Backscatter. Create: Fixate’s
Annual All Photography Show
There should have been more beanbags.
If I have to say anything negative about Backscatter this last Saturday night, it would be that. There were only five, maybe six, in a small semi-circle in the main room, and at one point I thought perhaps people would begin queuing up to get their five minutes of beanbag in. We had ours staked out and enjoyed a couple drinks during the requisite people watching. Excellent people watching at this event, and that’s just the least of it.
Create:Fixate’s Backscatter took place July 28 over near the Arclight Cinemas in what can only be considered an upscale warehouse space on Ivar. I think the place used to be an airplane hangar. Curated by Jason Elias and his wife/photography partner Alyssa Nicol Elias, the event was picking up steam when I arrived at 10 pm (it had started at 7 pm, not including the 4 pm to 7 pm Family Preview Exhibit). DJs and performance artists spun experimental sounds in two different rooms with the gathering crowd drifting from room to room and bar to bar. All that was missing was a half naked, body painted girl in a swing hanging from the ceiling. Maybe that came later on. Russ Meyer would be proud.
Not to give you the wrong idea about the feel of the show. I was at the bar myself when I realized I could have been anywhere but L.A. It was very much a refreshing non-scene at that point. The people were there for the art. The smell of marijuana floated in the air as we roamed around observing the photography. And I began to ruminate: Ah, artists. Is it a fairly good assumption that everyone, in some way, wants to Create, and yet only a very few people do it so well that it is transcendent? The art on display ranged from the bright and shiny, to busy but somehow boring, to off the wall interesting. Jaimie Trueblood had a shot of Storm Troopers from Star Wars descending an escalator that displayed a great sense of humor. Franklin Londin’s 3D photography- displayed through those old viewfinders that look like square binoculars- were amazing and one of the gathering spots of the show. Jason Elias himself, along with his wife Alyssa, had several pieces of their own beautiful travel photography showing as well.
There was of course some art on display that did nothing for me at all, but that is the beauty of art. It is so completely subjective that it doesn’t really matter. What looks ludicrous or boring to me will get purchased for $4500 by someone else. And of course it’s refreshing to be at a gathering of collected art, great people, hip music, and moderately priced drinks, rather than sitting through “The Simpsons Movie” across the street.
Just a note- my friend, and amazing photographer, Tait Simpson, was able to attend the press party I missed on Tuesday the 24th. This was an interview/photog session while the artists hung up their work and everyone raced around prepping the event. Wine and cheese (FREE wine and cheese) were served. The photos attached are from that night and provide a contrast to Saturday night’s event, which was in full color.
You can check out Create:Fixate’s upcoming events, as well as get more info about the artists on display at Backscatter, at www.createfixate.com 
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