White’s work consists of “abstract, collage types” but his functional objects series in collaboration with Leonard includes illustrative screen printed t-shirts of a mask he found at a secondhand shop. “[Screen printing] is limiting, but Leonard and I fell in love with it,” said White. He plans to elaborate on his series with Leonard and create similar imagery on larger compositions—namely custom-made bed sheets. Leonard also worked with painter and sound artist Thompson with screen printing on French rags that were also displayed and for sale at the shop.
With a background in photography, Leonard also photographs a series entitled Happy Customers in conjunction with the shop. The series consists of portrait shots of all her customers and serves not only as a record, but also as recognition and appreciation of those who come by. “I want to honor the other side—the people that come here,” adds Leonard.
Either Way creates a comfortable and engaging environment for art. Leonard stays true to the Either Way philosophy with a promise that the new permanent location in Los Angeles will not have the austere and alienating “sterile white walls” that is characteristic of art gallery spaces. Leonard also plans to have future shows where she selects artists to curate the exhibition such as artist Nick Kramer’s upcoming outdoor exhibit.
The next exhibition to take place within the space will commence on Sunday 1 May 2016. For more visit www.eitherwayla.net
Words by Perwana Nazif.
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