ARTISTS TRANSFORM 99¢ ONLY STORE® MERCHANDISE INTO CONTEMPORARY ARTWORK IN NEW EXHIBIT AT LAX

(Los Angeles, California – December 1, 2009) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs,announces – “Only 99 Cents!” – an art exhibition of twelve Southern California artists on display at Los AngelesInternationalAirport (LAX).  Using merchandise solely from 99¢ Only Stores®, twelve humorous and sly artworks are on display offering viewers an unexpected art experience inspired by the identity of the everyday discount retailer.          

The free exhibit is located in Terminal 1 on the Upper/Departures Level on view to ticketed passengers through May 3, 2010.

As the oldest single-price retail chain in the United States that attract a spectrum of shoppers from Beverly Hills to Bellflower, curators Barry Markowitz, Stuart Rapeport, and Alison Joy Goldberg followed a tradition of Collage, Assemblage, Pop Art and Identity Art, in selecting artists for the exhibit for their use of “common materials” and store-bought merchandise. 

Apart from basic size limitations, the artists were given no specific instructions as to content or approach in their use of materials to fashion their artworks.  Selected artworks range from flat, sculptural, conceptual, pure and alternative forms of art.

The twelve artists include: Margaret Adachi, Bill Anderson, Byrd Bettis, Elizabeth Bryant, Matthew DeHaven, Michael Gullberg, Betty Phoenix Wan Hamada, Susan Logerecci, Carolyn Mason, Michelle Pauline, Ross Rudel, and Elena Siff. 

            The purpose of the Airport Arts Exhibition Program at LAX and LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT), is to educate and entertain the traveling public, while emphasizing a cultural experience highlighting what makes Los Angeles memorable and interesting.  Exhibits may be historic, popular, artistic, or graphic design in nature and may arise from museums, fine art, archives, environment, or other fields. Exhibitions can be found on display in Terminals 1, 2, 3 and Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX, and Terminals 2 and 4 at LA/Ontario.