LONG BEACH, CA.- Los Angeles collectors Michael and Sirje Gold have tapped downtown Los Angeles-based artist James Adams for “discovery” at Wide Angle 3: Discovered/Undiscovered, the art auction segment of the venerable fundraising event benefitting the University Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach. The Golds are curating the WA3 auction with a novel approach - by pairing thirty-one established artists with thirty-one artists having great promise, but little establishment.

The Golds have been collecting art together since the early 1970’s, and have acquired a sizable, museum-worthy assortment that includes contemporary works by Charles Long, Anna Mendieta, Joel Morrison, Yoshitomo Nara, Fred Tomaselli, and Kim Dingle. In addition to collecting, the Golds have curated several exhibitions.

The winning bidders will receive both of the works in each pair for the price of one bid. For example, guests who choose to bid on the work of sculptor Bryan Crockett, will also receive the work of James Adams. These exciting pairs enhance the auction theme of “discovered/undiscovered”. Other artists included in the auction are John Baldessari, Robert Walker, Salomón Huerta, Robert Olsen, Kirsten Everberg, Roger Herman, and Lita Albuquerque. Fifty percent of the proceeds raised from the art sold at auction will go directly to the artists. A preview of the auction will initially take place on March 12th at the SmogShoppe, located in the Culver City art/design district; from March 18th through the 20th the works will be on view at the University Art Museum in Long Beach from 12 to 5 PM.

James Adams lives and works in downtown Los Angeles. He received his MFA from California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and also holds a degree in biochemistry from the University of Iowa with postgraduate studies in molecular biology at UCLA. His work spans across media and disciplines from video and sound to sculpture, photography, printmaking, and painting. Adams has exhibited throughout Southern California at venues including The Constant Gallery, Kellogg Art Gallery, i-5 Gallery, Soundwalk and the University Art Museum at CSULB. His single channel videos have screened at the Experimental Edit International Video Festival in Auckland, New Zealand. Adams was co-curator of the Greater LA MFA (GLAMFA) exhibition in 2007 and is the curator for Winstead Adams Projects.