Upon entering the Martin Lawrence Gallery, located at 1111 Prospect St., one is surrounded by paintings and prints by the likes of Picasso, Chagall, Dali, Erte and Warhol. The interior of the rose-colored brick building looks much like the inside of a La Jolla home, of which guests are guided through the acquisitions. What makes Martin Lawrence unique in comparison to other La Jolla galleries are its mini-seminars, offered by the gallery’s art consultant, Kyle Sorrell. Sorrell, who has a background in psychology, dramatic arts and art history, will take any work of art that you fancy off the wall, hang it in a viewing room, and then give you an eye-opening, eloquent exposé and interpretation of the piece and the artist to help gallery visitors “make a personal connection with the piece,” Sorrell said. For non-English speakers, Moscow-educated art consultant Elena Platonova, who speaks five languages, can step in to lend some insight. Some of the more noteworthy works include: legendary pop art guru Andy Warhol’s prints of Marilyn Monroe or Mick Jagger; Picasso’s drawing “Four Children Viewing a Monster” (in which the monster is Picasso and the four children are the four women who were important in his life); or one of the 100 Salvador Dali woodcuts, considered to be some of his best work, each depicting one of the cantos of Dante’s “The Divine Comedy,” which describes an imaginary journey to the different levels of purgatory and hell. Martin Lawrence has the largest selection of Chagall available in the world, with colorful prints such as “The Flute Player,” which like all Chagall works, looks like it was drawn by an elementary school student. “Chagall is the essence of dreams,” said Sorrell, who also makes reference to the Chagall quote: “When I hold a lithographic stone or a copper plate, it seems to me that I am touching a talisman. It seems that I could put all of my sorrows and joys into it.” The Martin Lawrence Gallery also has a very nice selection of the prints and sculptures of Erte — often called the “father of Art Deco.” Erte, who was born in Russia as Romain de Tirtoff, created the covers of Harpers magazine for 22 years, designed the costumes for the Folies-Bergeres and clothing for movie stars such as Josephine Baker, Joan Crawford and Lillian Gish. Martin Lawrence also carries some very interesting contemporary artists, such as 3- dimensional “neo pop” illusionist painter Philippe Bertho, who employs the “Tromploy” or “trick of the eye” in his buoyant rings, shadows and people poised in precarious positions. As Bertho says: “To fool the eye is mechanical, but to provoke the imagination is spiritual.” Also worthy of note are the works of Robert Deyber, who could be considered a cross between the French surrealist painter Rene Magritte and Warhol. Deyber is intrigued with the play of language, saying: “My ongoing body of work involves the visual interpretation of clichés, euphemisms and idioms. There are so many peculiar and quirky phrases which have been calling out to be put into visual form.” Look for his painting of a stag standing in front of a stop sign with the title “The buck stops here.” On Dec. 10 and 11, Martin Lawrence will hold its “Holiday Cheer Open House” from noon until 8 p.m., featuring sweet treats and libations, such as champagne, hot cocoa, eggnog with brandy and hot teas. For more information, visit www.martinlawrence.com, call (858) 551-1122 or e-mail [email protected].
