Mark your calendar because you are invited to Gold Bug's first event in their new space. On Friday, September 16, from 5:00-8:00pm, Gold Bug invites you to visit their new location on Holly Street. Bubbly will be poured and good company will abound! The celebration includes the arrival of new art pieces by local artists, Kelley Benes and Kristina Drake. Both artists will be presenting new pieces that have not been seen previously by the public.
Gold Bug has been a fixture in Old Pasadena for nearly 15 years, and more unique and wonderous art and curiosities abound in their new location.
About Kelley Benes:
Beans of John, also known as Kelley [KT] Benes [Beans], is an artist based in Los Angeles. Her work has always been deeply inspired by nature, science, and/or the human body. Over the years, she has become an avid collector of natural objects and artifacts which now serve as inspiration for her work. Combining her fascination with strange objects, patterns in nature, and the human body led to the collection of work, Beans of John. On top of making unsettling objects made up of teeth, shells, eggs, eyes, and human hair, Kelley is also a practicing illustrator, mixed media artist, and taxidermist.
About Kristina Drake:
“It is in nature that we can best see ourselves”
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Kristina Drake moved to California in 2014 where she currently lives and works. A sculptor since childhood, she explores themes like death and change through the lens of the natural world. Animal skulls, insects and geology feature prominently in her art, impressing upon the viewer a sense of time and space. She has shown in galleries across the country and works with aquariums and museums to help spread awareness for ongoing conservation efforts. She believes strongly that using the natural world in art as an allegory helps us to better understand ourselves and can bring attention to conservation efforts and institutions that work to protect our environment.
