The Crossroads Project (Part 1)
Featuring:
Aviante
Dallin L. Moe
Jacquelin Nagel
Curated by Julia Smith and Linda Jo Russell of Range Projects Gallery
January 11 th – February 1, 2025
Opening Reception:
Saturday, January 11 th , 5 – 8pm
LAUNCH Gallery
170 S. La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Launch LA and Range Projects are proud to present six new artists in a cultural collaboration. The Crossroads Project brings together artists and galleries from diverse neighborhoods to explore shared artistic themes and vision. This originative event aims to foster collaboration, open new dialogs and introduce fresh ideas from unique perspectives.
Launch Gallery will present the works of three emerging artists; Jacqueline Nagel, Dallin L. Moe and Aviante curated by Julia Smith and Linda Jo Russell of Range Projects Gallery located on Slauson Avenue in the Park Mesa Heights/Crenshaw District neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Jacquelin Nagel's artistic painting style derives mostly from intuition and is deeply intertwined with her background in floristry and the practice of Ikebana, the traditional art of flower arranging. This influence is largely reflected in her use of form, balance and strong negative space. For Nagel, the symbolic meaning of flowers represents both life and death, but more generally, the concept of growth. She finds growth to be a beautiful process but acknowledges it often brings about disturbing and disquieting emotions. She is interested in how these inner thoughts infringe on reality. Floral elements in her work, accompanied by human body fragments, reach for light, grasping for enlightenment as they swirl and flow over the canvas in a sea of darkness.
Dallin Moe's recent paintings on wood panel embody ideas of growth and transformation. They capture the essence of those awkward, liminal phases in a life where the familiar past is left behind and the future remains uncertain. Each painting is a visual memoir of what it means to persist through the unknown. Moe describes this stage of creation as trudging "on a field of thorns and faith."
In style and content, each piece reflects an emotion, a snapshot, of Moe's own "wanderings and experimentations." They reveal vulnerability but celebrate the discomfort and the joys of self-discovery and growth.
Aviante’s new paintings are inspired by the brilliance of black culture as he explores themes of identity, resilience, transformation and, essentially, the light within us all. Informed by his own nature to balance quiet reflection and vibrant social interaction, he explores both the "mundane and the monumental moments of life." Aviante symbolizes inner strength and radiance as he carefully selects a palette that evokes light along with colors that ignite powerful and meaningful emotions.
About the artists:
Aviante’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and the relentless pursuit of self-betterment. Born in Wisconsin in 1995 and raised in a single-parent household, he grew up with an intimate understanding of adversity. From an early age, art became his sanctuary—a way to navigate life’s complexities and
give voice to emotions words could not capture. His journey has been shaped by a tireless commitment to self-development, often rising above moments of self-doubt by channeling his struggles into creativity. A pivotal chapter began when Aviante relocated to Los Angeles, CA, where he embraced the unknown and unearthed his artistic identity. Balancing his ambivert nature, he thrives in the fluid space between quiet reflection and vibrant social connection, allowing both to inform his work.
Aviante’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and the relentless pursuit of self-betterment. Born in Wisconsin in 1995 and raised in a single-parent household, he grew up with an intimate understanding of adversity. From an early age, art became his sanctuary—a way to navigate life’s complexities and
give voice to emotions words could not capture. His journey has been shaped by a tireless commitment to self-development, often rising above moments of self-doubt by channeling his struggles into creativity. A pivotal chapter began when Aviante relocated to Los Angeles, CA, where he embraced the unknown and unearthed his artistic identity. Balancing his ambivert nature, he thrives in the fluid space between quiet reflection and vibrant social connection, allowing both to inform his work.
My name is Dallin L. Moe and I am an artist based in Southern California. I received my BFA from Otis College of Art and Design. I create artwork to connect and inspire. Art has a unique position in our society to pierce deeper into our hearts, minds, and souls than we typically allow. I exalt this aspect of
art because it is more often below the surface level where we find connection and insight. The artwork I create is often to help me connect with myself or to process thoughts and emotions, but I have found that occasionally others have a similar experience in engaging with my work and this, to me, is invaluable. To emphasize this phenomena I do my best to work from a place of vulnerability,
encouraging those who engage with my work to do the same. I use a variety of media but I gravitate to painting because the emphasis on color, over form or texture, is most associated with emotion. Art has brought so much depth, personal development, and richness to my life I really just want others to experience that as well.
art because it is more often below the surface level where we find connection and insight. The artwork I create is often to help me connect with myself or to process thoughts and emotions, but I have found that occasionally others have a similar experience in engaging with my work and this, to me, is invaluable. To emphasize this phenomena I do my best to work from a place of vulnerability,
encouraging those who engage with my work to do the same. I use a variety of media but I gravitate to painting because the emphasis on color, over form or texture, is most associated with emotion. Art has brought so much depth, personal development, and richness to my life I really just want others to experience that as well.
Jacquelin Nagel received her BA from Loyola Marymount University and her MFA from Laguna College of Art and Design. She has been drawing and painting since childhood. She takes advantage of the relationship between drawing, painting, and photography to explore a surreal world of photo-based figurative works. She often uses a collage like approach to help piece together her own world. She utilizes a glazing technique used by the Old Masters to give her paintings a high level of luminosity and saturation. Her work uses the figure to convey metaphors that help her to be at peace with who she is and what she has experienced.
About Range Projects - Founded with a vision by seasoned educator and artist Linda Jo Russell, and guided by the passionate activism of Executive Director Julia Smith, Range Gallery emerges as a beacon of artistic exploration in the heart of South Los Angeles. Range Gallery celebrates the convergence of the avant-garde and boundless creativity. Linda Jo, with over three decades of art
education experience, has crafted a space that resonates with the diverse voices of underrepresented, emerging, and mid-career artists from various backgrounds. The gallery stands as a testament to the profound impact of contemporary art on our cultural landscape. Executive Director Julia Smith, a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and a dedicated advocate for social change, channels her activism into curating a space where art transcends boundaries. The gallery, situated in the Park Mesa Heights Community and Crenshaw District, becomes a vibrant canvas for artists to express their narratives, making a lasting impact on the community.
education experience, has crafted a space that resonates with the diverse voices of underrepresented, emerging, and mid-career artists from various backgrounds. The gallery stands as a testament to the profound impact of contemporary art on our cultural landscape. Executive Director Julia Smith, a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and a dedicated advocate for social change, channels her activism into curating a space where art transcends boundaries. The gallery, situated in the Park Mesa Heights Community and Crenshaw District, becomes a vibrant canvas for artists to express their narratives, making a lasting impact on the community.
LAUNCH LA believes exposure to the arts enhances quality of life and strengthens community for all through the shared appreciation of creative expression in all its forms and hybrids. LAUNCH LA is passionate about providing all artists regardless of background, race, color, creed or sexual orientation with quality opportunities to present themselves and their creations that reflect our times to curious and enthusiastic audiences at our Gallery and at important happenings throughout Los Angeles County.