BE KIND, REWIND

Featuring Adam Greener, Karolina Leonte, Johan Andersson, Betsy Enzensberger and Dave Mason

18th October- 18th November 2023

VIP opening reception 18th October 6-9pm sponsored by Casa Luigi

In an era where the relentless march of technology propels us forward, “Be Kind, Rewind” invites you to press pause, rewind the tape of your life, and journey through the delicate tapestry of nostalgia. This exhibition celebrates the evocative power of art to transport us to times, both personal and collective, when the world felt both bigger and more intimate.

The very title, “Be Kind, Rewind,” captures the essence of this nostalgic voyage. It echoes the act of winding back the clock, summoning emotions from the depths of our memories. It is an invitation to be kind to ourselves, to cherish and relive moments gone by, and to find solace in the beauty of simpler times.

Each of the artists featured in “Be Kind, Rewind, offers their unique perspective on the theme. Their work serves as portals to yesteryears, inviting you to save savor and relive moments that have slipped through the fingers of time. In these artworks, you will encounter a spectrum of emotions, from the exuberant delight of childhood explorations to the serene contemplation of quiet moments spent with loved ones.

Everything Must Go by Adam Greener

The textures, colors, and forms on display, reflect the

diverse landscapes of memory, and the ever present, bitter, sweet, longing, for what once was. We invite visitors to wander through our gallery, to immerse themselves in the reverie of nostalgia, and to rediscover the profound beauty in the simplicity of the past. As they do, they may find that in the act of rewinding, there is a kindness — a gentle reminder that the moments that have shaped us all are never truly lost.

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The Candy Shop by Karolina Leonte

Date Night mix tape by Betsy Enzensberger

Happy Boy by Johan Andersson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 2023

Media contact: Michelle Tift

Upcoming group exhibition at Art Unified michelle@lapechecreative.com 347.262.3210

[Venice, California] — In an era where the relentless march of technology propels us forward, Art Unified’s upcoming group exhibition ‘Be Kind, Rewind’ invites us to press pause, rewind the tape, and journey through nostalgia, specifically of the late 20th century. Investigating the past elicits a spectrum of emotions, from the exuberant delight of childhood explorations to the turmoil of young adulthood. However, now, through the lens of our present with the future barreling towards us, the days gone by avail themselves in hyper-exuberant textures, colors, and forms. The work of the five artists featured in Be Kind, Rewind reflects the diverse landscapes of memory.

Dave Mason's nostalgia-scape photograph, bearing the title of the show Be Kind, Rewind, sets the stage for the exhibition’s journey through time. Mason gathered collectibles from the '80s for two years, culminating in a collage of curated objects scattered across a vintage entertainment center. A reclined figure with their back to the viewer gives off a laissez-faire attitude to life—nothing has become before this moment. Long live rock-n-roll and video games.

Pop culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s is ripe with iconography that shaped the youngest minds. Through his large-scale, seemingly torn pages from the notebook of a distracted grade-schooler, Adam Greener invites us into the realm of youthful imagination. Greener’s Everything Must Go combines television commercials and home shopping channels with subverting parents' authority to illustrate how the young mind processes the chaotic swirl of imagery. With this series of acrylic and ink drawings, Greener taps into memories of his early visual preoccupations and represents them with a witty, provocative, not-so-grown-up eye. As children, few things fascinate us more than candy. The cult of sugar was universally celebrated. The hyperrealism of the larger-than-life oil-colored pencil drawing series The Candy Shop by Karolina Leonte breathes a renewed passion into this obsession with a seductive overtone playing to our desire for the sweet life. The work of Greener and Leonte reflects on how early experiences—cognitive, social, and emotional—are intricately woven with our cultural iconography.

Coming of age during this era was as redolent with soul searching as it was with neon colors and bedazzled dreams. Johan Andersson challenges our perceptions of popular culture not to condemn through his Untitled painting but rather to help us discover ourselves. During the formative years, the pull to appease is intense. Andersson recognizes the beauty with unwavering authenticity, as seen in his subject’s eyes, in diversity as a stark confrontation of distorted identities the youthful self imposes. The vehicle of the time to self-express was the mixtape. The authority of this medium was unparalleled—crushes were wooed, vibes were set, broken hearts expressed, and best friendships solidified. Their power was in them being a one-of-a-kind expression of feelings made explicitly for the recipient. Betsy Enzensberger captures this feeling with her Magical Mix Tapes, crafted from cast resin and adorned with hundreds of crystals. These artworks memorialize the zeitgeist of this era.

‘Be Kind, Rewind’ is an invitation to be gentle with ourselves and find solace in the aesthetics of nostalgia.

Join us for the opening reception of 'Be Kind, Rewind' on Wednesday, October 18th, from 6-9 pm. The exhibition will run from October 18th through November 18th, 2023, at Art Unified, 1329 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291. Open daily, 11 am-7 pm.

Art Unified pushes the boundaries of art by being at the forefront of the contemporary art scene and pioneering a fresh relationship between artist and audience through pop-up exhibits, art fairs, public placements, live art supper clubs, art apparel, and giclee prints. Art Unified seeks to hold both the intimate and the infinite, knowing that art can shape the conversations in our homes and the directions of our lives.

contact@artunified.com | 310.591.4805