The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA), in partnership with LAUNCH LA, proudly presents an open call exhibition, Edge of Now, which will open with a reception at the Korean Cultural Center Art Gallery (located at 5505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
This open call was designed to foster communication and exchange within the community by showcasing the works of artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. The jury panel included Professor Sunook Park (Professor at the CSULB School of Art and independent curator) and Shana Nys Dambrot (Art critic and independent curator).
The exhibition Edge of Now explores the dynamic interactions and responses of individuals and communities within an ever-evolving cultural landscape. It reflects on how we continuously adapt—or sometimes resist—while shedding light on the formation and significance of identity amid change.
This special exhibition brings together works by Southern California artists from diverse backgrounds, incorporating various media, materials, and techniques to create new artistic expressions. The selected artists present 40 pieces, including oil paintings, drawings, photography, and mixed media, offering fresh perspectives on contemporary culture and our time.
KCCLA Director Sangwon Jung said, “This open call received over 560 submissions from more than 140 local artists. Following a rigorous selection process, works by 36 artists were chosen for the exhibition. As this exhibition was designed with community outreach in mind, we hope it will be an opportunity for artists and audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds to come together and engage with the artworks.”
LAUNCH LA Director James Panozzo added, “This exhibition is a unique opportunity to experience the creativity and diversity of Southern California artists. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with KCCLA to provide more opportunities for local artists and to foster communication and inspiration through art.”
The exhibition is open to the public, and it will run until March 28th, 2025.
List of the selected 36 artists
Irene Abraham, Susan Amorde, Terry Arena, Ernie Charles Black, Ada Pullini Brown, Suzanne Budd, Hye Soo Byun, Ashoke Chhabra, Fei Ewald, Ahrong Ferreira, Emily Goff, Kaitlyn Hahn, Wayne Hunt, Yung Ah Hwang, Justin N. Kim, Sandra Lauterbach, Nancy Goodman Lawrence, Annie Marini-Genzon, Katie Middleton, Gautam Misra, Edward Lance Montgomery, Rebecca Nabarrete, Michelle Oh, Lily Park, Joo Park-Kwon, Minna Philips, Michelle Ramin, Samuelle Richardson, Frederika Roeder, Alain Rogier, Seda Saar, Charlotte Schmid-Maybach, Jason Thompson, Gianni Trieste, Liberty Worth, Kacy Yu
JURIED by Sunook Park and Shana Nys Dambrot
Sunook Park is a professor at the CSULB School of Art and a Brand Coach at SUNOOKPARK Branding. He is also an independent curator and the founder of ANDLAB, which serves as a motivational retreat center, alternative exhibition space, and education lab for art and design thinking.
Shana Nys Dambrot is an art critic, curator, and author based in Downtown LA. A contributor to the Village Voice, Flaunt, Artillery, and other culture publications, she was the Arts Editor for the L.A. Weekly from 2018-24. She studied Art History at Vassar College, curates and juries exhibitions, writes prolifically for exhibition catalogs and monographic publications, and speaks at galleries, schools, and cultural institutions nationally. She is the recipient of the 2022 & 2024 Mozaik Future Art Writers Prize, the 2022 Rabkin Prize for Art Criticism, and the LA Press Club National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Critic of the Year award for 2022.
LAUNCH LA believes exposure to the arts enhances quality of life and strengthens community through the shared appreciation of creative expression in all its forms and hybrids. LAUNCH LA is passionate about providing artists with quality opportunities to present themselves and their creations that reflect our times to a curious and enthusiastic audience at important happenings throughout Los Angeles.
LAUNCH LA recognizes our presence on Tovaangar, the unceded ancestral lands of the Gabrielino-Tongva people who are its rightful caretakers and whose connection to the land. Water, and culture we benefit.
The Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles (KCCLA) is operated by the Korean government's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; KCCLA is dedicated to providing insights into the rich cultural heritage of Korea. Through public engagement and mutual appreciation for Korean culture and heritage, KCCLA endeavors to promote Korea's traditional culture, language, and history to the local community in an ongoing effort to bolster Korea-US cultural exchange and strengthen diplomatic ties.