Madison Gallery features media artist to start off the new year Madison Gallery will ring in the new year with a new exhibit by Canadian-born artist James Verbicky. Starting with an opening reception on Jan. 19, the gallery, located at 1020 Prospect St. Suite 130, will feature Verbicky’s mixed-media pieces titled, as a collection, “ERA.” Verbicky, who is of Polish descent, came to the United States as an adult and, after working as a artist and struggling with citizenship for several years, was awarded a green card for “extraordinary ability,” a status rarely given by the U.S. government, because of his involvement with many American museums, galleries, charities and publications. Verbicky exhibited at the Louvre in Paris in 2008, with the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. He has developed an international following with his media paintings and exhibits around the world. His work has been auctioned by Sothebys and Christie’s, and his originals have been hung in thousands of private public, celebrity and museum collections. With his use of and depiction of media in his work, he often laments the downward trend of print as the dominant form of communication, and challenges the viewer to contemplate our history and future through the various forms of media to which we are exposed. “ERA” will feature Verbicky’s media paintings, as well as never-before seen works from his new series, “Future Primitive.” Madison Gallery’s opening reception will be held on Jan. 19 from 6 to 9 p.m., and the exhibit will run through Feb. 19. For more information, visit www.madisongalleries.com, email [email protected] or call (858) 459-0836. LJAA celebrates the holidays with art Local artists and art lovers will come together on Dec. 21 to celebrate the holidays with a party and artist reception at the La Jolla Art Association’s “Happy Holidays, the Season for Giving” event. Featuring a display of paintings, photography, silk wearable art, jewelry and sculpture, the event will allow guests to party and shop while supporting the nonprofit art association as it celebrates its 95th year in La Jolla. From 6:30 to 8 p.m., the association will offer art viewings and holiday gift ideas as violinist Maryam Parto entertains the crowd with live music. Prior to the party, starting on Dec. 17, the association’s gallery will feature two works of art that should not be missed. “Le Marais” depicts a scene from Paris’ Quartier Juif, the old Jewish quarter in the city’s third and fourth arrondissements. Guests can also view “Our Lady of Kazan,” a painting on silk depicting a Russian Orthodox icon whose history dates back several hundred years. The original painting of “Our Lady of Kazan” was discovered in 1579 in a garden in Kazan. From then, the original followed a long and sometimes dangerous journey. Taken along during a war between Russia and Poland because of its symbolism, it settled in Moscow following the war. A handful of replicas were made, and today it is unknown which, if any, of the paintings are in fact the original. In the early 20th century, what was then thought to be the original was stolen (perhaps for its gilded frame). One of the replicas, though likely not the original painting, was acquired by the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima and given to Pope John Paul II, who kept it for 10 years. It was returned to the Russian church in 2004.