{"id":5788,"date":"2017-04-21T15:22:15","date_gmt":"2017-04-21T19:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/?p=5788"},"modified":"2017-04-30T10:16:09","modified_gmt":"2017-04-30T14:16:09","slug":"afraid-of-modern-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/afraid-of-modern-living\/","title":{"rendered":"Afraid of Modern Living"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"P6-web\"<\/p>\n

Afraid of Modern Living
\n4 March-7 May 2017<\/h2>\n

“Afraid of Modern Living” is devoted to the work of Los Angeles collective World Imitation Productions. First emerging as creators of collaged and photocopied mail art and publications in the late 1970s, World Imitation is perhaps best known in their musical incarnation, the band Monitor, active between 1978 and 1982.<\/p>\n

The exhibition draws from an archive of materials that together hold up a funhouse mirror to Southern California culture, consumer dystopia, and the late 1970s punk movement. Rarely seen publications, paintings, sculpture, video, and vintage flyers are be on view, along with interactive elements based on recently discovered World Imitation source materials and formative works.<\/p>\n

As a musical group, World Imitation gravitated to the Los Angeles punk scene for an audience, sharing the stage with local and international acts of the time such as the Bags, Human Hands, 45 Grave, the Fall, Cabaret Voltaire, Lydia Lunch, and Suicide. Monitor\u2019s primal disco offered a soundtrack for a California where exotica, aerospace, and the supernatural have been recombined in novel ways, employing electronics and thrashing guitars to create a new music based on ancient hymns and dirges.<\/p>\n

\"installation-view\"<\/p>\n

World Imitation publications of the late 1970s included titles such as Surf Rules<\/em>, Tesla-Rama<\/em>, Hula Dance<\/em>, and Computer Buddy<\/em>. These handmade pamphlets, as well as the group\u2019s \u201chappenings\u201d, reflect their interest in disparate topics such as exotica, psychedelia, pranks, UFOs, the paranormal, and Disneyland as a site of anthropological research.<\/p>\n

In the late 1970s and early \u201880s, World Imitation curated pioneering exhibitions of \u201cfound\u201d paintings culled from thrift stores, lost pet flyers, and other abject works. In 1981, they teamed up with Jeffrey Vallance to produce the infamous \u201cFix-it-Up\u201d show in which \u201dhigh art\u201d by celebrated artists including Ed Ruscha, George Herms, and Chris Burden was defaced, or \u201cfixed up\u201d.<\/p>\n

A book documenting the exhibition and history of World Imitation and Monitor published by Kill Your Idols will be released in conjunction with the show.<\/p>\n

(adapted from the gallery’s press materials)<\/p>\n

\n

INFORMATION<\/h3>\n

These Days<\/strong>
\n2nd Floor
\n118 Winston Street
\nLos Angeles, California 90013 USA
\n[click to email<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Hours:
\nThursday-Friday, Noon-7PM
\nSaturday, 11AM-7PM
\nSunday, 11AM-5PM<\/p>\n

MAP<\/a> | WEBSITE<\/a>\u00a0| FACEBOOK<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Afraid of Modern Living 4 March-7 May 2017 “Afraid of Modern Living” is devoted to the work of Los Angeles collective World Imitation Productions. First emerging as creators of collaged and photocopied mail art and publications in the late 1970s,…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5789,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/P6-web.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2QTD7-1vm","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6161,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/articles\/afraid-of-modern-living-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":5788,"position":0},"title":"Afraid of Modern Living","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"30 August 2017","format":"gallery","excerpt":"FROM KOLAJ #20 World Imitation & Monitor: How Collage Visualized Early California Punk World Imitation Productions (WImP) emerged as creators of collaged and photocopied mail art and publications in the late 1970s. Going on to curate pioneering exhibitions of found paintings culled from thrift stores, lost pet flyers, and other\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/DiePruefung-by-MichaelUhlenkott.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/DiePruefung-by-MichaelUhlenkott.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/DiePruefung-by-MichaelUhlenkott.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/DiePruefung-by-MichaelUhlenkott.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8176,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/origin-of-the-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":5788,"position":1},"title":"Origin of the World","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"20 May 2019","format":"gallery","excerpt":"COLLAGE ON VIEW Linder: Origin of the World at Andr\u00e9hn-Schipjenko Project in Paris, France Opening 24 May 2019 Linder is an internationally celebrated artist who applies the principles of collage to the visual languages of graphic design, popular culture, fashion and fine art in the production of photomontages, performances and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/linder-Origin-of-the-world.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/linder-Origin-of-the-world.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/linder-Origin-of-the-world.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/linder-Origin-of-the-world.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17277,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/what-do-cheeky-monkeys-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":5788,"position":2},"title":"What Do Cheeky Monkeys Do?","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"5 September 2025","format":"gallery","excerpt":"from the series \"What Do Cheeky Monkeys Do?\" by Marta Janik8.3\"x11.7\"; digital collage; 2024. Courtesy of the artist. COLLAGE ON VIEW What Do Cheeky Monkeys Do? at the Museum of Caricature in Warsaw, Poland6 September 2025 only as part of the 4th annual Zine Fair The series, \u2018What do cheeky\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/marta-janik-what-do-cheeky-monkeys-do-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/marta-janik-what-do-cheeky-monkeys-do-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/marta-janik-what-do-cheeky-monkeys-do-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/marta-janik-what-do-cheeky-monkeys-do-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10519,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/call-and-response\/","url_meta":{"origin":5788,"position":3},"title":"Call and Response","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"7 January 2021","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Eyes of the Beholder by Betye Saarpaint on metal and wood serving tray, with painted metal baking pan and metal ornaments; 1994. Courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects, Los Angeles, California. Photography by \u00a9 Museum Associates\/LACMA, \u00a9 Betye Saar. COLLAGE ON VIEW Betye Saar: Call and Respose at The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/betye-saar-eyes-of-the-beholder.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/betye-saar-eyes-of-the-beholder.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/betye-saar-eyes-of-the-beholder.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/betye-saar-eyes-of-the-beholder.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4995,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/duxbury-merchant-cape-cod-museum\/","url_meta":{"origin":5788,"position":4},"title":"The Duxbury Merchant at the Cape Cod Museum of Art","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"3 July 2016","format":"gallery","excerpt":"William Hemmerdinger: The Duxbury Merchant 7 July-28 August 2016 Using a wide variety of historical, painterly, photographic and even whimsical styles to express particular world-views, The Duxbury Merchant\u00a0offers a highly personalized visual narrative on topics ranging from family, history, and friendship to the connection to nature, to protecting personal space,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/william-hemmerdinger-the-duxbury-merchant.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/william-hemmerdinger-the-duxbury-merchant.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/william-hemmerdinger-the-duxbury-merchant.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/william-hemmerdinger-the-duxbury-merchant.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9161,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/her-highness\/","url_meta":{"origin":5788,"position":5},"title":"Her Highness","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"26 December 2019","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Her Highness 8 by Eva Lake11\"x10.75\"; paper collage; 2019Courtesy of the artist. COLLAGE ON VIEW Her Highness at Modernism in San Francisco, California, USA9 January 2019-29 February 2020Artist Reception: 9 January, 5:30-8PM Eva Lake is flipping roles in her recent show which explores the sculpture of India and the expectations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/eva-lake-her-highness-8.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/eva-lake-her-highness-8.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/eva-lake-her-highness-8.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/eva-lake-her-highness-8.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5788"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5788"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5788\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5789"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}