Lights, Action, Color: Living at Home with Art

By ALISON ROWE | Special to the Palisadian-Post

Sitting on Jacquie Israel’s comfortable sofa in the Alphabet Streets is a great way to find out what it’s like to live with world-class art.

Pictures hang on every wall, from Joshua Petker’s large-scale floral to the delicate mixed-media painting of Seiko Tachibana.

Photos, prints, small sculptures and mixed-media pieces create a harmonious whole as we move through the space.

There is even art in the bathroom.

Notable were Gail Albert-Halaban’s photographs, which capture the Parisian life in a “Rear Window” style—each illuminated window a scenario—and Chyrum Lambert’s bold, painterly collages.

Texture is a feature. Alison Fosheé uses staples to make filigrees that look as though they’ve been stitched with silver thread. A Caroline Larsen piece resembles woven plastic but is, in fact, painted. Cynthia Ona Innis works with paper and fabric to create a shimmering mirage of sky and sea in environmental transition.

It is the 10th year that Israel has opened the home she shares with her family and pets to the public.

Many would shrink at such intimacy, but for Israel, the enthusiasm to show art as vital part of daily life has grown with each year.

Her idea is to introduce visitors to art they can love and afford by showing it in situ.

“I try to create a really welcoming space for people to figure out what they like,” she said.

In her annual exhibitions, she steers a course through the stale and the outré to select quality pieces that she knows will complement Palisadian homes. It’s her view that beautiful houses are complemented by well-chosen art, to the benefit of all.

When asked how her sons react to living among a changing collection, she reported that their responses are something she definitely watches.

“I’m believing and keeping my fingers crossed [that] when they’re adults they’ll feel fortunate to have been surrounded by so much amazing art and will have a greater appreciation for it overall,” she explained.

That’s something that seems has already happened with the eldest.

As a curator and guide, Israel can be relied upon to know the ins and outs of the art world. Her enthusiasm for sharing new work is palpable.

This year she featured the installation artists FriendsWithYou after seeing their work at the Museum of Contemporary Art and at Santa Monica Pier.

The inclusive message of their virtual reality piece, “Light Spirit,” resonated with her and made her determined to bring them to Pacific Palisades.

“Virtual reality is such a big thing happening in the world of art now and it is so exciting to have that here,” Israel said.

She issued an invitation to all Palisadians: “If you’re walking with a friend, if you’re having lunch, come in and see some art.”

The current show is open through April, by appointment. For more information, visit
arthousela.com.