Gilena Simons Photo by Lisa Margolis
“Treasured Again” is an exhibition of assemblage art dollhouses by artist and entrepreneur, Gilena Simons of TATABA that will open with a reception on Sunday, March 25, 2018, from 3-6 p.m. The artworks will be displayed throughout Simons’ store, TATABA Vintage, on Main Street in Santa Monica. There will be a curated selection of hand-made art, vintage fashion, jewelry, home décor, and collectibles of many kinds.
Simons has always been taken with collecting other people’s things—items that were once treasured and now have been discarded. Simons sees this an opportunity to create one-of-a-kind dollhouses and assemblage art pieces repurposed with a different meaning or insight than originally intended. Each project is a mixed media work that presents a statement on the notions of house, home, and family.
In Simons’ artist’s statement, she says, “I like to think, ‘What are the chances?’ as in, what are the chances these items having originated in so many different places like: Wisconsin, Germany, South America, or South Africa, would one day meet up in Los Angeles?”
She continued, “I’m fascinated by the stories they could tell if they could talk: Who designed it? Who made it? Who kept it, played with it, wore it, and then let it go? Why?”
Simons architects each one of these dollhouses or assemblage art pieces, where she introduces disparate components that fit together purposefully in a newly invented arrangement. At one time these dollhouses might have been made to teach little girls how to be homemakers. Simons’ pieces suggest instead that such notions can be swept clean, and that home is the centeredness we each seek to find in our lives.
A portion of proceeds from the sales at TATABA Vintage from March 24-25, 2018, will benefit OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center, whose mission is to provide the community (children, teens, and adults) with grief support services, education, resources, and hope.
The donation will be made in support of those participating in “March For Our Lives” events across the country on March 24, 2018, and in honor of all victims of gun violence. TATABA Vintage goes on hiatus at the end of April. So, if you miss this weekend’s festivities you have until the end of April to explore TATABA for yourself.
TATABA is located at 2823 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405.
