Project Description

LESSONS FROM UNDERGROUND: An Art Group Exhibition.
December  1st – 5th, 2006
209 S. Garey Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Curated by Omar Holguin, Director and Owner of La Mancha Gallery

“Lessons from Underground” inspired by the current Los Angeles art scene movement – the concept was taken from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel “Notes From Underground”, where contempt for nineteenth-century utilitarianism, a school of thought that attempted to use mathematical formulas and logical proofs to align man’s desires with his best interests. The Underground Man complains that man’s primary desire is to exercise his free will, whether or not it is in his best interests. In the face of utilitarianism, man will do nasty and unproductive things simply to prove that his free will is unpredictable and therefore completely free. This exhibit features paintings, photography and block-prints from the La Mancha Gallery’s Collective which include some of Los Angeles best established underground artist who have exhibited all over the U.S. and even ventured outside of the U.S. into Mexico and Europe.

Contributing artists include: RETNA, GERMS, Melly Trochez, Shizu Saldamando, Poli Marichal, Daniel Gonzalez, Antonio Escalante, Oscar Magallanes, Justin Kempton, RASK, Rafael Rodriguez, Daniel Ortega-Flores, Manuel Barillas, Baron Norris and many more… La Mancha Gallery was born in Los Angles as a vehicle to explore our current social landscape and represent artwork that challenges the status quo along with society’s limitations. La Mancha Gallery not only represents artists that embrace a traditional form of art, but it is also an avenue and voice for intellectual and social criticism. We feel it is essential to address our past as a society and to recognize the present where pressing issues demand an outlet.

La Mancha Gallery is currently a collective of some of the best artist Los Angeles has to offer. Many of the artists have raised from an underground movement and are well respected and revered in many circles. Along with this phenomenal force, La Mancha Gallery also mentors some undiscovered talent in a desire to contribute to the momentum into a movement that is already present. La Mancha Gallery’s mission is to expose the emerging artist the access to art collectors large and small as well as present public exhibitions that set the path to the future through art and expression.

We are committed to expanding the traditional views of contemporary art, thought and expression. La Mancha Gallery’s aim is to be a collective representing a common atmosphere thru diverse ideas and perspectives with the intent to bring together artistic talent and art aficionados.