Jeffrey Vallance 'BELIEF SYSTEM: 1970s Political Work and Reliquary Chapels'    Oct 31 - Dec 19, 2007

Vallance has fashioned an entire artistic practice based on exhibiting work that embodies personal memories and confrontations, often colored by a deceptive naivety. The work is visual evidence of his quirky explorations, odd exchanges and humorous, autobiographical anecdotes and is brought to life by the religious, secular, and political mythologies that inspire them.

Drawings and Statements by U.S. Senators, 1978, installed in the main gallery, is a group of some 30 drawings and letters that represent an exchange between Vallance and a number of United States Senators. Vallance notes that some of the most significant moments in his life and practice have manifested in his interactions with people that shape our cultural and political lives.

Reliquaries, 2006-2007, installed in the side galleries, take traditional Catholic reliquaries as their model and drolly sanctify the quotidian objects they house. For example, Vallance’s reliquaries may house anything from a piece of coral that resembles news anchor Connie Chung to crucifixes he had blessed by Pope John Paul II. Vallance installs his altars in the secular space of the gallery and, through the structure of the reliquary, consecrates ordinary objects connected to his own life and artistic practice.

Vallance’s work has recently been included in such prestigious exhibitions as Los Angeles 1955-1985 at the Centre Pompidou, Paris, 2006 and (The World May Be) Fantastic, Sydney Biennale, 2002. An installation of reliquaries just opened at De Vleeshal, Middleburg, Holland. Vallance’s currently teaches New Genres at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The Margo Leavin Gallery is located at 812 North Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Gallery hours are 11a.m. to 5p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.