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“Inside Perspective,” a new, free exhibition of extraordinary works by artist Fulton Leroy Washington, opens Sunday at the SPARC Gallery inside the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. The artist will be in attendance.
Washington, aka Mr. Wash, served 21 years of a mandatory sentence of life in prison after being convicted of a non-violent drug offense in the 1990s “War on Drugs” era. In 2016, Washington was granted clemency by President Barack Obama and his sentence commuted. During his years in prison, Louisiana-born Washington began to paint what became striking photorealistic portraits of fellow inmates, and of subjects based on the news and on history: his 2014 work, “Emancipation Proclamation” was based on the Frances Bicknell Carpenter work, “First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln”. Washington, 63, learned of his commutation as he was about to teach his weekly art class at Lompoc prison.
Washington will be one of 30 Los Angeles-based artists featured in “Made in L.A. 2020: a version,” an exhibition of works presented by the Hammer Museum in partnership with The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. This multimedia exhibition is scheduled to run this fall through Jan. 3, 2021, at the Huntington’s MaryLou and George Boone Gallery and Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art in San Marino.
Masks will be required and social distancing observed at the SPARC Gallery. During Sunday’s opening reception, guests will enter the Gallery as space becomes available. “Inside Perspective” is curated by Richard Blue Trimarchi of Art Works Fine Art Publishing. For private showings by appointment through the end of the exhibition on November 20th, please contact Blue Trimarchi at (626) 676-4195 for availability.
The SPARC Chamber Gallery is located inside the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce at 1121 Mission Street. Admission is free. Information about SPARC: sopasartscouncil.org
