The Long Beach Creative Group (LBCG) is celebrating its fourth anniversary and Annual Show—a batch of diverse art pieces from their all-volunteer board—with a newly renovated Rod Briggs Memorial Gallery space and an extended contract with the Rod Briggs Family Trust.
The LBCG will spend the next three years continuing its mission of creating opportunities for unknown artists throughout Southern California to show their work in the 2,500-square-foot gallery. Founder and president of the group, Marka Burns, reminisced on their humble beginnings from meetings in her living room to an unexpected invitation that eventually turned into their home.
“We never ever anticipated that it would go in this direction. We didn’t have any idea that we would be offered a major space to work from or to show from,” Burns said. “It became a great opportunity to extend our impact on the community and on the arts community.”
LBCG’s founding was based on the need for more art space in the city. Board members had been showcasing their work at the limited venues in Long Beach and speaking with City Council members about ways to use public space for local artists with little progress.
Burns was attending a gallery reception in November of 2018 and still searching for a space when Cameron Briggs approached her about his late father’s studio and gallery. Rod Briggs was a celebrated Long Beach artist and educator who used a variety of styles to show the beauty in the changing landscape of his city over the decades.
“He said, ‘Well, how would you like to come and see my dad’s studio and gallery? And we could talk about maybe a way in which the creative group could have that space.’ So that’s how it started, kind of casually,” Burns recalled. “I sort of expected it to be like a little storefront, but we walked in there, and honestly … It looks just like an LA gallery.”
The 30-foot-high vaulted ceiling and inviting skylight became a community staple, with the main space featuring as many as 50 artists at one time and the front gallery space showing pieces from Rod Brigg’s collection chosen by his son Cameron to compliment each show.
From Jan. 8 to Feb. 4, the walls at the Rod Briggs Memorial Gallery will showcase recent artworks from the all-volunteer board that makes up the LBCG in its Annual Show. Each artist was given free rein to share whatever creations they are currently proud of, resulting in a diverse, mixed-medium exhibit.
Marka Burns’ 27 paintings in “The Dada Surreal” series fall in line with her usual inspiration, honoring surrealist artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray. The cluster of orange, brown, black and white images create a mirage of faces and bodies and an homage to the surrealist style.
Auxiliary board member and graphic designer Mic Burns chose to showcase his “Galaxy” series of paintings, five colorful and enticing pieces that get smaller in size as you walk down the gallery. The kaleidoscopic artworks are inspired by images taken by NASA’s space telescopes, Hubble and James Webb.
Members have already begun planning the five exhibits that will grace the walls of the Rod Briggs Memorial Gallery in 2023. There will be a show for masters of fine arts and bachelors of fine arts students at Cal State Long Beach, a printmaking exhibit, a collaboration with the Long Beach Open Studio Tour and two open calls, one for pop-surrealism and one for macabre.
The group’s open calls for artwork have brought in over 400 pieces for a single show, Burns said, a testament to the need for a space like the Rod Briggs Memorial Gallery in the region. They also host more specific shows, where six to nine artists are chosen for their works that follow a theme, as well as working with students and educators from local colleges.
“I think what we’re doing is so fulfilling, is that a lot of the people that are chosen for the open call have never exhibited before,” Burns said. “They [the artists] are so elated, and they are so happy to bring their families and bring their friends, and I mean, it’s quite a big goal for a beginning artist to be shown in a proper gallery.”
With the next three years guaranteed at the space, Burns said it has allowed the group to start thinking about their future and how to engage the community even more. The LBCG will soon begin hosting monthly pop-ups and artist salons, where a resident artist will speak to attendees about their project and creative process.
The first event of this nature will take place on Jan. 21 and 22 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., where three Long Beach artists will host a Contemporary Craft Pop-Up Sale for Valentine’s Day gifts. The sale will feature crafts from glassblower Stephen Woodruff, pieces by woodturner Joe Devinny and handmade accessories from Lisette Thierry.
Long Beach Creative Group’s Annual Show will be on display from Jan. 8 to Feb. 4 at the Rod Briggs Memorial Gallery located at 2221 E Broadway. The gallery is open from Fridays to Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
