By Steve D
(The Hollywood Times) 9/9/19 – Owner/Director Pamela Schoenberg has had long and varied career, all while creating a family in the midst of it. In addition to running the gallery, Schoenberg is married, and has three children (Dora is 21, Nathan is 19, and Joey 15). Her kids inspired the name dnj Gallery.
Starting out as a photographer in college, Schoenberg created a strong reputation as a talented photographer. Her first gallery (on La Brea and Beverly) was founded in 2007. In 2010, she moved the gallery to Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. Then in September of 2018, dnj Gallery relocated one final time to its Ocean Park Boulevard space. The new gallery space is much larger allowing for larger crowds to attend.
The gallery offers new exhibitions opening on September 14th, 2019 and runs through October. Schoenberg discusses the upcoming shows. “We have two new dnj Gallery artists and MOPA (The Museum of Photographic Arts) collection of photographs by Lou Stoumen. Karen Amy Finkel Fishof, the artist in the Main Gallery, presents ‘Radiate.’ She creates portraits, illustrating her subjects with a huge, one-of-a-kind photogram. Ryan Linke (exhibiting in Gallery II) has a show entitled ‘Aquatic Figments.’ He uses the ocean to convey a sort of stillness, a coming together in one moment. His pieces utilize a specific palette of colors, and are printed a wood panels. Some of Lou Stoumen’s most iconic images from the “New York” series will be on display also during this time, in dnj Gallery’s Collection Room. The photographs which MOPA mounts are very interpretive of place and time.”
Photography has always been a part of Karen Amy Finkel Fishof’s life. She still has her early cameras gifted by her dad who took his hobby very seriously. She went on to study art in London where she fell in love with photograms.
Finkel Fishof has been inspired by many talented artists and a teacher. One of her professors (John Stezaker) at St. Martins School of Art, in London Martins encouraged her to enter an exhibition of experimental photography at Cambridge University. Needless to say…she was accepted and she continued her journey creating with this unique process.
She also visits museums and galleries to gain inspiration. “I’m looking for something out of the box, someone that’s really pushing the limits, thinking and taking chances with an end result that’s a wow factor.” Her influences include Man Ray and Barbara Kruger. “Barbara Kruger was one of the first female artists I got exposed to in the 80’s. I love the text based imagery which has really influenced my work and the thought provoking boldness of the content.”
Ryan Linke is a Venice, California local, and an avid surfer, much of his work is inspired by the ocean. He has a special bond with the water. Nature is another inspiration to him. “I try to capture brief slices of time that represent moments that rarely occur in nature.”
This will be Ryan Linke’s first show at dnj Gallery. “I’ve always loved the gallery. I remember being really impressed with the way shows were curated at the old Bergamot Station location. It’s perfect because I always thought that my work could be a good fit. She has really created an amazing space and I am thrilled to be a part of her gallery. Her love for photography was apparent to me right when I met her and started talking to her about my work. It’s great to have someone who shares a passion for photography excited to exhibit your work.”
Schoenberg said she was looking forward to seeing the work exhibited at her gallery. “As always, with the entire dnj Gallery roster, I feel as if they possess another perspective of our current thinking, representing another dimension of the contemporary world. I am interested in all of Karen’s and Ryan’s pieces; their ideas and thoughts are synonymous with their images. And, both are completely original and innovative.”
She went on to talk about the third exhibition. ”Lou Stoumen worked in multiple areas of the arts before it was fashionable to join certain types of media together. His artwork, as well as his thoughts and impressions, became interdisciplinary. His photographs of documentary scenes relate to his film making and producing.”
Don’t miss these three exhibition on September 14th, 2019 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm at dnj Gallery, 3015 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, 90405. The exhibition remains on view through October 26th, 2019. 310.315.3551; http://
