WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Channel 1 Releasing announced Wednesday that it has revamped its Chi Chi LaRue's store in West Hollywood as a second location of its celebrated Circus of Books retail outlet. Circus of Books West, as it's now known, is located at 8861 Santa Monica Blvd, just down the road from the original location—now dubbed Circus of Books East—at 8230 Santa Monica Blvd.
The new location will adopt the LGBTQIA+ gallery theme of the original store, and both locations plan to take on more unique gift items from LGBTQIA+ artists and small business owners.
“The overwhelming response to the Gallery @ Circus at the original Circus of Books caused us to rethink our offerings," retail manager Samantha Madison said. "We were having so many artists wanting to exhibit, we had to turn many away. The venue allows for a more sexual art that most galleries shun.”
The new layout will allow more artists and feature smaller capsules, art objects and a large selection of coffee table books, with an overall mission of merging adult novelty with unique gift options from up and coming LGBTQIA+ artists.
"I really want the stores to be a place where you can find a one-of-a-kind gift mixed with a curated array of quality sex toys," offered C1R's Rob Novinger. "Like a sexy museum shop.”
Featuring at the two Circus of Books locations are the following exhibits:
Circus of Books WeHo West
Jason Ebrahimi is a London born artist based in Toronto and a commissioned artist for nearly 20 years having painted over 1,000 paintings for his clients. Jason's works are vibrant and dynamic. His palette knife technique conveys a flare of spontaneity, texture and depth. For this exhibit, Jason wanted to prove to his audience that “irregular” geometric shapes, although harmoniously challenging, when formed correctly in an unconventional method can be magical.
Jeremy Lucido is an artist, photographer and zine publisher. His work is celebrated and collected worldwide. This photography series is intimate, understated and beautifully expresses Jeremy’s eye for the moment, for character and highly charged erotic figures.
Danny Warhole is a pop artist who resides in San Diego. While Danny was growing up in the Midwest, he was awed by Andy Warhol, whose art was his first exposure to homosexuality in popular culture. Drawing from his exposure to artists like Warhol, and his own personal experiences, Danny has sought to put his own take on the artistic expression of the gay experience, combining pop art, homoeroticism and classic male forms.
Glen Hanson is an illustrator and animation designer living in L.A. and Palm Springs. He creates fun stuff for you to frame, watch and wear. Best known for his Golden Girls homage designs, Glen illustrates everything and everyone from Barbra to Britney. Don’s miss his Sex and the City designs that are currently featured.
Jacob Cruz is a Los Angeles based artist who grew up in Pasadena. He attended art school at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. For this exhibit he brings his talent in the male figure using charcoal and pencil.
Circus of Books WeHo East
Samuel Hatmaker’s "The Bricks I’ve Played With." Samuel grew up in rural Michigan. He spent two decades in New York City designing toys for DC, Disney, Hasbro, Marvel, Mattel, Nickelodeon and other leading brands. Today he lives in Los Angeles with his plush pig Prosciutto. Sam continues to create custom action figures, costumes, dolls, props, set pieces and sculptures. He was a finalist on the first season of LEGO Masters, a reality show on Fox. His LEGO creations have been exhibited around the world, most recently at Art Basel in Miami.
In the digital age, “dick pics” are ubiquitous. Men use hi-resolution close-ups of their genitals as greetings and profile photos, whether we like it or not. These exposures are today’s currency of (gay) male desire.
This collection merges two realities: the pure play of Samuel's burgeoning sexuality and the crass close-ups meant to spark—and obscure—longing. LEGO is the perfect bridge, reflecting both a simple toy’s call to imagination and the pixelated form through which we detail the world online. From youth to adulthood, from rarity to saturation, from shame to pride, from analog to digital, from past to present, from toy to art … these pieces reflect a journey.
There will be an opening party for Samuel’s exhibit on March 17 at 8 p.m. at the Circus of Books East location.
