ELECTRIC SUMMER Exhibition to Open 7/11 at L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Advocate & Gochis Galleries present Electric Summer, an exhibition of original artworks by New York-based artist Gina Raphaela and the renowned rock/funk/R & B music legend Nona Hendryx. A free opening reception, featuring a special performance piece by Ms. Hendryx, will take place on Thursday, July 11, 7-9 p.m., in the galleries, located at the Center's Village at Ed Gould Plaza. The exhibit is curated by Katie Pomerantz and will run through August 17.

Gina Raphaela's work is influenced by her bold and vibrant Sicilian heritage. From the imagery of Fellini films to her grandmother's deep red sauces, Raphaela's art is a color-filled, passionate expression of sense memory. She has also launched a design and painting firm, Ladies and gentlemen Design, in Los Angeles and has provided commercial and print work for such clients as Charmin, McDonald's, and American Express. Her work has been exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Washington, D.C., and Tokyo.

Raphaela is also the co-founder of Art For Shelters, which seeks to donate original art to every shelter in New York City, then expand throughout the U.S. and ultimately have a global presence, providing an uplifting environment for people in need.

Nona Hendryx loves all things techno and performs in an Audio Tutu designed by Benoit Maubrey (wearable art/sound system), which she introduced in galleries in London and Berlin and will be showcasing at the opening of Electric Summer. She also utilizes digital technology in her artwork, finding the new media has reawakened her love of drawing and painting with prolific and wonderful results.

Hendryx is best known for her work in music. Beginning in the 1960s as a member of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells, she helped found the groundbreaking vocal group Labelle, the iconic gospel-funk/rock band ("Lady Marmalade"). As a solo artist in the '80s and '90s, Hendryx had several hits on her own. With the turn of the millennium, she once again charted new territory by incorporating cutting-edge music technology into her performances. In conjunction with the opening of Electric Summer, Hendryx will perform a special concert, Nona Hendryx Re-Wired, in the Center's Renberg Theatre on Friday, July 12, at 8 p.m.

ELECTRIC SUMMER: The Art of GINA RAPHAELA and NONA HENDRYX (with a special performance by Nona Hendryx) will be presented by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Advocate & Gochis Galleries, located at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood (one block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Blvd. Free parking).

Opening reception: Thursday, July 11, 7-9 p.m. Admission: Free. Exhibit runs through August 17. Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 6-9:30 p.m. · Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. By appointment: 323-860-7337.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center provides a broad array of services for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, welcoming nearly a quarter-million client visits from ethnically diverse youth and adults each year. Through its Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic and on-site pharmacy, the Center offers free and low-cost health, mental health, HIV/AIDS medical care and HIV/STD testing and prevention. The Center also offers legal, social, cultural and educational services, with unique programs for seniors, families and youth, including a 24-bed transitional living program for homeless youth. Information about the Gay & Lesbian Center is available on the Web at www.lagaycenter.org.

The Advocate & Gochis Galleries are the home of visual arts at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center. Since their founding in 1998, the Galleries have developed a reputation for collaborative and progressive work that reaches the GLBT community and beyond. By examining a broad range of themes that explore the relationship between art, identity and culture, the Galleries provide a unique space dedicated to showcasing inventive exhibitions and promoting the works of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender artists. Net proceeds from all Tomlin/Wagner Center events are used to support all of the services and programs at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

Artwork: Pink Painting, by Gina Raphaela