EL NIDO MEANS ‘THE NEST’ IN SPANISH, SHARING VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, INCLUDING THE WRITTEN WORD. THE PROGRAMMING IS ORGANIC AND EVER-CHANGING. THE CURATOR AND FOUNDER, VICTORIA CHAPMAN, LIVES WITHIN IT, DREAMING AND WRITING, ABSORBING THE LIGHT AND DARKNESS. IT’S A PERSONAL PROCESS. “EL NIDO HAS A LIFE OF ITS OWN, MOVING FROM ONE CREATIVE FLOW TO THE NEXT.”

CURRENT

AT THE STILL POINT OF THE TURNING WORLD
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STRANGERS OF TIME

EXPLORE

PAST

SLOW ART DAY 2024 | THE VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE BEING

VICTORIA CHAPMAN AND STEVIE KINCHELOE SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATED SELECTED TEXT FROM MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY'S "THE VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE." THIS YEAR WELCOMED STEVEN DAYVID MCKELLAR, CONTRIBUTING HIS VOICE TO THE SPOKEN WORD SEGMENT.

stevie kincheloe | my self being my self

what if you could allow yourself to be enough, exactly as you are in this moment?

the sounds of color | los angeles

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A DISTINCTIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE INSPIRED BY THE FEATURED PAINTINGS OF GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED ARTIST, SHANE GUFFOGG, WITH RENOWNED PIANIST, ANTHONY CARDELLA. “THE SOUNDS OF COLOR” IS A UNIQUE FUSION OF VISUAL AND AUDITORY EXPERIENCES IN A GROUNDBREAKING COLLABORATION, BRINGING TOGETHER THE WORLDS OF ABSTRACT ART, MUSIC, AND AI.

GUFFOGG | LINES AND DOTS — THOUGHTS BEFORE LANGUAGE

“LINES, DOTS, AND THOUGHTS - BEFORE LANGUAGE" IS A CAPTIVATING EXHIBITION BY SHANE GUFFOGG THAT TRANSCENDS VERBAL COMMUNICATION, OFFERING VIEWERS AN INSIGHTFUL EXPLORATION OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. THROUGH INTRICATELY PAINTED LINES AND DOTS FORMING PATTERNS, GUFFOGG DELVES INTO THE GENESIS OF THOUGHTS, CREATING A VISUAL LANGUAGE THAT PREDATES SPOKEN WORDS.

THE SPOKEN WORD

THE SPOKEN WORD PROJECT REPRESENTS A TRANSFORMATIVE SHIFT FROM THE WRITTEN WORD PROJECT, CAPTURING THE EPHEMERAL NATURE OF OUR SUBCONSCIOUS THOUGHTS. MOVING FROM WRITTEN RECORDS TO AUDIO AND VIDEO FORMATS, THIS NEW PHASE AIMS TO UNVEIL A DEEPER LAYER OF PERSONAL HISTORY, ENHANCING OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCES. THE SPOKEN WORD ADDS RICHNESS WITH TONE AND EMOTION, PROVIDING A MORE IMMERSIVE EXPLORATION OF THE HUMAN PSYCHE.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE | STEVEN DAYVID MCKELLAR

ON JANUARY 6TH, 2024, STEVEN DAYVID MCKELLAR GAVE A POWERFUL PERFORMANCE OF ORIGINAL MUSIC. BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED SONGS FROM HIS COLLECTION OF RECORDS, A MELODIC, LOOPING BASS SOLO, AND SOARING FALSETTO VOCALS OFFERED UP AN INSPIRING START TO A NEW YEAR.

THE 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

IN CONTEMPLATING THE YEAR THAT WAS, I AM REMINDED OF OUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH, THE DANCE WITH UNCERTAINTY, AND THE BEAUTY FOUND IN VULNERABILITY. BEFORE WE STEP INTO THE EMBRACE OF 2024, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER IN THE PAST YEAR.

THE WRITTEN WORD

ARTISTS SHARE FLEETING MOMENTS FROM THE SUBCONSCIOUS TO THE CONSCIOUS, ON ROUTE TO SELF-REALIZATION. INFORMING ASPECTS OF THEIR CREATIVE PROCESS.

SOUNDS OF COLOR

"SOUNDS OF COLOR," A COLLABORATION BETWEEN SHANE GUFFOGG, PIANIST ANTHONY CARDELLA AND JONAH LYNCH. GUFFOGG AND CARDELLA BEGAN MAPPING OUT THE SOUNDS THAT GUFFOGG HEARS VIA HIS SYNESTHESIA, CREATING CHORD CHARTS OF COLORS THAT ARE USED IN GUFFOGG’S PAINTINGS. THIS INFORMATION WAS THEN PASSED TO AI SOFTWARE PROGRAMMER JONAH LYNCH, AND AFTER WATCHING VIDEOS OF GUFFOGG PAINTING, WROTE A PROGRAM THAT MAPPED OUT THE SEQUENCE OF COLORS AND MATCHING THEM TO THE CHORDS. THE RESULT IS NEW COMPOSITIONS THAT IN ESSENCE ARE BEING COMPOSED BY THE PAINTINGS.

STEVEN DAYVID MCKELLAR | NOOIT GE DACHT

AN EXPLORATION OF SMALL PAINTINGS WORKS ON PAPER, OBJECTS, AND SOUND - A REIMAGINED PERSPECTIVE ON THE NATURE OF NOSTALGIA

NOOIT GE DACHT IS THE NAME OF THE STREET STEVEN GREW UP ON IN CAPE TOWN; IT’S ALSO A HAMLET IN HOLLAND, AND A BREED OF SOUTH AFRICAN HORSE. THE LOOSE TRANSLATION IS “I NEVER IMAGINED.”

ANTHONY CARDELLA | THE MUSIC WITHIN THE PATTERNS WITH SHANE GUFFOGG

I’M GIVING THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MINIMALISM, ITS INFLUENCES, AND ORIGINS, THE PINNACLE COMPOSERS AS WELL AS EXAMPLES OF THEIR WRITING STYLES, AND QUITE A FEW STORIES ABOUT THEM, AND THEN I WILL USE THE TWO PIECES I CHOSE TO SYNTHESIZE ALL OF THESE AND DEMONSTRATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MINIMALISM AS WELL AS HOW TO HEAR AND INTERPRET THESE PIECES, UNLOCKING THE PATTERNS.

HOMAGE TO SAM FRANCIS | SLOW ART DAY 2023

AN ONLINE EXHIBITION AND OBSERVATION OF THE AMERICAN ARTIST KNOWN FOR INTERPRETING COLOR AND LIGHT.

ANTHONY CARDELLA | MAXIMALISM/MINIMALISM AT USC WITH SHANE GUFFOGG

ANTHONY CARDELLA IS A DYNAMIC AND COMPELLING, ACTIVE PERFORMER WHO HAS PERFORMED IN ESTEEMED CONCERT HALLS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE AND HAS WON REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PERFORMANCE COMPETITIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

A CENTURY OF SAM

2023 MARKS THE CENTENNIAL OF SAM FRANCIS (JUNE 25, 1923 - NOVEMBER 4, 1994). WE CELEBRATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF FRANCIS’S BIRTHDAY AND HIS CONTINUED CREATIVE LEGACY THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, EDUCATIONS EVENTS, SPECIAL PROJECTS, ARTICLES, AND ARCHIVAL EXPLORATIONS. WE INVITE SCHOLARS, COLLEAGUES, ARTISTS, INSTITUTIONS, AND HISTORIANS TO EXPLORE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH FRANCIS, HIS ART, HIS CREATIVE LEGACY AND HIS INSPIRATION.

KARNEJ/GESTURA

KARNEJ IS A DWELLING. A SOMETHING AND SOMEWHERE RESISTING AUTHORSHIP THROUGH A FAITH IN PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE CODES. IT PRIORITIZES COMMUNION BETWEEN DIFFERENT MODES THROUGH CHANCE ENCOUNTERS WHERE THE EXPERIENCE OF RUPTURE CAN EMERGE.

A CURITORIAL TALK | SHANE GUFFOGG: XINGU

I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US FOR THIS INFORMAL TALK BETWEEN SHANE AND TONY, WHERE THEY SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS EXPLORING ELEMENTS, INFLUENCES, AND RITUALS WHICH SEGWAY INTO FINDING TRUTH IN DAILY ART PRACTICE.

Shane Guffogg | XINGU

IN 2023, SHANE GUFFOGG RETURNS TO THE XINGU SERIES, CONSISTING OF MEDIUM TO LARGE-SCALE WORKS ON PAPER. THE ARTIST BEGAN THIS PROJECT IN 2009. THEY BEGAN ON THE STUDIO FLOOR USING A BOTTLE OF SUMI INK AND A ROLL OF STRATHMORE PAPER. ADDITIONAL MARKS WERE ADDED WITH SOFT WHITE PASTE CHARCOAL.

THE 2022 YEAR IN REVIEW

IN CLOSING OF 2022

I AM REMINDED BY OUR STRENGTH, UNCERTAINTY, AND VULNERABILITY. AS WE MOVE INTO 2023, I AM SHARING OUR ANNUAL REPORT OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS PAST YEAR.

VICTORIA CHAPMAN, FOUNDER | CURATOR

EL NIDO BY VC PROJECTS

STEVIE KINCHELOE AND STEVEN MCKELLAR: WHO WOULD I BE

INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTISTS STEVIE KINCHELOE AND STEVEN MCKELLAR EXPLORE THE ROLE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP PLAYS IN INDIVIDUAL GROWTH, REFINEMENT, AND IDENTITY.

FRANCESCO TORI AND LINDA ZAMBOLIN: ECHI

ECHI (ECHOES) IS A PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT DEPICTING THE ASCENT TO THE TOP ALONG A WATERFALL. THE PATH, DIVIDED INTO DIFFERENT SECTIONS, EMBODIES ASCENSIONAL TENSION AS WELL AS PROGRESSIVE EMOTIONAL RELAXATION, PROVIDING THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER WORLD.

SHANE GUFFOGG | BLUE

SHANE GUFFOGG IS NO STRANGER TO METAPHYSICAL REALMS. RECENTLY, WE WERE CHALLENGED BY LOS ANGELES-BASED PIANIST, ANTHONY CARDELLA’S NOVEMBER 12TH MUSIC PROGRAM TO CURATE AN EXHIBITION INFLUENCED BY PIANIST, AND COMPOSER FRANZ LISZT. THIS WASN’T SO DIFFICULT AS BOTH ARTISTS AND COMPOSERS SHARE SOME COMMON IDEOLOGIES.

YURI BOYKO | OPEN TO INTERPRETATION

THE EXHIBITION CAPTURES THREE LARGE-SCALE PHOTOGRAPHS OF “DESIDERATUM” AND FOUR WORKS OF “SALVE” SERIES IN MEDIUM SCALE BY LOS ANGELES-BASED ARTIST, YURI BOYKO.

THE PAST AS FUTURE IS PRESENT - CONVERSATIONS THROUGH TIME

“THE PAST AS FUTURE IS PRESENT – CONVERSATIONS THROUGH TIME” IN COLLABORATION WITH SHANE GUFFOGG, ALEX VRAMYAN, LUCASZ JIANNOWSKI OF VRAMYAN INTERIORS AND VC PROJECTS, WILL CURATE TWO ROOMS LOCATED AT EL NIDO ART SPACE, LOS ANGELES. THE GROUP WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE A COLLECTION OF CONTEMPORARY ART THEMES AMONGST HISTORICAL WORKS OF ANTIQUITY. THIS SETTING IS A PROVOCATIVE ART INSTALLATION QUESTIONING THE EPHEMERAL NATURE OF TIME WHILE CREATING AN ENIGMA INFUSED BY THE OBJECTS, FURNITURE, PAINTINGS OLD AND NEW, FOR THE OBSERVER TO COMPLETE.

SHOOKA AFSHAR | WOMEN/IMMIGRATION/FIGHT OR FLIGHT

WOMEN / IMMIGRATION / FIGHT OR FLIGHT, IS A MINI-OPERA COMPOSED BY SHOOKA AFSHAR THAT DEPICTS THE CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN WHO HAD TO IMMIGRATE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS, HAVE A NORMAL LIFE, AND FIGHT FOR THEIR BASIC RIGHTS. INSPIRED BY THE TRUE STORY OF SHOOKA AFSHAR, WHO IMMIGRATED TO BOSTON FROM IRAN TO PURSUE HER DREAM OF BEING AN OPERA SINGER.

Translations of Being through Sight and Sound

Featuring Shooka Afshar, Soprano, accompanied by Anthony Cardella, Piano, and Shane Guffogg, International Artist, plus Stevie Kincheloe, Movement

Opera performance, art exhibition, and movement interpretation.

SLOW ART DAY 2022

SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2022, IS RECOGNIZED GLOBALLY AS “SLOW ART DAY” WHERE ART SPACES, GALLERIES, MUSEUMS, AND ART INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD PLAN EVENTS CENTERED AROUND SLOWING DOWN AND SPENDING TIME TO OBSERVE ART. EL NIDO IS PROUD TO PRESENT SPECIAL PROGRAMMING IN HONOR OF THIS DAY.

ERICA SHIRES | GHOSTS DISAPPEAR LIKE LIGHT

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021 MARKS THE OPENING RECEPTION OF A SOLO EXHIBITION BY NEW YORK BASED INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST, ERICA SHIRES. ON DISPLAY WILL BE A SELECTION OF WORKS FROM HER ONGOING WET-PLATE COLLODION SERIES.

L. MIKELLE STANDBRIDGE | THE HOST OR THE GUEST

THE ART OF L. MIKELLE STANDBRIDGE (MILAN) IS A PASSIONATE ENDEAVOR, THOUGHTFULLY NARRATING PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT HER SUBJECT’S EMBODIMENT. VARYING IN SIZE AND SHAPE, HER DELICATE ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECES ARE DERIVED FROM THE RECONFIGURATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS, EXPLORING A PAPER THAT THE ARTIST REFERS TO AS “PULPY, PIERCEABLE, STITCHABLE, AND FLEXIBLE.”

IN YOUR ABSENCE SOMETHING CAN BE BORN

A GROUP EXHIBITION, DISPLAYING SMALL-SCALE WORKS IN DRAWING, PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND SOUND.

THE WORKS IN THE EXHIBITION SHARE NARRATIVES ABOUT TRANSFORMATION. AS THE CURATOR, I WAS INTERESTED IN A DIALOGUE RELATED TO ALCHEMY. THIS COULD BE BASED ON THE ARTIST'S MATERIALS OR A TYPE OF TRANSCENDENCE RESONATING FROM THE FINISHED WORK. I BELIEVE THAT ALL OBJECTS HAVE A FREQUENCY DESIGNATED BY THE MAKER, AND IT IS FROM THIS PLACE THAT ART REMINDS US TO BEAR WITNESS TO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING.

SHANE GUFFOGG | 40 YEARS OF SELF-PORTRAITS

MARCH 27, 2021, MARKS THE OPENING OF SHANE GUFFOGG: “40 YEARS OF SELF-PORTRAITS”, AT ORANGE COUNTY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA. THE EXHIBITION EXPLORES SHANE GUFFOGG’S, SELF-PORTRAITS, WHICH STARTED IN 1981 THROUGH TO THE PRESENT.

SOFT, SILKY, AND MELTING … MEMORIES

THE IDEA FOR “SOFT, SILKY, AND, MELTING … MEMORIES” CAME ABOUT 10 MONTHS INTO 2020, A YEAR OF CONSTANT CHANGE AND MUCH CONTEMPLATION. LIKE MOST OF US LIVING IN AND OUT OF LOCKDOWN, AND SITUATED IN LOS ANGELES, I REALIZED, IN ORDER, TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD, I NEEDED TO TAKE A STEP BACK, WITH THIS, I BEGAN A SELF-INVENTORY. I WAS REMINDED BY MORIHEI UDSHIBA’S BOOK, THE ART OF PEACE, THAT ALL THINGS MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL ORIGINATE FROM ONE SOURCE AND THAT, THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE ARE ALL CONTAINED IN ONE LIFE FORCE.

SHANE GUFFOGG | THE PATH OF LIGHT

GUFFOGG’S WORKS HAVE EXPLORED LIGHT FOR OVER 40 YEARS. GUFFOGG PAINTS MOVEMENTS OF ILLUMINATION AND SHOWS US THIS PATH THROUGH ABSTRACT MOMENTS, OFTEN CASTING SHADOWS THAT INFORMS THE VIEWER OF THE DIRECTION OF LIGHT, PAINTING THE ABSTRACT MOMENT AS A NEW CONCEPT OF REALISM, REFERENCING THE OLD ITALIAN RENAISSANCE MASTERS. BUT FOR GUFFOGG, LIGHT ALSO SERVES AS A VISUAL METAPHOR FOR SPIRITUALITY – LIGHT ILLUMINATES OUR PHYSICAL WORLD, ALLOWING US TO SEE OUR WORLD AND THE MYSTERIES THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED WITH.

THE AGENT OF ORDINARY PLEASURES

THE IDEA FOR AGENT OF ORDINARY PLEASURES AROSE A FEW MONTHS INTO 2020, A YEAR THAT HAS THRUST CONTEMPLATION ON US ALL. EVERYONE IS FACING EXISTENTIAL QUESTIONS AND I THINK ART CAN BE A TONIC IF NOT THE SOLUTION.

IN A SENSE, THIS GROUP OF WORKS REPRESENTS A QUIET RESPONSE TO OUR TIMES. WHILE ALSO REFERENCING THE PAST AND KEY MOMENTS THAT THREAD THROUGH ART HISTORY - FROM MODERNISM TO ANCIENT TIMES - THIS EXHIBITION HAD SIMPLE PARAMETERS. I WANTED THE SCALE AND TONE TO REFLECT A MOOD.