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Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

A Reflective Space For The Arts District

Kristy Plaza |
February 19, 2014 | 11:23 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

When I first walked past this space, I wondered "Is this place even real?"

24HR Psychic at night. (Kristy Plaza/Neon Tommy)
24HR Psychic at night. (Kristy Plaza/Neon Tommy)

The gallery is called 24HR Psychic, and this is the home of the show Lift Face by Lisa Solberg. She is from Chicago but has lived and work in the Arts District for six years.

The gallery space is a simple square: one side is the completely glass doors and the other three sides have the three pieces that make up the Lift Face show. Due to the fishbowl exhibit design, the show can be enjoyed 24/7. Even though the doors are usually locked, a casual passerby can stop, look through the doors, and experience the show. 

 When I first passed by, I was confused. Was there a psychic inside, Perhaps behind the gold wall the psychic is waiting. And why is there nothing but three pieces inside the space? 

This is exactly what Solberg wanted the viewers to see and question. When you look through the doors, the lighting and pieces work together to act as a beacon. They draw the viewer so that they can make an emotional and mental connection with the pieces. 

"The idea behind the whole show is self-reflection, self-identification and self-acceptance. I wanted to create different ways you can see yourself. In all three pieces, you can see yourself reflected in the way you need." 

Solberg said this show began with her interest in the Rorschach inkblot test. She is very interested in the psychology behind schizophrenia. Solberg began the creation of the two painted pieces by painting one layer, folding it over, pulling it back and repeat. This process was done as she self-analyzed herself. 
 
One of the pieces is called In Case of Fire Use Foam, Dry Chemical, or Spray Fog. Solberg used industrial car paint to create layer upon layer for this piece. The canvas is cut on the bottom of both sides to add another layer to the piece. There is a color gradient to this piece: blue on top and silver on the bottom. The blue is supposed to be soothing yet bring more dimension to the piece. The name is based on the warning label the car paint had on the can.

In Case of Fire Use Foam, Dry Chemical, or Spray Fog (Kristy Plaza/Neon Tommy)
In Case of Fire Use Foam, Dry Chemical, or Spray Fog (Kristy Plaza/Neon Tommy)
In Case of Fire Use Foam, Dry Chemical, or Spray Fog (Kristy Plaza/Neon Tommy)
In Case of Fire Use Foam, Dry Chemical, or Spray Fog (Kristy Plaza/Neon Tommy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second piece is called White Hot. This piece is also created using car paint layered on a canvas. There are various shades of gray and silver that are painted on the canvas. 

White Hot (Kristy Plaza/Neon Tommy)
White Hot (Kristy Plaza/Neon Tommy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The third piece is a huge mirror, directly across from the glass doors. This is piece is called Candy, because the stainless steel mirror is painted with a transparent candy gold dye. Candy interacts with the other pieces. Solberg placed them across from each other so that the space felt like a temple: balance, cohesive and meditative. By looking into the mirror, the viewer has another way to experience the other pieces and get enveloped into them.

Candy, with Lisa Solberg and Kristy Plaza reflected. (Kristy Plaza/Neon Tommy)
Candy, with Lisa Solberg and Kristy Plaza reflected. (Kristy Plaza/Neon Tommy)

"Once you've had time with the pieces, it is supposed to dig an irk. Everything is not fine all the time. It is supposed to dig around." 

Solberg called her show Lift Face as a play on the word facelift. She says there are times when you are in a desperate situation and you feel lost. What do you need to make it better? Do you need to go to a psychic, a therapist, or get a facelift? After all, this is Los Angeles. Or do you need to look into yourself for the answer? 

Solberg says the dark undertone of the show is not supposed to be depressing. The show is supposed to make you feel hope, like there is a tunnel and you can see the light at the end. The show is about helping the viewer dig into themselves, face themselves and find the strength to move forward. 

24 HR Psychic is closed now. Solberg is thinking of selling the pieces and creating new art for a whole new show. She doesn't have any concrete plans, but she will keep 24HR Psychic for future use. 

Solberg wanted the viewer, whoever it may be, to be entrance by the mystical nature of the show. Whether it was the skate boarding teenagers or the families or the people who genuinely thought the space was a psychic's office, she wants all viewers to question what is real and what is important. 

See some more of Lisa Solberg's work on her website here

Reach Executive Producer Kristy Plaza here. Follow her on Twitter here



 

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