Local 88 @ The ARTery Gallery @ The LAB

Last night was also the opening of "Local 88," a group show by 17 local artists at The ARTery Gallery behind Urban Outfitters at The LAB Anti-Mall in SoBeCa on Bristol in Costa Mesa (do I really have to say all that or do you already know where this is?)

The ARTery is a series of corrugated metal container units which form surprisingly attractive and hip exhibit spaces. Its primary aesthetic emphasis is to provide a space for emerging young artists to exhibit their work. As such, the work varies widely in subject matter (and in quality) from show to show, but I've found that it's always worth a visit and it's so easily accessible, there's really no excuse not to drop by (besides...it's near Memphis, a favorite watering hole and eatery that I alreayd have no excuse not to drop by).

Stephen Crout, The ARTery's director/curator, is an out-of-work young film artist for whom programming the gallery is a labor of love--and sometimes he even gets his ideas past SoBeCa owner Shaheen Sadeghi, and artist himself.

Most notable in the "Local 88" show is Krystie Sargent's skateboard art. But there's something for everyone in this show, which runs through August 30th.