 "Photo: Samson Uba, Photo Editor")
 "Photo: Samson Uba, Photo Editor")
Plummet down a rabbit hole and enter the world of the Downtown Art Walk.
Through the tunnel of art galleries, events, activities, shopping and dining, exists a self- guided and public art phenomenon combining a gumbo-like mixture of art aficionados and community locals to the ever progressive downtown Los Angeles.
One of the leading artists of this festival is the mad hatter himself Michael Pukac, a prolific live painter.
Pukac was raised on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. By the time he was 8 years old, sitting on the back of a yellow school bus, he sold his first piece: a nude drawing. An artist was born.
Growth continued as his skills sharpened with age and at the age of nineteen, he had his first exhibition at The White House in Washington D.C. He rose to become one of the more acknowledged artists in Southern Alabama.
"What's rewarding is to wake up as an artist and create something that inspires someone else. And that's one hell of a job," said Pukac.
In the most recent five years, Pukac has hosted and curated numerous art events, art walks, illustrated a series of children's books and produced other live presentations all over the country. Pukac participates in 50 shows a year, exhibiting his works throughout Southern California. And with 20 projects at one time, he is always on the go.
"Things are in constant rotation. While one [project] is ending, another is getting started," said Pukac. Caffeine is a prime component, just like tea is to a wonderland party.
Pukac's artwork is often showcased in the Temple of Visions, Dialect and The Hive galleries during Art Walk. Pukac will had attendees curious and confounded.
His paintings of underwater scuba excavations and disc jockeys spinning on hot air balloon rides lures the audience into a world where there are no straight answers.
"It's about finding quiky and poetic moments when you're dealing with a subject. There's a lot of it, practicality and absurdity," said Pukac.
He pulls eras of art such as Baroque, Rococo, Ashcan, and Art Nouveau. His other influences are inspired by all sorts of animation and documentaries on culture, music and literature.
"It's soul food," said Pukac. "It's the thing I go to when I want to see something from another perspective. It's a way to see our society. In general, artists are the lenses to view our culture. As an artist, you're pretty much like a farmer and trying to make something grow.
To see other artists similar to Pukac's whimsical style, Downtown Art Walk commemorates on the second Thursday of each and every month. One won't want to miss this very important date.
Aside from Art Walk next month, Pukac will be curating Crash Canvas, Oct. 8 at the New Puppy gallery, showcasing the most prevalent live painters in the LA community.
On the other side of the mirror, if it's a mad tea party you fancy, check out www.michaelpukac.com for more of Pukac's upcoming events.
If you're interested in continuing your journey down the rabbit hole, visit www.downtownartwalk.org.
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