Flux Art Space is celebrating its three-year birthday today with the opening of “Small Works in Flux: a BIG show of little works by 65 artists.”
On Friday, Dec. 3, gallery director Betsy Lohrer Hall was putting the finishing touches on the exhibition.
“Seeing how their work speaks together, that’s the fun part for me about setting up the show,” Lohrer Hall said. “Seeing how it all talks to each other.”
The pieces in the exhibition come from far and wide, but most artists have some connection to Long Beach, whether they were students in the city or longtime residents who moved abroad.
Several artists have shown their works in galleries internationally. Others are just beginning their careers.
Spaced about a foot apart, the white walls of Flux were covered in paintings, weavings, drawings and sculptures. None are larger than a few inches in size, thus the subtitle “BIG show of little works.”
The exhibition was inspired by a John Cage exhibit she saw at MOCA, where pieces were constantly moved and rearranged throughout its viewing period.
Since pieces from the show can be purchased and taken home the same day, the exhibition will change from week to week in constant flux, like the gallery itself.
“I believe that creativity is like a central integral part of life, not something that’s a frilly extra,” Lohrer Hall said. “It’s healing for the maker, and it’s healing for the viewer.”
Three years in flux
The show marks Lohrer Hall’s third year directing and curating at Flux Art Space—a gallery on Termino Avenue just a stone’s throw away from Plantiitas—a space that’s been her studio since 2001.
“The street was kind of quiet then,” she said.
Then, a dress shop opened. Next, the Hangout’s Family Store began holding events. The street got busy.
“I realized, there’s no point in my hiding away in here, doing art all by myself when people, the general public, anybody can walk by and enjoy art,” she said.
A series of “serendipitous events,” beginning with a remodel in 2017, ended with Flux Art Space: a studio in the back and a gallery space in the front.
“It wanted to be born,” she said.
The space opened during a year when divisiveness was thriving, and Lohrer Hall said she felt a need to “counterbalance cruelty.”
“I think understanding and honoring each other is important,” she said. “I think also underlying that is, I feel a strong need to advocate for diverse people, you know? A diverse array of perspectives.”
The gallery had a soft opening, holding small art events for the community before launching its first show: a duo of photographers, a teacher and their former student.
Later, Michael Nannery would host a participatory show titled “May Your Skies Always Be Blue,” where the gallery’s large front window would be covered in art made on blue Post-It notes.
“The space with the sunlight coming through glowed blue. There was nothing else in this front space, and it just made the most beautiful, calming color,” Lohrer Hall said. “Every show has its magical moments.”
The gallery has held talks from Black abstract artists (initiated by Lisa Diane Wedgeworth), made space for the local youth-led Art Realm Collective (curated by Brandie Lachelle Davison), showcased works exploring African spirituality and pandemic isolation—all the while creating a gathering space for the community.
“There are some people that come by almost every day. There are some kids in the neighborhood who feel comfortable that just wander in,” she said, regularly waving to residents taking a peek into the window as she spoke. “See? I love that.”
More recently, a VavNet exhibition (Annette Heully and Vav Vavrek) filled the gallery space with a massive weaving made from space blankets overlaid with video projections. The gallery was open at night to emphasize the projections.
As people passed the gallery, she saw their hesitance to enter. Some probed how much it cost to view.
“‘Just go in, check it out,’” she said. “Just knowing that it’s here, you don’t have to pay an entry fee to come in and view the work.”
Along with the goal of creating a free space for residents to enjoy art, she also wanted to connect local artists with each other.
“Being an artist is an unconventional approach to life, sometimes it’s a difficult path,” she said. “I would venture to guess a lot of artists don’t necessarily feel like they picked it, more like the path picked them.”
Shows like “Small Works at Flux” bring together artists from different backgrounds to have conversations and foster connections.
“When I’m in an art context with someone, and through conversation, we learn something new or someone discovers something and shares it, I love that,” she said. “You can’t put a label on it, but it happens, and I love that. That’s beyond any price. It’s invaluable.”
In turn, they also create opportunities for residents to experience a broad range of artworks.
“I think that the arts in Long Beach are one of its most valuable assets. And I don’t mean monetary, I mean the arts have intrinsic value,” Lohrer Hall said. “And I hope that Long Beach as a community will be smart about continuing to support art and make space for art. Because I think that’s part of the richness of living.”
“Small Works at Flux” will run from Saturday, Dec. 4 to Wednesday, Dec. 22. Free, timed-entry tickets are required for opening night (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and are available on Eventbrite.
The gallery is open from Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. during exhibitions and open by appointment on Fridays and Sundays.
