EL ROYALE
THE 706 WINTER EDITION
A PRIVATE EXHIBITION
SUNDAY’S VIEWING PROGRAM FROM 11 AM - 2 PM BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
EXHIBITION DATES:
december 20, 2024 - march 1, 2025
FEATURING WORKS BY
EVAN MeNDEL
MAYA MaeNDEL
STEVIE KINCHELOE
L. MIKELLE STANDBRIDGE
SHANE GUFFOGG
STEVEN DAYVID MCKELLAR
JULIO PANSELLO-HUGUET
SARAH HADLEY
victoria chapman
EL ROYALE | THE 706 WINTER EDITION
El Royale, built in 1927, is an iconic property steeped in history—ORIGINALLY, A HOTEL for Paramount studios, that became an apartment building with timeless charm. Designed by ARCHITECTS, Arnold A. Weitzman and William Douglas Lee, the same TEAM THAT BROUGHT US the LANDMARK, Chateau Marmont, EL ROYALE holds a unique connection to old Hollywood.
This season, VC Projects ORCHESTRATES a hub of creativity with THE 706 Winter Edition, a curated PRIVATE exhibition of contemporary art in THIS historic apartment setting.
Make sure to book an appointment to explore the work of Evan and Maya Mendel, Stevie Kincheloe, Sarah Hadley, L.Mikelle Standbridge Shane Guffogg, Julio Pansello-huguet, victoria chapman, and Steven Dayvid McKellar.
In this exhibition, we celebrate the unique voices and visions of a diverse group of artists, each offering their own lens into the human condition, the natural world, and the ephemeral nature of time. From confessional narratives and raw emotional landscapes to poignant observations of society and poetic interpretations of life, these works invite viewers to explore a tapestry of experiences and perspectives. Through photography, painting, and mixed media, each artist crafts a story that resonates beyond the surface, creating a profound dialogue between the viewer and the art.
Steven Dayvid McKellar's work is characterized by bold colors and a deliberate use of space to create balance. His raw and expressive paintings capture intense moments of existence, offering a vivid glimpse into the human experience.
We are excited to feature Evan Mendel’s work for the first time in our program. Evan captures the raw essence of street life and the grittiness of society in his paintings. Two of his works are on display, each offering a unique perspective infused with layers of irony.
Julio Panicello-Huguet presents four armpit paintings that cleverly objectify the male body. This series serves as a playful response to Gustave Courbet’s objectified female painting, L’Origine du monde. A newcomer to the program, Huguet's work offers a sharp and innovative perspective in this exhibition.
Victoria Chapman, both curator and artist, presents a selection of her work, including the diptych Love Storyand another earlier diptych from 2021. These pieces, crafted with lace and pigment—a hallmark of her studio practice—demonstrate her signature approach to texture and storytelling.
Stevie Kincheloe is celebrated for her confessional approach to art, weaving together personal photographs—capturing herself or places she’s visited—with text that offers intimate glimpses into her consciousness.
Maya Mendel, a highly talented painter, presents a single painting in this exhibition. Whether it’s a still life or plein air doesn’t really matter, as the work transcends such labels. In a society hardened by cynicism, one can almost sense the lingering essence of flowers fading to blue.
Sarah Hadley makes her debut in this program as an acclaimed lens artist currently gaining international recognition for her series Lost Venice. Her featured work is equally enigmatic, capturing a hauntingly beautiful still life in a Northern Italian villa.
Shane Guffogg's body of work spans a broad range, with still points intermingling with earlier pieces to reveal his artistic evolution. The works featured in the show are sensitive and intimate, offering a deeply personal perspective.
L. Mikelle Standbridge returns to her distinctive photo-body structures with her latest series, Photo-Tropes. Each piece is poetic and captivating, suspended delicately from the wall by string and a metal bar. The two works on display embody a sense of fragility and elegance.
The 706 Winter Edition is a curated exploration of the human condition, set within an urban landscape that questions life in a spinning world shaped by the relentless information age. Housed within a seventh-floor apartment, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of existence through a diverse array of mediums, including paper, mixed media, painting, and photography. This evocative collection features the talents of Stevie Kincheloe, Steven David McKellar, Shane Guffogg, Evan Mandel, Maya Mandel, L. Mikelle Standbridge, Sarah Hadley, Victoria Chapman, and Julio Panicello-Huguet.
At its heart, the exhibition speaks a visual language of color, form, and texture that transcends literal interpretation. Each artist presents a unique perspective, unraveling the layers of the human psyche and questioning the disjointed moments lodged within its depths. Themes of identity and the shifting seasons of existence emerge, inviting viewers into a deeply personal yet universally resonant dialogue.
Set against the singular backdrop of the historic El Royale Apartments, the exhibition takes on an added layer of meaning. The timeless elegance of this iconic building stands in stark contrast to the contemporary works, creating a tension that mirrors the layered complexities within the art itself. The setting becomes a space for introspection and discovery, where the past and present converge to question the very nature of being.
Ultimately, The 706 Winter Edition becomes a collective journal of shared experiences, charting the fragile balance of humanity caught within its vessel. It invites viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with the infinite possibilities—and limitations—of what it means to exist.
- vc projects, los angeles, December 19, 2024
The El Royale, located ON Rossmore Avenue in Hancock Park, Los Angeles, is a historic apartment building designed by architect William Douglas Lee, who also created the Chateau Marmont. Built in 1929, it features Spanish Renaissance Revival architecture with luxurious details like marble floors, chandeliers, and sweeping penthouse views.
Famous residents over the years have included Nicolas Cage, Huell Howser, Al Jolson, and George Raft. Its distinctive green neon rooftop sign, unlit for 50 years, is a local landmark.
Designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1986, the El Royale stands as a symbol of the city’s architectural and cultural history. It is located across from the Wilshire Country Club, in one of LA’s most prestigious neighborhoods.
The building has also appeared in pop culture, notably in the 1944 film Double Indemnity. Today, it offers luxury living with a blend of historic charm and modern comforts, making it a highly sought-after residence (WIKIpedia).
NOTE FROM THE CURATOR
Dear Friends,
A PRIVATE EXHIBITION
SUNDAY’S VIEWING PROGRAM FROM 11 AM - 2 PM BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
I am delighted to share with you The 706 Winter Edition by VC Projects, an intimate and immersive exhibition set within the cozy yet evocative confines of a two-bedroom apartment. This season, contemporary art finds its home in a space alive with character, where the walls hold stories of history, and modern creativity dances with everyday life.
Nestled within this unique environment, the exhibition invites you to experience art not as a distant observer but as an active participant, surrounded by the warmth and textures of a lived-in space. It is an invitation to explore how art interacts with its surroundings, creating a dialogue that is both thought-provoking and deeply personal.
Set within the storied walls of the El Royale, a landmark residence steeped in history, this exhibition offers a rare opportunity not just to view art but to inhabit it—immersing oneself in a dialogue between creativity, architecture, and lived experience. The environment itself, a living relic of a bygone era, becomes a participant in the experience.
In curating this inaugural show, I sought to embrace the tension and harmony between the artwork and the building’s architectural legacy. This juxtaposition felt like an exciting challenge—one that celebrates contrast rather than conformity. The apartment, furnished with an eclectic variety of pieces from different eras, carries a layered narrative of its own. Its lived-in charm amplifies the resonance of the art, creating an immersive experience for the viewer.
While I often lean toward a minimalist approach to curation, this time I desired a richer sense of presence, inviting the viewer to feel the rhythms of life within the space. My daughter and I reside here, and our existence intertwines with the art, layering it with an authenticity that is both intimate and dynamic. There’s a unique beauty in sharing how art is not just an object to be admired but a companion to daily life—a quiet yet profound presence that shapes and is shaped by the way we live.
This exhibition is not open to the public in the conventional sense, but I warmly invite guests to join me for an intimate encounter with art and history, reserved for Sunday mid-mornings from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. If you would like to book a Sunday to meet me, please email me directly, as I am not accepting walk-ins. (VICTORIA@VCPROJECTS.ART)
You will be greeted by me in the iconic lobby of the El Royale, where we’ll begin with a tour of the building’s grounds before venturing up to the apartment. There, amidst the eclectic furnishings and the vibrant presence of art, we will share a light snack and a beverage as the exhibition unfolds within its natural habitat.
From time to time, artists featured in the exhibition may join us, offering unique insights into the creation of their work. I will also be sharing updates about Special Sundays, when we host artist talks—an element of this programming that will continue to grow in importance, fostering a deeper sense of community around this special exhibition. This series will evolve and change with each season, creating an ongoing dialogue between the art, the space, and those who come to experience it.
It will be my pleasure to welcome you into this space and share another layer of my artistic journey. Along the way, I’ll answer any questions you may have about the art, the building, or the stories they hold. I look forward to connecting and sharing these intimate moments with you.
Warm regards,
Victoria