Way back in the 1990s, Julia Dean founded The Julia Dean Photo Workshops that, in 2013, became the Los Angeles Center of Photography (LACP), with Dean as executive director.  LACP is a pretty great organization that doesn’t only strive to build a community of dedicated photographers, but also endeavors to boost and fortify photography’s stature as an art form; both of which it accomplishes by providing a heady mix of education, exhibitions, portfolio reviews, and events to photographers of all ages and skill levels.  Furthermore, LACP provides free public programming—through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Los Angeles County—focused on at-risk youth.

Next Saturday, October 24, join the Los Angeles Center of Photography in celebrating its 21st anniversary, at the organization's Fifth Annual Fundraising Gala: A Love Letter to L.A., an immersive online experience wherein the LACP will present the Stieglitz Award to seminal celebrity photographer Douglas Kirkland and his esteemed wife, Françoise; and will honor Los Angeles-based photographer Estevan Oriol, and the photography staff of the Los Angeles Times.

Featuring more than 100 outstanding photographs by such sought-after and collectible artists as Jonas Ackerland, Mathieu Bitton, Lynn Goldsmith, Greg Gorman, Douglas Kirkland, Andrew MacPhearson, Sheila Metzner, Graham Nash, Estevan Oriol, Norman Reedus, Herb Ritts, Mick Rock, Matthew Rolston, Michael Shulman (aka me!), Art Strieber, and Paul Zone, that have been generously donated, the auction—online now at Artsy.net—will raise the monies required for LACP to meet its 2021 operational goals.

Joined throughout the event by a series of special guests, the fabulously talented actress, writer, and producer, Lisa Edelstein—best known for serving up starring roles on such series as House and Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, and recurring roles on The Good Wife, The Good Doctor, and The Kominsky Method; she can be seen early next year on season two of FOX's 9-1-1: Lone Star—will be savvily serving as the evening’s celebrity host; leading guests through a virtual and interactive cocktail party, and a special showcase of photographs from LACP’s juried competition, “The Connected World.”  What’s more, online guests will be able to watch some of today’s most celebrated photographers speaking about their work.

Between LACP’s having just relocated to its new digs in Culver City, and the recently announced closing of the Annenberg Space for Photography, LACP’s fight to keep photography vital in the Southland has never been more serious.  So, click on the links below, bid on some incredible photographs, and get your tickets to what promises to be a lively, fast-paced, art-filled, interactive online experience.

Attention Potential Ticket Purchasers: Sign up to become an LACP Member—$95/year for California residents, and $45/year for non-residents—and your ticket price goes from $100 to Free.  Granted, while this is cute for Californians, it’s really one heckuva sweet deal for out-of-state attendees; Either way, though, the math speaks for itself.

Fifth Annual Fundraising Gala: A Love Letter to L.A.
benefiting the Los Angeles Center for Photography
Saturday, October 25 | 5pm – 6:30pm
Click HERE for access to the online auction
Click HERE for tickets and event information

Get into it!
#LACP

[Editor's Note:  Lisa Edelstein will be appearing on the second season of 9-1-1: Lone Star as Gwyneth, a New York attorney, who is the ex-wife of Captain Owen Strand, the lead character portrayed by Rob Lowe.  The Edelstein-Lowe chemistry is a known commodity, as it has been since their characters' romantic story-arc on the first season of The West Wing, back in 1999.]