ART & DESIGN

Barn Rising: Scenes from an Unusual Art Fair at Paramount Ranch

by Job Piston

IMG_1849edit

Forget convention centers and tented structures. Paramount Ranch, set in the Santa Monica mountains on an old film set from the days of Gunfight at the OK Corral, is the wild west of art fairs. It ended its three-year run this weekend. Here, scenes from the final showdown before the ride into the sunset.

1

As you approach Paramount Ranch, you can spot Paul McCarthy’s inflatable butt nestled in the cheeks of the Santa Monica mountains.

2

Mark A. Rodriguez’s freestanding smiling flower pot cut-outs are ready-made knock offs from flower shops he passes by in West Hollywood everyday.

3

Eleonora Meoni’s “At the Bar” was conceived as a social and exhibition space for artgoers and for artists to meet with their gallerist. This is the version opened at the ranch. She’s hungover, and wearing a sweatshirt by Maria Adele del Vecchio.

4

Soshiro Matsubara at Misako & Rosen.

5

The view from above.

6

Jannis Varelas at The Breeder.

7

Artist Rosson Crow and Jeremy Scott.

8

The jail at Freedman Fitzpatrick with work by Mathis Altmann.

9

Jay Ezra Nayssan, who operates Del Vaz Projects, brought out the jeep and pop-up, one-stop glam shop: an outdoor installation with paintings by Nahuel Vecino, floorworks by Sophie Stone, haircuts by Lydia Hawng atop a Jessi Reaves barber stool. Plus, S&M-inspired swimsuits by Mishkan Swim.

10

Mishkan Swim designer Nicolette Mishkan, who also moonlights as Permaid—aka the Persian Mermaid—models her own collection, which might be described as “S&M poolside in Palm Springs.”

11

Newly appointed Flash Art Special Projects coordinator Cyril Duval, aka artist ITEM IDEM, kickstarted his first collaboration for the magazine with a macrobiotic sushi plate designed after the Issey Miyake cover.

12

Paintings by Monique Mouton and drawings by Susan Cianciolo at Bridget Donahue.

13

Taylor Trabulus and Reba Maybury.

14

Annettte Kelm’s hanky code at König Galerie.

15

Paul McCarthy’s chocolate shop was open at his daughter Mara McCarthy’s gallery, The Box.

16

Jeffrey Deitch.

17

New gear at Eckhaus Latta.

18

Zoe Latta, with friend.

19

Gallerist Bridget Donahue and artist Francis Stark.

20

Danny McDonald at Maccarone, hulking out.

21

A taco truck lunch with artists Jason Bailer Losh and Jake Kean Mayman outside Maccarone, which occupied the Western set’s bank.

22

Artist Shana Lutker and her companion Vern.

23

Artist Doug Aitken and friend.

24

GURT creative director Christophe Argodale and squad.