Alexis Alicette Bolter is a new media artist with a BA in Art History from Boston University and an MFA from California College of the Arts. Her practice engages in an autofictive strategy to explore the psychological implications associated with contemporary female identity. Bolter has exhibited her work at Southern Exposure in San Francisco, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, The Situation Room in Los Angeles as well as various project spaces in and around the Bay Area and Los Angeles.
Your secret art venue when you seek peace and quiet
The Brand Library and Art Center in Glendale is a hidden gem of the LA art scene. Their art and music library is an oasis of inspiration and their gallery holds amazing shows that highlight local artists. The library is nestled in the Verdugo Foothills so it feels like you’re entering a sacred space and the architecture is beautifully enchanting. You can spend some time in the library or relax in the surrounding park depending on your mood. It’s a lovely place.
The best food experience in an art space
I recently attended the homeLA performance project The Way Light Moves Through in Larchmont. The entire experience was incredible but it all started with a handcrafted turmeric ginger beer made by Emily Marchand. It was a hot day during the summer and as I made my way through the performance I was sipping on this drink to stay cool. When I recall this show the taste of that drink lingers as much as the movements of the performers.
A museum gift shop that you never leave empty handed
It’s hard for me to leave empty handed from any museum gift shop. I can never pass up a good artbook or zine. The Hauser & Wirth bookstore ARTBOOK is definitely my weakness. They have such a great selection of catalogues and theory that you’ll most likely stumble upon something you didn’t even know you were looking for. I recently purchased a book of Yvonne Rainer’s Poetry that I absolutely love.
Your museum with a wow-factor
I think it’s hard to beat the Getty when it comes to a wow factor. The artwork is wonderful, the views are spectacular, and the gardens are beautiful. It all starts with the tram ride that forces you to leave behind your daily life for the experience that awaits you at the top of the hill. The architecture alone is truly breathtaking and I’m particularly drawn to the the color and texture of the travertine. While my taste usually lies in contemporary art, I have found inspiration while wandering through the galleries of decorative arts, neoclassical paintings, and research done at the Getty Research Institute. I’ve repeatedly turned to this museum during difficult creative times.
Please share with us a special personal memory related to a museum experience
I spent most of my childhood in traditional museums and I was eager to see something challenging. It was 1998, I was 15 years old, and I asked my parents to take me to the MOCA on a Saturday afternoon to see some contemporary art. When we walked into the main gallery on Grand Avenue we were confronted with a giant orgy comprised of mannequins all modeled after the artist. My parents were a bit taken aback but I was intrigued. This work was shocking and had a lasting impression on me. Some time later, while I was studying art history in undergrad, I realized this important work was “Oh! Charley Charley Charley…” by Charles Ray (no surprise there). It was this trip to the MOCA that made me want to be an artist.
