The Mistake Room Presents, "Aqux"

March 08, 2022

The idea of home has varied interpretations. These interpretations are often fixed, speaking to places that remain, yet are forever impressionable. The Mistake Room has opened up this conversation dissecting the various intersections of home, bringing together 23 Latinx artists examining what home means to them. The downtown Los Angeles gallery continues to create space for artistic subversion, allowing creative minds to bend the rules by which many abide. Expanding frameworks and vast perspectives since 2014, The Mistake Room hones in on authentic narratives, allowing artists to tell stories that might not be granted the opportunity in this way.

Running February 19 through April 23, 2020, the group exhibition, “Aqux,” curated by gallery director César García-Alvarez, invites viewers to reimagine the concept of home, and how cultural and social understandings experiences can alter a place with such anchored feeling. Visualizing representations of situational influence and the navigations that have a greater impact than a specific origin, each artist hones their discipline, disrupting a stable concept.

Text by Michael Hall
Photos courtesy of The Mistake Room

Exploring their Latin American heritage and the relationships and moments that have shaped each artist, “Aqux” provides relief, acknowledging one’s multilayered identity. Informed by the newly adopted inclusive term, Latinx, which has held much debate, “Aqux” is a visual meditation on histories that are not merely rooted in a specific place. Emphasizing the power of divergence, César García-Alvarez offers insight into the dynamics of home.

The artists include; Marcel Alcalá, Tiffany Alfonseca, Susan Aparicio, Felipe Baeza, Chris Cortez, Gloria Galvez, James F. Garcia, Jay Lynn Gomez, M.A. Guevara, Elizabeth Ibarra, Anabel Juárez, Mark McKnight, Star Montana, Jaime Muñoz, Esteban Ramón Pérez, Edgar Ramirez, Lily Ramirez, Fay Ray, José Guadalupe Sánchez III, Eduardo Sarabia, Claudia V. Solórzano, Ken Taylor, and Raelis Vasquez.

The center of the real—a moment forged from all the spaces and experiences we inhabit in the now. As these spaces and experiences evolve, we do too—suggesting that identity is always situational.

Art

Here and Then

Art

Please Touch: Brett Miller

His designs don’t just invite interaction. They demand it. Round shapes, in particular, seem to call out to be touched. Please Touch is a rebellion against convention and an invitation to break the rules. It asks you to step outside the lines and reach for what’s supposedly off-limits. Because really, why not? Why does a table have to be rectangular, square, or even circular? Why does a chair need four legs? Why does a cabinet have to be static?

Miller’s work is the result of a decade-long journey of self-discovery, experimentation, and pushing boundaries. When he moved to New York in 2015, he was searching for something—purpose, direction, and a sense of identity. He started out farming in the Hudson Valley before shifting to metal fabrication. Eventually, he found his true calling in furniture making. In 2017, he launched Jackrabbit Studio and made it a full-time endeavor the following year.

"I’ve never been one to follow the rules," Miller says. "But through my practice and working with natural materials, I’ve gained a deep appreciation and respect for universal laws. Some things just won’t work, but most things do. And within the parameters of functionality, there’s almost limitless wiggle room for the expression of form." This balance between structure and freedom is at the core of his work. His pieces invite interaction, encouraging people to rethink how objects function.

"Why?" is the first question we ask as kids when we learn to speak. But before we ask why, we touch—to know, to understand, to feel. This show is about embracing that instinct. So, let the kid in you take over. Run your hands along the edges, break the rules, and Please Touch.

Please Touch by Brett Miller from January 18th - February 22nd, 2025

Art

Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary

February 18, 2025

Belgian architect Glenn Sestig is known for his modern, minimalist style that perfectly blends art with function. Born in Ghent in 1968 and trained in Antwerp, he started his practice in 1999, creating work that spans homes, shops, and cultural spaces. His designs feature clean lines, thoughtful details, and high-quality materials.

In his book, Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary, you can explore over twenty years of his creative journey. The diary presents 45 projects with stunning photographs by Jean-Pierre Gabriel and detailed sketches that capture each design’s essence. The book also includes a foreword by Nick Vinson, an essay by Vladimir Belogolovsky, and interviews with notable clients, including fashion designer Raf Simons, offering a unique look into his creative process.

Take a look at the imagery below to see the elegance and detail of Glenn Sestig's work.