Six years ago, Michael Stearns decided to open a gallery dedicated to contemporary art. An artist himself, Stearns realized that there was a need for Long Beach to have a space that would focus on exhibiting local emerging and mid-career artists who were possibly showing at galleries outside the city.
“The idea was to support the local art community, because there’s a very large amount of artists in this town, but not a lot of galleries for them to show in,” Stearns said.
Since its doors opened, Gallery 33 East became one of the hot-spot galleries for artists (both local and national) to show their works. Some of the artists include Lori LaMont, Todd Brainard, Richard Lopez, Elizabeth Washburn, Adam Normandin and Roderick Briggs – artists whose works are now collected by connoisseurs and museums.
Gallery 33 East had become so popular that the opening receptions would draw up to 300 people in one night. However, despite all the work, dedication and commitment, despite all the artists and varying media, Gallery 33 East is presenting its final show, which closes Nov. 12.
“Transcending,” with new works by Michael Stearns, is a coming-of-age story for both the artist and his gallery.
“I’ve been working on this show for about a year and a half,” Stearns said. “I’m changing from painting to sculpture, working with a lot of recyclable and natural materials – cardboard, leaves, wood, sticks and stones. The idea of this show is about myself transcending, moving to a more spiritual existence.”
Indeed, the exhibit itself conveys a strong spiritual element without having any specific religious point of view.
“Valkyrie,” hanging in the main window, depicts a large, winged sculpture holding a figure in its arms as if carrying it up into the heavens. The wings, made from sticks and eucalyptus leaves, stretch outward, almost angel-like.
“Every Mother’s Soldier” presents a figure suspended over a series of stones by a puppeteer’s wooden brace. Dog tags and medals from various religions hang from the figure’s neck, while an altar with religious symbols from around the world stands in the background.
“When people come around the corner, they all gasp,” said Sheila O’Rourke, the gallery director. “I’ve had people cry. Some say it gives them goose bumps. It just takes their breath away.”
According to Stearns, Gallery 33 East is closing for simply one reason: the economy.
“In this economic climate, people are holding on to their discretionary income and over the past year we noticed a drop in the dollar amounts people were willing to purchase for art,” Stearns said. “And, I could no longer afford to operate in the negative.”
The impact of the gallery’s closing is being felt all around.
LBMA director Ron Nelson said, “I’m sad that it is closing. I understand that Michael invested a lot of his own money into the gallery, but it really was a beacon for artists. The community is really going to feel the loss.”
Although the gallery is closing now, Stearns says that it may re-open in the distant future. For the present, though, the city is losing one of its best galleries and unfortunately, artists are going to lose one their greatest supporters.
The exhibit ends Nov. 12. Gallery 33 East is at 3202 E. Broadway. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Call 433-1496 or visit www.gallery33east.com for more information.
