By Marina Claire The Middle Becomes Eclectic II is an LA-made small works salon – a large-scale exhibition within an intimate space – of forty Los Angeles area artists. The show’s title is a play on the iconic KCRW alternative radio program that began in LA in 1977. The small works in this exhibit span a wide range of media and styles, all made during the past year, by diverse artists at all career levels, guest curated by Camilla Taylor. The show is on view at The Middle Roo

At 51, Maryam Rohani Vakili is exploring the symbolism of Iranian doors and knockers in increasingly abstract ways. They've been experimenting with layering, texture, and color, especially red and turquoise, to express the tension between memory, silence, and identity. The studio feels vibrant and alive with this dialogue between tradition and contemporary abstraction. They're also deeply engaged with a smaller ongoing project, Care & Share, where they create tiny traditional

At 72, Elaine Carr is painting with gratitude. They lean towards more positive themes now. Their paintings tend to be a composition of beautiful colors that most times seem animated. Known for their bold colors and sometimes playful themes, Elaine's paintings are colorful compositions of still life, landscapes, and portraiture. They're primarily self-taught, having painted since childhood, but now in their retirement years they paint with a goal of creating works that evoke g