photograph by Jared Lorio

“The word ‘curate’ has become so debased from its original meaning that you can now hang an exhibition in a small commercial gallery, write a 300-word press release and claim to have ‘curated’ it.” – Ben Street

When I read that quote I laughed.  For awhile I considered what we’re doing with La Pura Vida to be curating in some new fashion but recently I’ve changed course and tend to call it editing and publishing.  Curators work in museums and expensive galleries, not on social networking site, which is fine with me because that’s not something I aspire to. 

A couple of months before I left Los Angeles I was at one my friend Dave’s UFC parties enjoying myself when I got to chatting with Walt Gorecki, who I knew from all the previous parties.  He mentioned that he was the creative director at L’Keg Gallery, a small space in Echo Park.  He knew I was a photographer so proposed perhaps doing a show of my work.  The thought of editing, printing and then showcasing my work made me a bit ill so I quickly brought up the idea of a La Pura Vida show.  I gave him my card and he checked out the site a few days later and thought it’d be a good fit.  So we planned on doing a show sometime in the spring.