LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 03/21/07 -- Town Hall Los Angeles presents "Art Collecting for Newbies," a panel discussion with leaders from the local art scene at 6:00 PM on March 29, 2007 at Pharmaka Art.

Los Angeles is home to the largest number of art galleries in the country. A recent article in Business Week noted that artists are often an early sign of neighborhood gentrification. It also ranked Los Angeles No.1 on their list of top 10 destinations for artists.

Bert Green, gallery director, Bert Green Fine Art; Shane Guffogg, artist and founding member, Pharmaka; Alma Ruiz, curator, Museum of Contemporary Art; and Paul Ruscha, art collector and manager, Ed Ruscha's Studio; will offer their expertise to Angelenos on building personal art collections.

On the subject of collecting art, Guffogg states, "Artists create and collectors collect for personal reasons, but those reasons communicate thoughts and feelings and ultimately an identity." Guffogg received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Cal Arts and is a founding member of Pharmaka.

Green graduated from New York University and relocated to Los Angeles in 1999. Ruiz has curated numerous exhibitions of contemporary art with a primary focus on the postwar period in Italy and Latin America, and has worked with emerging artists.

Ruscha has been a photographer for 35 years and spent the last 20 years as an in-house photographer and documentarian for his brother, artist Ed Ruscha.

This is the second event in March that Town Hall is hosting as part of the recently announced public/private initiative, "Creative LA(SM)" -- celebrating LA's creative industries. For 70 years, Town Hall has promoted civic participation, pride, and awareness. To stay informed, join Town Hall.

All members of the media are invited to cover this event.

**Please credit Town Hall Los Angeles in your coverage.

When:           Thursday, March 29, 2007
                6:00 PM Reception
                6:30-7:30 PM Panel Discussion, Q&A
Where:          Pharmaka Art
                101 West 5th Street
                Los Angeles, CA 90013

Note to reporters and editors: The organization uses the full name Town Hall Los Angeles. Please do not make generic as in 'town hall.' Media RSVP to Deborah Weinberg at Town Hall Los Angeles 213.312.9307 or media@townhall-la.org.

Reservations for the public: Call 213.312.9306 or visit www.townhall-la.org; Cost: Free for Members, $25 for public.

Contact:
Deborah Weinberg
Director, Media Relations
213.312.9307
Email Contact