Free Art Opening at La Luz de Jesus Art Gallery

The Final Aspersion, 2018, oil on canvas, 64.75" x 121.5", $33,000, by Matthew Couper, the largest work in Couper's exhibition In Memory of Water at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Angeles on Friday, May 3, 2019. Two shows are running at La Luz de Jesus from May 3 to June 2: Matthew Couper's solo exhibition In Memory of Water, and the group portrait show Onward featuring artists Michele Melcher, Baldur Helgason, Yeo Kaa, Valery Pobjoy, and Sung Jik Yang. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Art gallery La Luz de Jesus' new art opening debuted on May 3, and runs through June 2. One room features a debut solo exhibition by Matthew Couper, and a second room holds a group exhibition titled “Onward.”

Free art openings at La Luz de Jesus take place on the first Friday of every month. Some of their past art exhibits have featured Robert Williams, SHAG, and Manuel Ocampo. La Luz de Jesus is a champion in the lowbrow art community, and has been displaying art in the Hollywood area since 1986.

Man with Hat, 2019, oil on birch wood in antique Victorian frame, 9" diameter, $850, by Michele Melcher, in the group portrait exhibition Onward at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Angeles on Friday, May 3, 2019. Melcher's husband Brian Isserman described that they shop for the antique frames first, then prepare a wood panel to fit the frame, and then Melcher begins her painting. Two shows are running at La Luz de Jesus from May 3 to June 2: Matthew Couper's solo exhibition In Memory of Water, and the group portrait show Onward featuring artists Michele Melcher, Baldur Helgason, Yeo Kaa, Valery Pobjoy, and Sung Jik Yang. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

This month's solo exhibition by Matthew Couper features one room full of his paintings, all inspired by ecological water systems. The gallery's director Matthew Gardocki says that Couper is from New Zealand, and currently resides in Las Vegas. The exhibit is titled "In Memory of Water."

Couper explains that one of the issues the Southwest faces is water conservation, sustainability, and rights. His choice to live in Las Vegas landed him in the center of the water rights debate.

"Las Vegas is a desert, which is not sustainable. Lake Mead, the biggest human-made reservoir [in the USA] has its water being distributed from that, and it is going to Los Angeles or Arizona … and practically everywhere is unsustainable water wise," explains Couper. "Taking water out of the ecosystem constantly and sending it around the world to sell for a capital gain, that is going to screw your own system.”

The visual influence in Couper's artwork in this exhibition comes from Mexican folk art. Couper’s work pays homage to Mexican history, noting that prior to 1848, the modern southwest region of the U.S. was a part of Mexico.

The group show in the next room is called “Onward.” Michele Melcher, one of the artists featured in that exhibit, flew to Los Angeles for this art opening. "Some big artists come through this gallery, so it is pretty much an honor to be included. I am following in their footsteps, or I hope so," says Melcher.

Melcher often works as an illustrator and participates in gallery shows. Some of her inspiration for her paintings comes from folklore, legends, history, natural science and the supernatural.

There are plenty of other free art shows coming up at “La Luz de Jesus”. Starting on June 7, they will feature Symbiotics, an exhibit where five artists will use language, and symbols to tell stories in their paintings.

“La Luz de Jesus” is located at 4633 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027

Bari Kumar + Billy Shire

Artist Bari Kumar and gallery owner Billy Shire at the opening of In Memory of Water and Onward at Shire's La Luz de Jesus gallery on Hollywood Blvd. in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles on Friday, May 3, 2019. Two shows are running at La Luz de Jesus from May 3 to June 2: Matthew Couper's solo exhibition In Memory of Water, and the group portrait show Onward featuring artists Michele Melcher, Baldur Helgason, Yeo Kaa, Valery Pobjoy, and Sung Jik Yang. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Laura Bogner + "Floyd Shire" w Billy Shire + Mark Johnson

Owner-instructor at Glendale Yoga, Laura Bogner, holds La Luz de Jesus gallery owner Billy Shire's dog "Floyd Shire" at the opening of In Memory of Water and Onward at Shire's La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles on Friday, May 3, 2019. Behind Bogner is her husband Mark Johnson, who manages vacation rentals in Joshua Tree. Two shows are running at La Luz de Jesus from May 3 to June 2: Matthew Couper's solo exhibition In Memory of Water, and the group portrait show Onward featuring artists Michele Melcher, Baldur Helgason, Yeo Kaa, Valery Pobjoy, and Sung Jik Yang. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

The Final Aspersion, detail

Detail, The Final Aspersion, 2018, oil on canvas, 64.75" x 121.5", $33,000, by Matthew Couper, the largest work in Couper's exhibition In Memory of Water at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Angeles on Friday, May 3, 2019. Two shows are running at La Luz de Jesus from May 3 to June 2: Matthew Couper's solo exhibition In Memory of Water, and the group portrait show Onward featuring artists Michele Melcher, Baldur Helgason, Yeo Kaa, Valery Pobjoy, and Sung Jik Yang. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Wacko

Interior view of the books, posters, gifts, toys, and curiosities available at the densely packed shop Wacko, part of owner Billy Shire's triad with Soap Plant and La Luz de Jesus Gallery, all located at 4633 Hollywood Blvd. in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles on Friday, May 3, 2019. This is the fourth location for Shire's ongoing pop culture venture which started as Soap Plant, a project by Shire's parents Barbara and Hank Shire in 1971. Shire's mother sold her hand-crafted soaps, his father designed graphics and ran the store, his brother Peter Shire made ceramics, and Billy Shire made leatherware that sold to clients like The New York Dolls and Elton John. By 1984 Soap Plant had moved from Silverlake to Melrose, and Billy Shire, now the sole owner of Soap Plant, added Wacko, a shop offering postcards, Japanese robots, tin wind-ups, ephemera, games, and novelties. In 1986 Shire added a third branch, La Luz de Jesus gallery, an early mover in the California "Lowbrow" art movement. Juxtapose magazine would eventually declare Shire, “the Peggy Guggenheim of Lowbrow.” In 1995 Shire moved Soap Plant, Wacko, and La Luz de Jesus gallery to their present location in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

La Luz de Jesus 2

Opening reception for Matthew Couper's exhibition In Memory of Water at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Angeles on Friday, May 3, 2019. Through the open walkway the opening of the group portrait show Onward can be seen in the next gallery. Two shows are running at La Luz de Jesus from May 3 to June 2: Matthew Couper's solo exhibition In Memory of Water, and the group portrait show Onward featuring artists Michele Melcher, Baldur Helgason, Yeo Kaa, Valery Pobjoy, and Sung Jik Yang. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Wacko, Soap Plant, La Luz, exterior

Gallery visitors entering, exiting, and milling outside of Wacko, Soap Plant, and La Luz de Jesus gallery, owner Billy Shire's three-legged art and pop culture retail project, at 4633 Hollywood Blvd. in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles on Friday, May 3, 2019. This is the fourth location for Shire's ongoing pop culture venture which started as Soap Plant, a project by Shire's parents Barbara and Hank Shire in 1971. Shire's mother sold her hand-crafted soaps, his father designed graphics and ran the store, his brother Peter Shire made ceramics, and Billy Shire made leatherware that sold to clients like The New York Dolls and Elton John. By 1984 Soap Plant had moved from Silverlake to Melrose, and Billy Shire, now the sole owner of Soap Plant, added Wacko, a shop offering postcards, Japanese robots, tin wind-ups, ephemera, games, and novelties. In 1986 Shire added a third branch, La Luz de Jesus gallery, an early mover in the California "Lowbrow" art movement. Juxtapose magazine would eventually declare Shire, “the Peggy Guggenheim of Lowbrow.” In 1995 Shire moved Soap Plant, Wacko, and La Luz de Jesus gallery to their present location in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Michele Melcher + Brian Isserman 3

Artist and illustrator Michele Melcher, and her husband Brian Isserman, a creative director in brand design, from Carversville, Pennsylvania, share a quiet moment at the opening of Onward, a group portrait show that features four of Melcher's intimate, neo-baroque portraits in precious Victorian frames, at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Angeles on Friday, May 3, 2019. Two shows are running at La Luz de Jesus from May 3 to June 2: Matthew Couper's solo exhibition In Memory of Water, and the group portrait show Onward featuring artists Michele Melcher, Baldur Helgason, Yeo Kaa, Valery Pobjoy, and Sung Jik Yang. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)