Art Directors Guild’s Gallery 800 Presents “Scenic Art: Painting Through Time” Honoring Legendary Scenic Artists in Film, Television, Opera & Theater

The Art Directors Guild‘s Gallery 800 (IATSE, Local 800) has announced an exclusive exhibition featuring personal artwork of scenic artists as well as photographs and ephemera that show the everyday working life in scenic departments in film, television, opera and theater. The exhibit opens with a hosted reception on Saturday, June 17, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and features a book signing by Karen Maness, co-author of the book The The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop. Gallery 800 is located at 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in the North Hollywood Arts District.

“Gallery 800 is proud to present a unique exhibition showcasing the rich history of Scenic Art,” said curator Abra Brayman. “We will be featuring original fine artwork by renowned scenic artists, accompanied by their fascinating photographs, stories, painted surfaces, techniques and tools. The show will offer a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of a multifaceted craft and its gifted creators.”

The Scenic Artist exhibit also spotlights the publication of Art of the Hollywood Backdrop, a collaboration between the book’s authors Karen L. Maness and Richard M. Isackes and the Art Directors Guild, which was published by Regan Arts, a Phaidon Global Company, in 2016. The Art Directors Guild Archives joined forces with the book’s authors to compile a definitive behind-the-scenes history of scenic artists who crafted the iconic but now endangered art form of the Hollywood backdrop.

Gallery 800, located in the heart of the Noho Arts District, showcases Guild members’ personal art in a series of shows throughout the year. These talented artists are leading art department professionals, who, through a combination of observation, passion and imagination, bring the writer’s words and the director’s vision to life in television and film. When not working as integral creative members of the entertainment community, they contribute to the fine art scene with their personal artwork. Since Gallery 800 opened its doors in March 2009, more than 600 ADG members have shown their artwork in the ongoing exhibitions.

Future Gallery 800 Future Exhibits Include (subject to change):

The exhibit organizers are Abra Brayman, curator; Michael Denering, fine arts committee chairman; Rosemarie Knopka, archivist; Karen Maness, co-author of The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop; and Christian McGuire, Gallery 800 staff coordinator.

Gallery 800 is open Thursday – Friday: 12:00 – 8:00 pm; Saturday 2:00 – 8:00 pm; Sundays 12:00 – 6:00pm. For questions about the gallery or artwork, contact (818) 763-8052 or [email protected].