Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

LaLush: Not your parent’s art gallery

Tucked away in a warehouse district of Fort Lauderdale lies a hidden treasure known as the LaLush art gallery. During the day LaLush is as unassuming as any of the other warehouses it sits with, but on a night of a show, this place looks more like a trendy nightclub that an independent art gallery. For Nina Arias, artist, curator and owner of LaLush, running the gallery is more than a job- it’s a labor of love.

Arias, whose 9 to 5 job is at a high end art gallery in Miami, felt Fort Lauderdale was missing a place where people could come together culturally. Seeing all of the talent that was being shown at flourishing underground Miami galleries, Nina decided to bring that idea north. Instead of complaining about the lack of culture in Fort Lauderdale, Nina Arias decided to produce it. “I wanted to have a place where people could come and show their talent”, Arias said. “I wanted to make the kind of art shows that I wanted to see.” What is ‘that kind of art’, you might ask? Well, it’s the underground low brow kind. The kind you’re not going to find in your art textbooks or the type of gallery that will give you your student discount. Keep in mind, the word art is not confined to paintings alone. LaLush caters to local artists of all kinds ranging from painters, photographers and fashion designers to musicians and performance artists. Nina feels the purpose of LaLush is “to offer a community gallery where there is an infusion of local art and music that encourages and promotes emerging artists”. Francesco LoCastro, winner of the Broward Art Guild’s ‘Best in Show’ and one of the upcoming-featured artists at LaLush, said, “LaLush is a venue that allows me to be as daring as I want to be. There aren’t many galleries here that allow full artistic freedom without censorship. This is one of the few places that provides a home for underground art”.

The wonder woman of the art world, Nina works extremely hard to support herself and her expensive LaLush habit. All shows at the gallery are free with a suggested donation of $1.00. She offers a great assortment of fresh fruit, cheese, beer and wine. With shows costing from $600.00 to $1,000.00, Nina relies on her own income and the kindness of strangers to keep this gallery going. If that doesn’t prove how dedicated she is, maybe her personal testimony will; “I’d rather eat macaroni and cheese for months in order to do these shows”.

The next show at LaLush is titled “Girls, Girls, Girls”, a show devoted to local women artists. Come out and support your arts Saturday, December 1st. For more info email [email protected].

If you suffer from a weak heart or are morally conservative, LaLush is not for you. This is uncensored art so if you are easily offended, I would advise you to stay at home. Come for the free food and booze, stay for the incredible art that our community has to offer.

To get to LaLush take I-95 south to Davie and head east. Make a right on SW 4th Ave. then a left on SW 16th Ct. LaLush is at the end on the left side, 201 SW 16th Court.

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