• << Press

Press Archive

BAMBOO LANE / REVISITED Gallery's Leora Lutz
Pirate Kat

...I'm glad to be bringing you an interview with Leora Lutz, Gallery Director of Bamboo Lane / Revisited Gallery in Chinatown. This gallery is conveniently located right behind the Mountain Bar, a bar I frequent. And I'm friends/associates with some of the artists in the upcoming exhibit "Portraits" and for that reason, I interviewed Leora about Chinatown and the upcoming show - as well as typical LA art questions. The images are from the artists in the upcoming show.

PC: Tell me about Bamboo Lane / Revisited and the kind of art you showcase.

LL: Bamboo Lane / Revisited is a new entity of two galleries, Bamboo Lane pka the Gallery at General Lee's, & Revisited.

The space itself was the banquet room for a renowned restaurant that closed its doors in the 1980s, but was in it's prime during the mid 1950s when Orientalism & Chinatown because very chic. The outfits worn by the waiters were designed by a famous fashion designer & featured in Life Magazine. Ladies wanted to buy them off the waiters' backs!

As an art space, the venue has evolved over the last few years as a project room & gallery that housed various independent endeavors & exhibitions. Cindy Suriyani, the gallery partner has played a strong role in those past projects. My gallery, Revisited, was in an older industrial building & I relocated here when the building sold. I've been here since November.

Cindy is providing a platform for emerging & established Asian American artists & I brought in my mix of Los Angeles based emerging & verging artists. We show a variety of genre by artists of varying backgrounds. Many are well known in certain circles & we hope to provide them with more exposure they need to become known to the art world in general.

PC: Say something about Chinatown and the art scene there. You're a relatively new gallery for the block there. Are there other new galleries? New artists appearing? What's up?

LL: The Chinatown gallery scene is an eclectic mix. From the first galleries to establish here, such as China Art Objects & Acuna Hansen, to later ones, like New Chinatown Barbershop & Sister, plus the newest, us, Jack Hanley & L2kontemporary. I think there are about 16 galleries in this 3 block radius.

There is a mix of artists shown, from international & local artists toting MFA's at many of the galleries on Chung King & Bernard, to fresh out of art school, to old LA icons to self-taught artists. Each gallery does their own thing by either integrating into the neighborhood or getting more involved directly with the culture here.

I think we all love the neighborhood feel, being that there are so many restaurants & plaza areas. You can spend an entire day here - see art, buy art, eat food, have a drink...

One question I am frequently asked is about successive openings. How do I put this nicely?... uh, no, not all the time - so please deal. The giant opening night scene does not work for all galleries. There is usually a high chance that at least two of us will be open that same night, though... just come & walk around & find out.

This is why I make a point to get more people here during the day when they can actually see the art, not just be here to be seen.

PC: Why do you think LA is a good city for art?

LL: I like my home town for art... there is so much here. Such a variety - so HUGE. Whatever kind of art from masters to low brow, whatever type of gallery from traditional to non profit, is here & all across town. Some cities' entire art scene is the size of just Chinatown alone.

PC: What are the problems with art in this city?

LL: Ugh, I hate/love talking about problems, both mine & others.

Hmm. There are large problems & there are immediate (or closer) problems. I do agree with recent debate that LA has not been given the respect it deserves in the larger art publications, but I think that is changing & even though I just said that, I can dispute it because there are several Chinatown galleries that get excellent national & international press... so many of these discussions go around & around in circles.

On a closer note, I think it is a problem that people complain all the time. I used to have a sign that said, "no complaining". Specifically related to art, the problems/complaining I hear are those that include words/phrases such as: anti-establishment, galleries are robbing artists, art should be for everyone/free, anti-academic, academic only... gee, I'm getting depressed. I guess I don't feel ranty today...

I am a strong believer that people can make a living doing what they love, & not to sound corny, but I hear it from most that artists want their work to sell. I don't want to analyze why, that is just what I hear - so I am here to facilitate artists' careers & to help sell their work.

I am not a money focus person, as there needs to be a delicate balance between business & pleasure.

I think this is an attitude that is changing what may have been considered a problem in the past, regarding the accessiblity of art. In addition to preconceived notions about art as a job/career, for both artists & gallerists.

PC: Favorite artists working in the city right now?

LL: hmm... all of the ones I show... No really.

I have long time friendships with many of my artists & each is a favorite in a different way - Now isn't that diplomatic??

Also, the artists I am just getting to know or just about to show is always a thrilling time & they feel more favorite at the moment - but I am in this for the long haul, so each one I care about for the long term.

Other than that, I don't name drop.

PC: What's coming up this year at Bamboo Lane / Revisited?

LL: I am really pleased with the current show with Michiko Yao, Fumiko Amano & Jessica Robbins... The next show - Portraits - I am super excited to finally show Joshua Petker's beautiful portraits, with Marci Washington, another great artist, & Sean Cheetham - who has been a pleasure to deal with. A couple other artists I have shown in the past, Siuan McGahan & Paige Wery are creating new work too.

This is an important show about questioning skill vs. concept & the overlapping of the two. Also raising some questions about skill vs. education - as there are a few self-taught painters included in the show as well as those who recieved their MFA.

After that is Urban Landscape - which has nothing in it that is overtly landscape or urban... like, no graffiti or photos of curbs... Pete Goldlust & Julie Hughes are included in that & it is going to be astounding.

PC: Any weird/cool things that ever happened at Bamboo Lane / Revisited? The best thing to put on record?

LL: That's a tough one... here are always gossipy things going on around here, but that is not appropriate to comment on in writing.

Pirate Kat
Read the original article