Exhibitions

October 14 – November 11:

Memento Mori and the Macabre

The Long Beach Creative Group, in partnership with Bunny King Productions, is presenting Memento Mori and The Macabre, an exhibition of works that explore the fragile beauty and impermanence of life. The exhibition is being presented in the Rod Briggs Gallery, located at 2221 E Broadway in Long Beach, CA. Artist receptions are on Saturday and Sunday, October 14 and 15, from 1-4 pm. A brief opening ceremony will take place within the first hour of each reception. Costumes are welcome. The show runs through Saturday, November 11.

Throughout the months of October and November there will be 23 immersive experiences, both for children and adults, in visual arts, music, literature, theater, and the mystic arts. There will be costumed read-alouds, a performance of opera songs, a masquerade ball, four opportunities to receive tarot card readings, and discussions of the history and rituals associated with Memento Mori.

Helen Werner Cox, Exhibition Coordinator for the Long Beach Creative Group, conceived of the theme.

“I have always been a Halloween enthusiast,” Cox said, “and know that many adults and families share my excitement. Bunny King Productions helped shape our programming, creating immersive experiences with art, music, acting, and costumes. Their experience and professionalism have been invaluable.”

Austin James, one of the principals of Bunny King Productions, said, “Memento Mori and the Macabre reminds us to appreciate and truly live each moment of our race from womb to tomb.”

Nearly 300 pieces were submitted to the show, each considered carefully by jurors Dave Clark, Kay Erickson, and Juan Gomez. From those, 66 pieces were selected, created by 56 artists. In addition to the jurored works, Darwin Grey, Jennifer Miller, and Emily Babette Gross were invited to include pieces in the exhibition.

Assistant Exhibit Coordinator Travis Stock-Tucker said “I believe that, within the haunting beauty of these art works, we find a profound reminder that life’s impermanence is an essential part of the human experience.”

In addition to the artist receptions and opening ceremonies, there will be dramatic readings of Edgar Allen Poe and Neal Gaimon on Friday, October 20 from 5-7 pm, and Sunday, October 29 from 2-4 pm. Shirley Jackson and Bram Stoker will be featured on Saturday, October 21 from 4-6 pm, and Friday, November 3 from 5-7 pm. Works by Mary Shelley and Clive Barker will be presented on Saturday, October 28 from 4-6 pm, and on Friday, November 10 from 5-7 pm. There will also be read-alouds for young children, ages 2-6, from 1-1:45 pm, and ages 6-12 from 2-3 pm, both on Saturdays, October 21 and 28. A complete and comprehensive list of all these events can be found on the Special Events page.

This exhibition is made possible, in part, by the Port of Long Beach, the Arts Council for Long Beach, the City of Long Beach, and the ongoing support of the Briggs Family Trust.

Upcoming Exhibitions

2024

January 7 to February 3:

Tatu Tabu

We’ve invited well-known tattoo artists from San Pedro and Long Beach to present the paintings and drawings they create outside their tattoo practices. The oldest shop in Long Beach, Outer Limits, will present the history of tattoos. There will be opportunities for the public to share the stories behind their own body art.

March 2 to March 30:

This Is Not A Pipe: What Is Reality? 

This open call explores the concept of perception and reality through the lens of Magritte’s series, “The Treachery of Images.” The central question posed by the exhibit challenges viewers to reconsider their understanding of reality by questioning the nature of images. Artists are encouraged to delve into the connection between language and images, showcasing contemporary surrealism and magical surrealism. This is particularly relevant in our electronic era, as we sift through a barrage of images daily, and grapple with the implications of AI and images that exist only in an ephemeral state.

April 28 to May 25:

In Color

Guest curator, Marie Thibeault, is inviting artists who explore the many possibilities of color, not as a secondary thought, but as a venture of the highest importance, placing intrinsic value upon this most critical device in painting. These artists use color to communicate emotion, empathy, memory and embodiment. Color will be immersive, evoking imagery through light, building chromatic complexity, and conveying imaginative spaces that can be seen and felt.

June 22 to July 20:

The Power of Visibility: Boldness in LGBTQ+ Art

This open call connects with the vibrant LGBTQ+ community and provides much-needed representation and visibility. Their artworks will shine a light on their stories and struggles, and give voice to their unique perspectives and lived experiences. Better visibility will promote acceptance and understanding, as a step in advancing equity and social justice.

August 18 to September 14:

Annual Show Shakeup

Each board and auxiliary member will invite one artist to join the exhibition—preferably someone who has not exhibited with us before. Board members will provide special events for artists, including how to mat and frame artwork, how to hang a show, tips in applying for open calls, and how to talk about the intention of their work.

October 12 to November 9:

S.T.E.A.M.: Artistry Unleashed

The exhibition celebrates the imaginative and inventive nature of S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). It highlights the role of Long Beach as Space Beach. The artwork can encompass a variety of art, like kinetic sculptures, light installations, data-driven artworks, enlarged microscopic images, and representations of climate change. A guest curator will invite artists who explore the intersections of these disciplines, embracing scientific knowledge as a powerful tool for artistic expression.