José Lozano, Victor Gastelum, Ixrael

When: Artist Reception: Saturday, April 10, 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Where: Avenue 50 Studio, 131 No. Avenue 50, Highland Park, CA 90042

The Avenue 50 Studio will host an art exhibit of drawings and paintings by three L.A. based artists, José Lozano, Victor Gastelum, and Ixrael. Tres Caídas/Three Strikes refers to the ongoing interest these three artists have in Mexican wrestling.

Tres Caídas/Three Strikes speaks to the three falls in a wrestling match which determines who wins or loses. The word “caídas” means falls, and can refer to religion as in the falls of Christ, or to one’s state in society, as in fallen from grace or on hard times. The number three has magical, superstitious and cabalistic properties. There are three wishes, three chances, three strikes, three blind mice, three wise men and three stooges. The phrase “Tres Caídas” envelopes an array of interpretations, this exhibit will add a few more.

About our Artists:

José Lozano: “I would like people to look at my work as if being let in on a joke, with the punch line sometimes being sweet, sometimes unsettling, bitter, tender – like life”. Lozano uses popular iconography to deal critically with the question of mass production and commercial infiltration in our lives – a takeoff of Chicanismo, wit, and political commentary. Lozano received in B.A., M.A. and M.F.A. at California State University, Fullerton.

Victor Gastelum: “I mix iconography to create my own icons.” Gastelum creates his “street art” by using a combination of spray-paint, high-contrast drawings and acetate stencils, appropriating Chicano icons and adding graffiti iconography.

Ixrael: Ixrael was born in Mexico City. He studied at the Academy of San Carlos. His work was featured in the Salon de Artes Plásticas in Mexico City, in Tijuana for his “Zona Norte” Proyecto de Pintura Fronteriza show, and at the Casa de la Cultura for his Ando Grabando Gráfica de Tijuana exhibit. Ixrael currently lives and works in L.A. where he has presented several solo as well as group shows.

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“Tres Caídas/Three Strikes” runs from April 6 through May 2, 2004 and is free to the public. Studio hours: Tuesday through Thursday 10-12 noon; Saturday and Sunday 10-4 p.m.