Los Angeles-based artist Kim Schoenstadt began with a simple idea: Bring together a group of female artists from around Los Angeles for a group portrait — a way of recognizing the presence of women in a field that remains dominated by men. For her tribute, Schoenstadt says she was interested in acknowledging the countless female painters, sculptors, photographers and conceptualists who create work — whether it is acknowledged by art world institutions or not.  More than 700 artists gathered  in Hauser Wirth & Schimmel’s courtyard, in the downtown L.A. Arts District, for a group photo. “Now Be Here” — which included local artists, gallerists and curators was co-organized by Hauser Wirth & Schimmel’s Head of Education, Aandrea Stang. ‘Glad to have been a participant.

Hauser Wirth & Schimmel plans to release a digital copy of the group photograph on its website and by request. Schoenstadt will eventually provide local museums with archival copies of the image. There’s also a Facebook group to gather other group photos of artists; and Schoenstadt created a web page to serve as a “research portal” with photographs and documents from the event. Press: http://goo.gl/Hzc0H9 ,http://goo.gl/m5oUHI

The two group photographs were shot by artists Isabel Avila and Carrie Yury

Four person photo: (l to r) sculptor Karolina Maszkiewicz; photographers Loretta Ayeroff and Carolyn Campbell, along with sculptor Sierra Pecheur

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