10th Anniversary Party
On Saturday August 10th, 2024 from 4-7pm The Pit will celebrate the tenth anniversary since the foundation of the gallery in 2014 with a party and opening reception for two exhibitions. In the largest gallery will be a retrospective of paintings spanning nearly 50 years by the Los Angeles based James Hayward. Running throughout galleries one and two is a summer group exhibition featuring works by Shara Mays, Anders Scrmn Meisner, James Goss, Hopie Hill, Tracy Thomason, Howard Fonda, Jennifer King, Camila Varon Jaramillo, and Yirui Jia.
There will also be drinks and tacos available, DJ sets, cake, and free commemorative t shirts designed in house in a limited quantity of 150.
In 2014 Devon Oder and I decided to convert a small garage adjacent to our studio spaces in an alley in Glendale CA into a project space in order to organize group exhibitions, and throw parties. The early years were scrappy to say the least. The building lacked any sort of climate control, our events were known for artist made popsicles, risograph printed zines, BBQ’ing vegan food in the street, and an abundance of tequila alongside amazing exhibitions. Our initial goals for the space were much more focused on the LA arts community and having a good time rather than commercial aspirations. In my mind those years yield some of the happiest and most inspired times we’ve had running The Pit.
Ten years later, things have grown and changed, but we are still at it and the heart of what we do remains. To date we have shown over 475 artists with many more to come and have organized 140 exhibitions!
Just prior to opening The Pit, Devon and I received our Masters of Fine Arts degrees from Art Center College of Design. To commemorate our ten year anniversary, we could not be happier to host a retrospective style exhibition for one of our teachers at Art Center, James Hayward. He has been painting in Los Angeles since the 1970’s and his beautiful encaustic monochromes somehow manage to be both minimal while also expressive.
Alongside Jimmy’s exhibition we will have a group show of artists from our roster along with new artists who have not shown at our gallery yet. It feels true to our history to be celebrating our past while also looking to the future of the gallery. Full press releases for both exhibitions are forthcoming.
I have designed a new commemorative t shirt for the anniversary party, and 150 will be given away to party goers.
Please join us as we celebrate a decade of The Pit!
-Adam D. Miller