Studio City Sun
A Glimpse Into the Underground World of Art

By Sophia Louisa Lee

Ever wonder what the electric pulse of a Saturday night in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles feels like? Ever wonder if there actually is a place where you can be enraptured by live music, DJs, performance art, fashion and original one-of-a-kind art work? Welcome to Cannibal Flower. The nomad art group surfaces once a month in the Los Angeles area, from established galleries to abandoned architectural buildings with doors opening at 9:30 p.m. to a night of raw energy.

Local artist Leonard Crosky, also known as LC, founded and started Cannibal Flower to give a “home” to local emerging artists over five years ago. From just a few artists exhibiting initially, almost 200 artists’ works can be viewed today. Every month new artists are welcomed, sharing the space with the featured artist. Jose Lopes is February’s featured artist (his work beautifully detailed in oil is truly thought provoking, almost to the point of being terrifying), and a retrospective tribute to the sculptures of Harriet Lambert The flavor of the work is varied. Pop surrealism seems to capture the spirit, but other styles can be found as well. Talent fills the walls with a piece to fit every taste, need and want, not to mention price range.

Prices are more than reasonable, since the conceptual idea of Cannibal Flower is for the artist to gain exposure. LC compares selling art to buying stock, “you buy low for an investment. Same thing with an artist. This year you can get a piece for $100, next year it can be five times that.” He also believes, “An artist’s work needs to move. You can’t keep it hidden. It needs to be put somewhere so the painting can find its soul mate.”

Many a piece of art has been purchased through Cannibal Flower – making it a stepping stone to Los Angeles and New York galleries. Such has been the case for artists Thomas Han, Joe Ledbetter and Luke Chueh, among others. They have all shown and sold works through Cannibal Flower and now are known as art superstars. Their work can still be found at a Cannibal Flower show, not because they are emerging artists, but because it has become the event to be at.

LC also wanted to create a place for artists to express their artistic freedom – in all forms – that fit the here and now of Los Angeles. A “typical” night would have The Ninja Academy performing – live music and a performance of martial arts; live painting by an artist (past featured artists have included Nathan Spoor -- who is currently putting together a Cannibal Flower book of the art throughout the years, Cam de Leon, Dennis Larkins, and Chet Zar), a fashion show by a hot talented designer, and artists available to engage in intellectual (or even not-so-intellectual) conversation about their work.

Go in costume to add to the fun (and get a discount for the entrance fee - $7 without costume), check out the art and the people, and have one fantastic night. It’ll be worth remembering. For upcoming locations, go to www.cannibalflower.com.