For two weekends of the year, the Beverly Hills Art Show transforms Beverly Gardens Park into a place where different versions of the world can exist at the same time. Each booth is a portal through an artist’s lens, showcasing how different people, scenes or emotions look from an individual’s perspective. The first show of 2024 showcased hundreds of artists on May 18 and 19, before revealing prize winners at the end of the weekend.
Many of the artists had a message that they wanted to portray through their work. Kenneth Gatewood is inspired by children and his works at the show mostly featured a child subject with his own text or news headlines. His piece entitled “Life Choices” features a young child looking inquisitively at a list of choices. On one side, it lists things like gangs, drugs and guns above the words “No Future” in bold red and on the other side, it lists things like education, hard work and respect above the words “Bright Future.” This is one of many watercolors Gatewood has painted with the hopes of changing a common cycle for children in low-income neighborhoods.
