It was a beautiful Thursday, March 17th evening at High Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Erwin, where the Venice Art Crawl held their 2022 Legendary Women Artists of Venice Awards.
The event featured: An awards ceremony, silent auction, live music by Sierra Sellers, an exhibit of Andy Warhol images from Venice artists, photo slideshows, sounds by DJ Beth, an open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, Venice Way Pizza, lighting by Alternative Lighting, epic views of Venice from High Rooftop Lounge, and more!
A special award was presented to Venice Art Crawl’s President Sunny Bak by Venice Art Crawl Founders Daniel Samakow, Mike Newhouse, and Edizen Stowell.
And, Venice Paparazzi was on the scene to document it all, and even set up a step and repeat photo area to give the event a well deserved, star studded feel. View photos below!
Congratulations to this year’s 2022 awardees!
- Legendary fine artist and designer Isabelle Lago
- Emerging Artist goes to film director Megan Raney Aarons
- Rising Star Award recipient, nine year-old artist Misty Srichandr
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Featured photo: Legendary Women Artists of Venice Award Founders’ Lauren Doyle and Sunny Bak with 2022 honorees Isabelle Lago and Megan Raney Aarons.
Here is a message from the Venice Art Crawl!
The Venice Art Crawl is thrilled to announce Isabelle Lago, Megan Raney Aarons, and Misty Schandr as the 2022 Legendary Women Artists of Venice! It was a beautiful evening celebrating their art and contribution to the Venice community. The Legendary Women Artist of Venice Awards were established in 2018 in honor of Women’s History month by the Venice Art Crawl, Sunny Bak, and Lauren Doyle. The award recognizes the contribution of women to the arts and their profound impact on society. Winners are nominated by the Venice community and presented to female artists whose life and work exemplifies the Venice Art Crawl’s mission of creating community through art, education, and social activism. The award anticipates a lifetime of achievement for its recipients and the meeting of a new sisterhood in the arts.
Here is a message from Venice Art Crawl’s President Sunny Bak!
View event coverage by Venice Paparazzi!
Thank you to this year’s 2022 sponsors for support the Venice Art Crawl
Awards designed by the talented Andrea Tan
Lauren Doyle, Joelle Dumas, Robin Murez, David Stine, Sunny Bak, Karen La Cava, Andrea Tan, Venice Chamber President George Francisco, and friend
Mike Newhouse, Megan Raney Aarons, Jim Murez, Sunny Bak, Melanie Murez, and Lauren Doyle
The view the Jim Morrison mural by Rip Conk, the Venice Pier, and Catalina Island from High Rooftop Lounge
Spotted in the crowd Legendary Artist Isabelle Lago
Isabelle Lago
Legendary Woman Artist of Venice Isabelle Lago is a renowned painter, muralist and animation designer based in Los Angeles. A fine art graduate from USC, Isabelle found her groove in the grassroots art crawl scene and exhibitions of Venice Beach, which is where her iconic Isabelle Gorilla character first emerged in 2011. Today, her murals can be found on city streets, at tech start-ups, and private homes in Los Angeles and beyond, and her paintings and prints have been purchased by thousands of collectors around the world. Isabelle is also a founding partner of Nomad Blvd., an NFT project based on her work that sold out in one hour. Congratulations, Isabelle! We are so proud to have you in our Venice community. For more info: isabellelago.com
The epic view of the beach, the Venice Boardwalk, Venice Skate Park, Jay’s Rentals, Winston House, mural by Jonas Never, and more!
Haikuists write a haiku for artist Leah Knauer
Megan Raney
Legendary Woman Artist of Venice Megan Raney Aarons is an accomplished writer/director/producer who mashes true-life realism with a dark and magical whimsy, with plot twisting her narrative trademark. Megan cut her production teeth in NYC as a director of photography. She moved to Venice in 2003 and opened up production company GRAiNEY PICTURES out of her garage on Milwood & Electric, with her big brother & filmmaking partner in crime Colin Gray. Their 7th feature documentary, Unzipped; An Autopsy on American Inequality, which looks at the housing crisis through the lens of the arts & Venice Beach, is now at festivals. On the heels of a vast library of original fare and a slew of awards, Megan continues to earn her stripes. Megan was selected for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 4 director mentor program. Raney wrote the scripted psychological thriller CAGES with Guatemala’s Izabel Acevedo. Set partially in Guatemala and directed by Megan, Cages is a twisted thriller that comes with the support of Guatemala’s burgeoning new filmmaking community. A sometimes stand up comic, Megan’s sense of humor, and proclivity for plot twists and darker fare, makes for an exciting mash up in her scripted work. Megan is also writing a new comedy series, a revisionist historical short series and her second feature set in England’s South West circa 1996, which is where she moved from Canada as a kid. We’re excited to see the fruits of her labors in narrative. These are exciting times for Megan’s career behind the camera. graineypictures.com
Megan with her husband Brad Aarons
Winner! 😉
Misty Shichandr
Legendary Women Artists of Venice Rising Star Misty Shichandr is a two-time “My Venice Holiday Poster” contest winner and attends Coeur d’Alene Elementary school.
The views of the sunsets from High Rooftop Lounge are the best!
Thank you to 2018 Legendary Woman Artist of Venice Jules Muck for doing a pop up gallery in Venice Way’s patio at Hotel Erwin! You rock Jules Muck! 🙂
Larry’s Loft hosted the silent auction, registration table, bar, and complimentary Venice Way Pizza.
Kelly Layne and LA Social Karma’s Jennifer Wilson. lasocialkarma.com
Cookies checking out the silent auction
Past Legendary Women Artists Meryl Lebowitz checking out the silent auctio
Venice Rising Star Award recipient Misty Srichandr
Venice Art Crawl board members Karen La Cava and David Stine
Scale’s Tanisha Jackson and Legendary Women Artists of Venice Awards’ Co-founder Lauren Doyle
It looks like Misty loves her award and cup! Award by Andrea Tan and cup by Sandra Zebi
Past Legendary Women Artists MMB Boissonault, Robin Murez, and Joelle Dumas
Venice Art Crawl Founders Daniel Samakow, Mike Newhouse and Edizen Stowell present Venice Art Crawl’s President Sunny Bak with a special award that was designed by Andrea Tan.
Featured performer Sierra Sellers – sponsored by the SCALE Fellowship for Black Women in Music and the Equity | Impact Center
Venice Art Crawl Founders: Daniel Samakow, Mike Newhouse and Edizen Stowell. Venice Art Crawl’s President and Co-Founder of the Legendary Venice Women Artist Awards Sunny Bak. 2022 Legendary Women Artist awardee Isabelle Lago. Fun fact: Isabelle was on the original VAC Board in 2010.
Go team Venice Beach!
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For more info: VeniceArtCrawl.com
