27 years is a long time for an art gallery to be in business, yet La Luz de Jesus Gallery shows no sign of mellowing with age. Consistently groundbreaking and yet unpretentious (they established both the lowbrow and pop surrealism movements of California art), theirs is the template that nearly every other gallery has attempted to copy, but not quite. It's safe to say that without Billy Shire's landmark gallery none of the custom culture specialists (Juxtapoz magazine included) would be around today. The exhibitions are frequently amazing, but they also host counter-culture book signings, collectible toy swaps and present a free, monthly musical revue, Billy's Thursday Night Fish Fry, that features major bands like Grant Lee Phillips, Johnette Napolitano, and Thelonious Monster, comedians such as Greg Behrendt, and Blaine Capatch, and novelty acts like Sock Puppet Theater, and The Poubelle Twins. Their gift shop, WACKO, is the perfect place to shop for people who are impossible to shop for, and their selection of art books is on par with Hennessy and Ingalls. A trip to La Luz de Jesus is always worthwhile!
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