By Gordon Durich
Thousand Oaks, CA (The Hollywood Times) 1/15/23 – Friday the 13th January 2023 was a memorable one for visual art in Thousand Oaks. Compound Contemporary, a new exciting and brazen art gallery space opened on Thousand Oaks Boulevard, to much anticipation and acclaim.
Reminiscent of New York, this contemporary art gallery has to be seen to be believed. At the Opening, dubbed the “Friends and Family Friday the 13th Opening” hundreds packed the former unassuming shop and partied.
“All of Hollywood is here,” observed an invited guest who made it past the rope at the front door. And past the bouncers. Indeed, among VIPs the likes of Dave Navarro were amongst the throng. And the art and music faithful came from as far as Venice (Beach, not Italy) and Malibu. Tracy Park (from Malibu’s Tracy Park Gallery) came to witness and be part of the amazing night.
The eclectic art included vintage pinball machines to bold neon Mick Jagger lips, a peace sign, graffiti, paintings prints and sculpture.
Shepard Fairey (famous artist known for his Obama portrait), musicians Billy Morrison (“Tech Hoodie” acrylic and neon on wood panel and “Atlas”) and Navarro (who’s a visual artist) Navarro was a member of Red-Hot Chili Peppers and Jane’s Addiction.
My favorite artworks were the Warholesque portraits of David Bowie as his character Ziggy Stardust; outrageous iconic fashion queen Vivienne Westwood, who took me back to London and Chelsea’s The Kings Road district. Also, to take in were Peanuts’ panels featuring Charlie Brown and Lucy, as well as a portrait of Marlene Dietrich with green neon lettering declaring “Leave Me the Fuck Alone.” Holding court in the gallery’s center was a bloody big (10-feet?) Bob’s Big Boy sculpture holding an aerosol can.
An androgenous attendee with a black-and-white Mohawk wearing a ‘Buy Art Not Cocaine’ tank top over black leather pants and white boots stood out.
Behind Compound Gallery, folks flocked to the open bars, tables loaded with food and music from disc jockey whose handle is D.J. Also.
Sponsors included RISK Rock Studios, Monster Energy Drinks and Tarantula Hill Brewery. Raw and edgy, Compound Gallery won’t need good luck to keep rockin’ on. On opening night, it was already a hit.
Compound Contemporary, 1125 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks.
