Very often, half the fun of viewing an art exhibition is rifling through the goodies at the adjacent gift shop. More likely than not, we purchase a $1 dollar postcard image of a $15,000 dollar work of art. A post card is certainly nothing to get excited about, but at Black Maria Gallery’s offshoot, Under the Table in Atwater Village, it’s not only art lovers who get to appreciate this unique artist store, it’s anyone who loves to buy unique gifts.

Black Maria Gallery opened in 2005 and was soon touted by established gallery owners and artists alike, as a legitimate artist space for new and established artists of a non-mainstream lilt, often called, “low-brow, avante garde, underground or subversive.” Next door to the gallery is Under the Table store. It was here that I spoke to the owner, Zara Zeitountsian. She greeted me with the warmest of smiles and talked about her gift shop and her passion for the “street” art of the east side of LA.

How did she pick her artists? Their art… “must have a narrative,” she said. Her father is a writer and she believes in art that has a story to tell. The current exhibition, Menace & Charm: The Nostalgia of Childhood, is a collection of interpretations of dark dreams.

The artist gift shop opened in 2006. Zara, who has an MBA in Business, doesn’t hide her excitement for her business venture that mixes creativity with business acumen. Under the Table got its name from the gallery patrons who would ask Zara if there where uncommon artworks stored “under the table.” She got the idea of providing special items, made by the artists she represents, at affordable prices, for the avid collector or creative shopper, and in doing so, encouraged consumers as well as artists to the store. A few of the featured artists in Under the Table are, Jaime Zollars, Nanami Cowdroy, Amy Sol. Cool gift designs come from and include, Little Otsu, Kid Robot, Red Cap, and Toys2R. The unique gift ideas are endlessly creative: limited-edition prints, miniature paintings, buttons, pins, postcards, t-shirts, and collectible vinyl toys. Zara is passionate about the diverse art in east LA and hopes to continue to showcase the so called “urban” and “street” non-mainstream art.

Menace & Charm: The Nostalgia of Childhood at the Black Maria Gallery runs to May 24^th, 2008.

Under the Table
3139 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039 | 323.660.9393 Black Maria Gallery 3137 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 900390Tuesday-Saturday 12-6pm or by appointment.

(average rating: 1 out of 5)

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