Bette At Steve Martin Art Function L.A.

latimes.com
Steve Martin and Eric Fischl on why L.A. loves art
The comedian and the artist have a meeting of minds during a salon at LA Art House, which donates proceeds to the Hammer Museum’s program for emerging artists.
By Ellen Olivier, Special to the Los Angeles Times
March 21, 2010

In the beginning of “A Conversation With Eric Fischl and Steve Martin” at the LA Art House in West Hollywood, Martin pondered our love of art, noting that Los Angeles has built new art museums costing hundreds of millions of dollars.

“I don’t think there’s any one answer,” Martin said. “There’s an emotional content, of course, an aesthetic content ”¦ a social aspect.” Fischl, in turn, said art is the way he processes experience and a way for people to share experiences and participate in the culture.

The two continued exploring the subject at the gallery’s March 11 salon, presented with Christie’s and the Hammer Museum and attracting, among others, Edythe and Eli Broad, Susan and Leonard Nimoy, Brad Grey and Cassandra Huysentruyt, Linda and Jerry Janger, Lynda Resnick, Keith Addis, Jamie Tisch, LACMA Director and CEO Michael Govan and Katherine Ross, and MOCA’s new director, Jeffrey Deitch.

Margie Perenchio, Carole Bayer Sager and Ann Moss are partners in the gallery, which donates 100% of its profit to the Hammer’s program for emerging artists.

Hammer Director Ann Philbin called the policy “pretty cool.”

Said Perenchio, “When people buy a piece of art, we want them to know they are helping young artists.”

At the salon’s conclusion, Bette Midler echoed the sentiments of many present. “Your talk was very helpful,” she said to Martin and Fischl. “I learned a lot.”