Rafael Serrano

'I like to be an eclectic sort of artist; I want to go back and forth and not ever become stagnant in one approach," says Rafael Serrano, who opens a show of his paintings at Venice's Marquardt Gallery on Thursday. The show is the third to focus on Serrano's paintings, following last year's solo show at Jan Baum Gallery and a group show at Marquardt. But he is best known in art circles for his photographs, which became so popular a few years ago that he was included in the L.A.

A 23-year-old Pacoima man was arrested early Sunday as he ran from his house, leaving behind his dead girlfriend, police said. Rafael Serrano was taken into custody about 12:10 a.m. in the 11800 block of Dronfield Avenue. The body of Serrano's girlfriend, Yvonne Camarillo, 22, of Van Nuys was found inside the home. She had been shot several times, said Det. Frank Bishop of the Los Angeles Police Department Foothill Division. "It appeared to be a boyfriend-girlfriend dispute," Bishop said.

Nothing like a little controversy to get the public's attention. Attendance went up this week at the Cypress College Fine Arts Gallery after news broke that college officials had pulled a Rafael Serrano photograph from an exhibit flyer because of fears that its phallic symbolism would offend some people. A news story on the situation was published Wednesday; gallery director Robert Hardy said he saw about 30 visitors in the gallery on Thursday, a high number for what is normally a slow day. "I did notice that staff members from across the campus came by," Hardy said.

Art viewing at Bigoudi International is a strange experience, no matter what is on display. The venue has nobly ushered in rewarding artworks--mostly from Latin America--in an ample space on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills. But the plain fact remains: It's a salon. Not in the 19th-century European sense, but in the beauty sense. Hair is being done here. The smell of make-over is in the air. Nevertheless, Bigoudi is an often inspiring stop on the map of Valley art spaces.

A 23-year-old Pacoima man was arrested early Sunday as he ran from his house, leaving behind his dead girlfriend, police said. Rafael Serrano was taken into custody about 12:10 a.m. in the 11800 block of Dronfield Avenue. The body of Serrano's girlfriend, Yvonne Camarillo, 22, of Van Nuys was found inside the home. She had been shot several times, said Det. Frank Bishop of the Los Angeles Police Department Foothill Division. "It appeared to be a boyfriend-girlfriend dispute," Bishop said.

A large, sexually tinged, fantasy photo by L.A. artist Rafael Serrano kept good company in the "Avant Garde in the '80s" exhibition at the County Museum of Art in 1987. Currently he shows a dozen or so smaller Ektacolor photos in the same surrealist vein. Serrano constructs miniature dioramas that look like desolate landscapes, barren river beds and Road Warriorish urban ruins scrawled with bizarre doodles of warheads.

Last summer, when Sen. Jesse Helms was on the warpath against federal funding for controversial art exhibits, the lawmaker thundered from the Capitol that male genitalia "will not be exposed at the taxpayers' expense!" In that instance, the National Endowment for the Arts came under fire for underwriting exhibits that included a photo by Andres Serrano of a crucifix submerged in urine and homoerotic photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe.

Art viewing at Bigoudi International is a strange experience, no matter what is on display. The venue has nobly ushered in rewarding artworks--mostly from Latin America--in an ample space on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills. But the plain fact remains: It's a salon. Not in the 19th-century European sense, but in the beauty sense. Hair is being done here. The smell of make-over is in the air. Nevertheless, Bigoudi is an often inspiring stop on the map of Valley art spaces.

8 pm Pop Music Things are never dull when the Friendly Indians are onstage, whether the group is playing lively originals from its two albums or offbeat cover tunes. This local stalwart gets its first shot at headlining Anaheim's House of Blues on Saturday in an all-Orange County lineup. Also on the bill are Cowboy Buddha and the Mike Eldred Trio. * The Friendly Indians, House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim. With Cowboy Buddha, the Mike Eldred Trio. 8 p.m. $10. (714) 778-2583.

In the other 4-A semifinal: La Verne Damien 2, Santa Ana 1--Santa Ana's bid for a second consecutive 4-A title ended with an overtime loss at Damien. Kareem Lee scored on a penalty kick 8 minutes 33 seconds into the first 10 minutes of overtime to give Damien the lead. The Spartans (20-5-2) then held the Saints without a shot in the second 10-minute overtime period to advance into Friday's final. The Saints claimed the match should never have reached overtime.

'I like to be an eclectic sort of artist; I want to go back and forth and not ever become stagnant in one approach," says Rafael Serrano, who opens a show of his paintings at Venice's Marquardt Gallery on Thursday. The show is the third to focus on Serrano's paintings, following last year's solo show at Jan Baum Gallery and a group show at Marquardt. But he is best known in art circles for his photographs, which became so popular a few years ago that he was included in the L.A.

Last summer, when Sen. Jesse Helms was on the warpath against federal funding for controversial art exhibits, the lawmaker thundered from the Capitol that male genitalia "will not be exposed at the taxpayers' expense!" In that instance, the National Endowment for the Arts came under fire for underwriting exhibits that included a photo by Andres Serrano of a crucifix submerged in urine and homoerotic photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe.

Nothing like a little controversy to get the public's attention. Attendance went up this week at the Cypress College Fine Arts Gallery after news broke that college officials had pulled a Rafael Serrano photograph from an exhibit flyer because of fears that its phallic symbolism would offend some people. A news story on the situation was published Wednesday; gallery director Robert Hardy said he saw about 30 visitors in the gallery on Thursday, a high number for what is normally a slow day. "I did notice that staff members from across the campus came by," Hardy said.

A large, sexually tinged, fantasy photo by L.A. artist Rafael Serrano kept good company in the "Avant Garde in the '80s" exhibition at the County Museum of Art in 1987. Currently he shows a dozen or so smaller Ektacolor photos in the same surrealist vein. Serrano constructs miniature dioramas that look like desolate landscapes, barren river beds and Road Warriorish urban ruins scrawled with bizarre doodles of warheads.

Wet and muddy but exhilarated, the Santa Ana boys' soccer team won the Orange tournament championship with a 4-2 victory over Sunset League-rival Ocean View. Huge patches of mud dotted the field at Chapman College, greatly impeding the ball's progress. But the Saints (9-2) scored early, and kept up a fast, aggressive pace through the game. With about 30 minutes remaining in the first half, midfielder Hector Perez got the ball directly in front of the goal, and scored.

A match of intensity and, sometimes, anger ended the way it was supposed to Friday. But just barely. Walnut, undefeated and rarely challenged, pulled out a 2-1 overtime victory over Corona del Mar in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section 1-A boys' soccer playoffs. The Mustangs were pushed to the limit, sometimes shoved there, but showed they can dish it out as well.