Liquid Horizon: A Danny Fuller Exhibition
All photos by Nick Green, Words by Damien Fahrenfort The sun’s setting as I pull up to a deserted building in downtown Los Angeles. I’ve driven across the LA bridge to a side of town that I’ve never been before. As I pull up to the gravel parking lot I look around and it’s not […]
All photos by Nick Green, Words by Damien Fahrenfort
The sun’s setting as I pull up to a deserted building in downtown Los Angeles. I’ve driven across the LA bridge to a side of town that I’ve never been before. As I pull up to the gravel parking lot I look around and it’s not what I’m expecting. Old run down buildings, a few bums hanging around trashed, graffitied cars and I’m not in the trendy side of Downtown – which is the side of town the preconceived notion in my head tells me a successful art show should be. Then again, who am I to say where what should be? I’m probably the person that’s part of the problem when it comes to judging art, if you’re even meant to judge it at all.
Google Maps confirms I’m in the right place. There’s a few people hanging around but not the turn out I’m expecting. I sneak by someone in a narrow set of stairs and this vacant space comes to life. A few thousand square feet of emptiness. The floors and walls are white which makes the space seem even bigger. There’s no one welcoming people at the front entrance and as I look around there’s only about 10 people checking out the life-sized photographs that Danny Fuller has blown up and put in thick, beautiful wood frames. There’s 10 photos; Beautiful imagery, but I’m starting to feel bad for Danny because there’s no one around. He’s nowhere in sight and I start thinking he’s already split and this is some kind of experiment. Maybe they’re monitoring people’s reactions. Who knows, maybe this is part of the show?
Just when I’m thinking it’s time to split and feeling a little sad about spending an hour of my life in the car to see a few wonderful images but no one to socialise with, I bump into super human Shelby Meade. She gives me a few minutes of wisdom and then asks if I’ve eaten the food yet? Caught off guard I ask what food and she points me in the direction of the back of the building. As I walk around the corner to my surprise there’s about 250 people drinking and socialising. It looks like a movie scene, fairy lights above heads, triangular tarps blocking the view of the LA bridge’s underside. For a quick minute I’ve forgotten that I’m in dirty Los Angeles. There’s a full buffet and House Beer have lined the ice bins. Everyone’s having a good time, taking turns to go into the show and admire Danny’s work. Everyone congratulates him on return. I get a hot second with Danny and he expresses his gratitude for stopping by. We have a quick chat about how much it means to him when people make an effort to come out and see his shows. Moments later he’s pulled away by Laird Hamilton and I go back to chatting to the nearest person I have something in common with. From a distance I listen to various people talking about how many important people in the art world are there to see Danny’s work. I spot a few celebs and enjoy an ice cold beer while thinking about how at the end of the day myself and probably 80 percent can’t afford a piece of Danny’s art. But, the environment he’s created is what keeps people coming out to support, and keeps the art buyers fascinated by Danny as much as they are his art.
You see, Danny’s created a niche for himself in one the hardest industries in the world. To stand out and truly be unique is something that doesn’t happen anymore and Danny’s managed to do this while involving his other passion; the ocean. His show embodied the spirit of camaraderie and the work is a fresh take on an industry that’s usually stiff and rigid.
Mr Fuller’s show, Liquid Horizon, will be on for the next two weeks. If you have an inclination, stop by, check it out and if your wallet permits, make a bid on a truly unique piece of art.
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