The story of Garage gallery starts when I met a cute guy named Erik at poker one night. He said he was a photographer so I looked up his website. Funny, bright, road-tripy, upbeat, and adventurous—I couldn’t believe how much I liked his work.

I wanted to buy one but didn’t know which photo I liked best, so he came over with a tube full of test prints. We took turns holding them up until I felt a surge of excitement when I saw ‘Hawaii Five O’ over my red velvet couch; I’d found my photo. It was part of his series ‘Build What You Will’ that he was exhibiting at some gallery in Beverly Hills. The show looked great but nothing sold. Odd, I thought. When it came down, Erik asked if he could store the artwork in my garage and I said hell, why don’t we have our own art show?

Let’s back up and say that I love to throw parties. As soon as I moved to LA and had an apartment big enough to hold more than five people I held what I still consider to be the best Halloween party of all time in my Melrose Place-esque apartment building. And when I bought my cute little craftsman house in Los Feliz with a great big back yard, the parties became more frequent and elaborate.

So the idea of the Garage gallery was the logical next step. I have one-night only events where I sell exceptional art at affordable prices. The party allows the artist and the art buyer to build a relationship, and introduces my friends, old and new, to the joy of owning art. The art is always really cool and exciting to me, work that I would want to hang on my walls, and do, and makes me smile every day.

The first Garage gallery show rolled around and Erik’s photos looked stunning against the dark wood of the garage walls. The backyard filled up with friends and friends of friends and we actually sold a lot of art. Both Erik and I were kind of amazed how well it all worked out.

I have since held shows the first Saturday night of every month (or so) featuring awesome young artists I found through friends, on the internet, through other artists and some who have found me. I have shown drawings: Diane Barcelowsky, paintings: Jeff Beck and Amanda Vietta, illustration: Aaron McConomy and graphic art: Jon Setzen, photographs: Flora Hanitijo, lithographs: Sara Press, and more. There have been deejays like jjfats and small town talk, rock bands, and jazz musicians (anders griffin) that add something special to every show.

I have begun having shows at the Federal Art Project, a gallery in downtown LA at 316 w.2nd St la, ca 90012. Our community of artists and art lovers continues to grow, and Erik and I have become very dear friends which makes me love ‘Hawaii Five O’ even more, if that’s at all possible.

—ali