viewer / object

The Doug Aitken at Regen Project opening last night was a jammed packed L.A. art people glamour party. The pieces are delightful and clever and with so many mirrored surfaces, ripe for selfies. Artworks for reflection. For gazing at, viewing and being viewed in.

The opening caused a traffic jam on Santa Monica Blvd and there were dozens of people milling around outside on the corner as we approached. We lucked out on a prime parking spot across the street, in front of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. In the last 20 years I have never driven or walked by this block and not seen a street hustler looking for a date. It always strikes me as strange that a well funded and used resource center for LGBT youth is also a prime tranny prostitute pick up spot.

I look forward to coming back to Regen to get a closer look at the pieces, sans crowds. But it was pretty great to look at them too. Spotted some boho chic celebs (always in drapey, rich rags, am I right?), greased and coiffed models, aging tanned men sporting sunglasses and sports coats, a big-time museum director, a couple of friends, and even some Somewhere Something students. Chatted briefly with Aitken's assistant and congratulated her on the show, a connection made via Some FAB. Didn't linger too long in the stuffiness of the crowded galleries, compounded by hair spray and essential oils. We headed back downtown in the fuzzy fresh air of the warm L.A. summer night.