lost highways.

Hi there! Welcome back. Let's not waste any time and get to the love.

Today we are loving the paintings of Long Island-based artist Grant Haffner. Lonely roads dotted only with telephone poles come alive with neon skies. A deceptive emptiness is transformed with mesmerizing plays of color. You don't care where it all leads. You're just happy to be on the the best road trip ever. You can see more of these stunning pieces at Haffner's site and on Instagram. Via UFunk.

All art © Grant Haffner

Also loving: tomorrow night's (Saturday, November 14) art openings.

FP Contemporary hosts "In Tribute," a retrospective of artist Dirk De Bruycker, who passed away this year. 6-8 p.m.

Art © Dirk De Bruycker

Allois presents "No Particular Night or Morning" at the bG Gallery, 6-9 p.m.

Art © Allois

And the David Kordansky Gallery shows "Starfuker" by Aaron Curry, 6-8 p.m.

That's all for now. I'll be back next week with more to love. xoL

stampede.

Hello! I'm back after a bit of a long absence, but as I've said before, nothing stops the blog--so after that little hiccup--let's get back to loving all the amazing stuff there is to love.

Today I'm featuring the fantastical paintings of Portland, OR artist Josh Keyes. In Keyes' fabulous world, it seems that civilization and nature have collided (spoiler alert: nature won), while the animals have risen. Predators abound--but they're not who'd you expect nor where you'd expect to find them. Our planet has been completely turned on its head, and humans are nowhere to be found. Hee!

God, I think it would be so fun to have a fabulous home with a room solely dedicated to these paintings...although falling asleep could be a little tricky.

All art (c) Josh Keyes via UFunk

Now let's take a look at some of the fun things happening tomorrow (Saturday) night:

Movies outdoors are all the rage in L.A., and the Autry is in on it. They'll be showing Grand Budapest Hotel.

Dance maven Heidi Duckler takes over the gorgeous Brand Library in Glendale with her latest show Brush Up. If you've never been to the Brand Library, you are missing some place special.

Photo via Heidi Duckler

The bG Gallery at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica hosts "Island Girls," a group show of women artists.

You're Not Crazy; You're Just Rad (c) Sarah Steiber

And Jack Rutberg Fine Arts presents Ruth Weisberg: Reflections Though Time.

Waterbourne (c) Ruth Weisberg

That's all for now, but I'll be back soon with more to love. xoL

saturday night.

A quick post today, as I have a lot to wrap up before the weekend. Please note: not everything is happening at night tomorrow, so you may want to get an early start. : )

I'm heading out to see the lovely Jillian Lauren read from her new memoir, Everything You Ever Wanted at LitFest Pasadena. Now in it's 4th year, the event features many L.A. literary luminaries (how's that for some alliteration?) in various locations throughout the Pasadena Playhouse District. Also looking forward to seeing Jonathan Gold and Francesca Lia Block.

Photo via @JillianLauren

The CES Gallery in DTLA hosts a group show, Complex Decisions, from 6-9 p.m.

See-through, 2014 by Bryan Ricci via CES

Ambient Horizon Divide, 2015 by Ian Hagarty via CES

And the bG Gallery at Bergamot Station hosts New Nude from 6:30-10 p.m. displaying works by Helmut Newton, Raymond Pettibon, Henry Miller and many more.

Alex Schaefer via bG Gallery

During the afternoon, you can swing by the Echo Park Craft Fair at Mack Sennett Studios from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (also on Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.)...

Photo via LA Racked

...and at night, catch American Cinematheque's Touch of Genius: Orson Welles at 100 double screening of Othello and Chimes at Midnight (Falstaff) at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica.

Lots of cool stuff to get out and see. No lazy Netflix binging this weekend. No excuses. Love, Lexa.

month of photography.

Today kicks off the Month of Photography in Los Angeles, 30 days of exhibits, workshops and lectures all across the city. You can see the entire program of events here and follow on Instagram @monthofphotola.

And here are the two shows I'm most looking forward to:

Skater/street photographer Jerry Hsu presents "A Love Like Mine is Hard to Find" at Slow Culture. Friday, April 3, 7-10 p.m.

All photos © Jerry Hsu

"As Above, So Below" presents works from Diane Arbus to Moby. bG Gallery at Bergamot Station, Saturday, Saturday, April 11, 5:30-9 p.m.

 © Berenice Abbott

 © Diane Arbus

© Moby

Get all the information about this citywide event at monthofphotography.org.

saturday night.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Regen Projects hosts the opening of Glenn Ligon's new exhibit Well it's bye-bye/if you call that gone from 6-8 p.m.

Photos via Art21 @ pbs.org

bG Gallery presents COMBINES, which was Robert Rauschenberg's term for works that combined painting and sculpture. The show will feature pieces by Rauschenberg, Henry Miller, Frank Stella and many, many more. 5:30-8:30 p.m.

G2, the gallery at Giant Robot is hosting Life Forms by Godeleine de Rosamel from 6:30-10 p.m.

And the Merry Karnowsky Gallery is having a reception for artists Glenn Barr, William Wray and devNgosha.

BASEMENT + LAIR by Glenn Barr

devNgosha

AND if I can get there in time NerdMelt Showroom is hosting their Horrible Movie Night featuring Body Rock with Lorenzo Lamas. 

Am I going to make it to every one of these events? Man, I hope so. Wish me luck!