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Arts & Entertainment

All Characters Welcome at WWA Gallery

"Subtleties of Character" features a wide range of works, from a psychedelic print to an acrylic piece depicting a bear in pajamas.

There was only requirement given to the artists of the "Subtleties of Character" show, currently on display at the : Be yourself. Nothing else–no elaborate theme. Just bring your best work to display, and let's see what happens.

Curator Dan Barry's lineup is his personal playlist of favorite artists, a hodgepodge of sketches, paintings and sculptures that speaks to the whole spectrum of patrons and collectors. The opening reception for the exhibit was held Friday night.

"I wanted this show to be inclusive, so I just told the artists to bring the best work that represents who they are," said Barry, who is a collector and an artist himself.

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Barry went on to say, "There are well-known names and not-so-well-known names featured, but the important thing was to include something from lots of different sources of inspiration."

Bigger-name artists include Ana Bagayan, who is showing a pencil sketch. One of the less-familiar artists is Norbert H. Kox, whose psychedelic "Stoned Rock" print has a headband-wearing Christ figure inhaling smoke from out of an insect.

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"Norbert is this older hippie artist who does really fascinating stuff," Barry said.

In the gallery, the artists invite patrons to submit their own personal stories. Daniel Lim, who usually goes by the pseudonym "Fawn Fruits," attached his real name to his. Lim started his piece, "Sweet Friends," in front of a classroom as an example of his work. But after two hours of drawing, he felt inspired to bring the piece to life.

"I knew I was going to do something with it, but I didn't have much idea of where I wanted to go," Lim said. "I told my classroom that they had to do something personal like this, but with a much bigger canvas, so they would force themselves to see what type of artist they are."

It's not always obvious what type of artist a person might become. Take Edward Robin Coronel, for example: He has a B.S. in Biology, worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 14 years and took up art as a way to relieve stress. His acrylic piece, "Unexpected Kindness," features a bear that loses a button on its pajamas, only to discover that a fairy has found it. The piece is calming and has lots of detail in the pajamas.

"I had a background in the piece, but then I decided that the bear didn't need one, that the piece did fine without it, the bear will be OK," he said.

"Subtleties of Character" runs through January 15.

WWA Gallery, 9517 Culver Blvd., Tue.-Sat., 11-5 p.m. 310-836-4992.

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