Artist/Curator Nat George
Nat George is a visual artist, curator, and art educator in Los Angeles. She exhibits locally and internationally, and strives to explore alternative, collaborative, and artist-led curatorial initiatives that reflect changing paradigms in how we exhibit, write about, and critique art.
At this time of the year, many of us are looking for ways to give back. There are several worthy causes in our beloved Downtown core, but since this is The Grawn after all, I wanted to focus on an organization that blends charitable giving with the visual arts, and supports a very unique group of artists.
As many of you know, the Downtown Art Center (DAC) Gallery on Main has been a staple of Gallery Row since 2008. The DAC exhibits established and mid-career local and international artists, and in recent years has introduced several innovative newcomers to the Downtown art scene, such as Ty Pownall and David Jang, featuring large scale installations constructed with found objects or recycled materials, and incorporating kinetic or mechanical elements.
As a nonprofit space, the DAC is a meeting point of diverse communities and practices, offering cultural programming that reaches beyond the commercial aspects of the art business.
A little-known fact about DAC Gallery is that it also represents a group of approximately 150 professional artists living with intellectual disabilities. The gallery is funded by E.C.F. (Exceptional Children’s Foundation), a nonprofit established in 1945 to enrich the lives of children and adults with special needs. Adjacent to the gallery, you may be surprised to find a large studio (one of four in Los Angeles) where artists from the ECF Art Centers program develop their work. Assisted by artist-mentors, this talented group receives training in a variety of techniques, creating profoundly inspirational art in mediums ranging from painting and mixed media, to printmaking, ceramics, and non-traditional sculpture.
The DAC supports ECF artists by providing exhibition opportunities and professional representation, partnering with innovative organizations, businesses and individuals who share in this vision. Many of the established artists on the DAC’s roster are actively involved in promoting the program and play an important role in its continued growth.
I discovered the DAC and adjacent studio back in 2009 while looking for a gallery to host a group exhibition. I had no idea such a program existed and was blown away by the space, by the instructors, and especially by the artists so intently engaged in the art making process, many working on paper, others on large canvases. During my visit, a small group was operating the printing press, while another was constructing intricately detailed clay sculptures.
It was truly inspiring to see, and in many ways reminded me of a time when becoming an artist meant working under an experienced mentor, receiving hands-on training that was crucial to honing your craft. But there was nothing traditional about this setup; artists were encouraged to explore areas of personal interest, while mentors adapted their teaching methods to individual needs.
Soon after, I became a volunteer and was subsequently offered a staff position as a painting instructor, eventually moving to the gallery side to help promote and represent ECF artists, as well as working as a guest curator or co-curator on select exhibitions.
I am still personally and professionally committed to the DAC, and own several pieces of art created by ECF artists, who continue to surprise and inspire me. DAC Gallery and ECF Art Centers are making important contributions to culture and society, searching for deeper voices in the contemporary art community, bridging the gap between insider and outsider artist, and engaging differently-abled individuals on a level playing field in the art scene.
This December, the DAC presents Assembly, an exhibition featuring hundreds of works by ECF artists; proceeds from sales directly benefit the program. The shows opening reception is Thursday, December 12, 2013 – 6-9PM
You can also visit DAC Gallery on Amazon Art at http://www.amazon.com/shops/dacgallery where hundreds of works are available for purchase, or make your tax-deductible contribution at http://www.ecf.net/donate.
Dac Gallery is located at 828 S Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90014 DACGallery.com.
