Bibi Davidson and Dwora Fried

Two Women, One Reality

Shoebox Residency
September 25 – November 5, 2017
660 South Avenue 21 #3 Los Angeles, CA 90031

On view during the upcoming Brewery Artwalk October 21st and 22nd 11-6pm

For their residency and exhibition at Shoebox Projects, Bibi Davidson and Dwora Fried will collaborate on an installation entitled Two Women, One Reality. Though both artists grew up in the fifties in different parts of the world — one in Israel, the other in Austria — they both vividly remember being left alone as toddlers, watching their parents get ready for a night on the town feeling imprisoned in their cribs, crying; terrified by noises, shadows and ghosts and are using these memories as the point of departure for their collaboration. Through ongoing discussions of these personal experiences Davidson and Fried will translate their memories into an installation. They envision the exhibition as a “fifties room” with a crib, ugly wallpaper and a video filmed by Dwora’s daughter Anjoum Agrama, that evokes a visit to the darker places in their collective psyche—a kind of self portrait of the early days of the artist’s lives and surroundings, that evokes the idea that evil—real or imagined— is lurking around the corner.

Shoebox Projects is a self-directed residency program founded in 2016 by Kristine Schomaker where artists are given space and time to conceptualize and create new works. During a residency, artists have the time and freedom to try out new ideas, open their space to viewers for feedback or embark on collaborations as Davidson and Fried are doing with Two Women, One Reality. Though these artist’s individual practices are quite different— Bibi Davidson is a painter whereas Dwora Fried makes mixed media sculptures and installations, there are overlaps in their subject matter and approaches which makes this and ideal opportunity for collaboration.

Bibi Davidson is an Israeli born, Los Angeles based artist whose illustrative-style works are allegorical representations of the chaotic and unsettling realities of her childhood. Her boldly colored narrative paintings are autobiographical and social commentary while simultaneously layered with elements of humor. They are captivating and purposefully quirky works that investigate personal and universal conflicts, as well as the chaos that defines our times. Through the process of painting, Davidson charms and calms her inner self.

Davidson’s most recent solo exhibition was The Girl in the Red Dress at Gallery 825, Los Angeles (2016). Her work has been featured in numerous group exhibitions throughout Southern California including: Laluzapalooza, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, With Liberty and Justice for Some, Walter Maciel Gallery, Love and Hate, Avenue 50 Studio (2017); A Feminist Perspective, MuzeuMM, Mas Attack, Torrance Art Museum (2016); Day Dreamers, BG Gallery, Sacred Memories, Pico House Gallery, Bunnymania, Chungking Studios and Wilding Cran Gallery (2015). For more information visit: http://www.bibidavidson.com

Dwora Fried is a mixed media assemblage artist who creates both small tableaux in glass fronted wooden boxes and life-sized enterable installations. She grew up in post-war Vienna, where as a Jewish lesbian and child of Holocaust survivors she felt like an outsider and has parlayed these experiences into artworks that explore themes of danger, loss and secrecy. Recent works also comment on the current political climate and the immigrant experience in Los Angeles.

Fried’s most recent solo exhibit was BIG BOX/little box at Gallery 825, Los Angeles (2016). In addition, she had solo exhibits at the Jewish Museum in Venice, Italy (2014), Benedict Gallery in Vienna, Austria (2013), Woolfson &Tay in London, GB (2011). She has been exhibiting in group shows at Elmhurst Art Museum in Chicago (2017), OCCA (2017), Walter Maciel Gallery (2017), Art Share LA (2016), SPARC (2015). Fried also has work in the permanent collection at Vienna’s MUSA museum. For more information visit: http://dworafried.com