Angela Cartwright and Richard Doran exhibit at Toluca Lake's Pergolina -- My Daily Find

Karen_Young_MDF100 BY KAREN YOUNG

A crowded house of friends and art-goers filled Pergolina, a gift and garden boutique/gallery in Toluca Lake, on Saturday evening October 3, to celebrate the joint exhibition of artists Angela Cartwright and Richard Doran, both residents of Studio City, who are showing their respective photographic works through October 31.

Richard Doran, Angela Cartwright and Pergolina owner Paulanna Cuccinello. Photo: Bianca D'Amico.

“We chose to put the work of Angela Cartwright and Richard Doran together because we believe that they complement each other. Although they are different approaches to photography, both artists take on the position of someone who is is revealing something more then just the landscape or just the flower, “ explained Pergolina owner, Paulanna Cuccinello. “Richard’s bold forms and in your face approach is striking and demands that you take a closer look. In contrast, Angela’s delicate painterly gestures enhance the details of the distant shots she showcases, however she too is encouraging her audience to peek in through the gates and look deeper into the image.”

Cartwright, known for her acting roles in Make Room for Daddy, The Sound of Music and Lost In Space, has been an internationally recognized and collected photographer and artist for more than four decades. She’s also the author of several altered art technique books and has recently established a clothing line called acstudio 9.

Photography and paint on a canvas. Rome, Italy by Angela Cartwright Photo: Karen Young

For the work shown in this exhibit, titled “Altered Paradox,” Cartwright takes a photograph, places it on canvas, and then proceeds to apply paint and texture to the photo, emphasizing its contours and colors, introducing new collaged imagery. It’s a fusion of photography, painting and altered art that explores the interplay of nature with man-made objects.

Doran, who owns the Satsuma Gallery in North Hollywood, has been involved with the arts as a working studio artist, an arts educator with LAUSD, and as a consultant to the Getty Education Institute on a project integrating Art and Science classes in middle schools. His primary medium at his studio is creating one-of-a-kind hand built ceramic vessels, however most recently he has been exploring the immediacy of digital photography.

Richard Doran's photography looks like paint. Photo: Karen Young

Richard Doran's close-up digital compositions evoke the look of paint. Photo: Karen Young

His Pergolina show, “I Could Live There,” is part of a new creative journey. His close up compositions and vibrant colors evoke the qualities of a painting without the use of paint. Most of the images in this show were taken within fifty feet of his front door at varying times of day or night — and most were shot within 12 inches of the subject.

Cuccinello said she chooses to show work at Pergolina that has an emotional connection to her. She also selects the work based on its “ability to reflect the store’s creative ambition and enhance its whimsy.”

Sisters Angela and Veronica Cartwright. Photo: Bianca D'Amico

The works of Angela Cartwright and Richard Doran are placed on opposite walls as you enter Pergolina. It’s quite a warm and colorful welcoming embrace, both which invite you to take a closer look.