Each of the participating artists was given an actual coffin and asked to transform it into a work of art and a personal statement. The works shown in exhibition represent their personal take on death and, as importantly, life through the prism of the funerary object.
Between Life and Death. Works of 16 Los Angeles-area artists
According to gallery owner Zara Zeitountsian, each of the participating
artists was given an actual coffin and asked to transform it into a work of
art and a personal statement.
'Given the diverse stylistic and cultural backgrounds of the artists, their
individual points of view, I think we'll have a quite a collection of
creative approaches to the theme,' said Zeitountsian. 'In terms of pure
functionality, a coffin is certainly one of the most somber, unsightly
objects imaginable, meant to be forever buried or tucked away following a
funeral service. But redefine it as a work of art, and it springs to life in
all sorts of unexpected ways.'
Sam Saghatelian (Saga), curator of Black Maria Gallery, continued: 'In
Western culture and many other cultures around the world, the funeral, and
more specifically the coffin, can be viewed as a halfway point between the
enigma of life and the mystery of death. As a receptacle for the dead, a
coffin is perhaps the only concrete, tactile punctuation mark between the
two realms. The works shown in our exhibition represent the artists'
personal take on death  and, as importantly, life  through the prism of
the funerary object.'
Participants of 'The Coffin Show' comprise both established and emerging
local artists, who have used various media for their exhibited works.
Black Maria Gallery also announced that a portion of the proceeds from the
exhibition will be donated to the 'Caravan of Hope' project, launched by
KPFK and Veterans for Peace Chapter 110 Orange County, CA for victims of the
recent hurricane that devastated The Gulf Coast.
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 8, 7 PM
Black Maria Gallery
3137 Glendale Blvd. - Atwater Village, CA 90039
Hours, Tuesday  Saturday, 12-6pm; and by appointment