WHO: DANNY FUENTES, OWNER/DESIGNER/CURATOR @ LETHAL AMOUNTS
WHAT: ART/GEAR/NOISE/DEVIANT BEHAVIOR/COUNTERCULTURE
WHERE: LOS ANGELES
Tucked between a bodega and dry cleaner on a nondescript block in downtown Los Angeles, you’ll find what owner/curator Danny Fuentes describes as “an exercise in poor taste and an assault on the senses”: Lethal Amounts, an art gallery, clothing brand and arguably, a subculture in and of itself.
The gallery features a rotating roster of photography + art exhibits, rock shows and author readings and serves as the workshop and retail space for Danny’s handmade and designed apparel line under the same name. Lethal Amounts is a celebration of the underground: punk rock, glam rock, anti-pop culture and various facets of what would largely be considered taboo. Since opening in February of 2013, it’s become a hub for past and present rock scenes and outsider art with Danny himself as the conduit.
WHO: DANNY FUENTES, OWNER/DESIGNER/CURATOR @ LETHAL AMOUNTS
WHAT: ART/GEAR/NOISE/DEVIANT BEHAVIOR/COUNTERCULTURE
WHERE: LOS ANGELES
Tucked between a bodega and dry cleaner on a nondescript block in downtown Los Angeles, you’ll find what owner/curator Danny Fuentes describes as “an exercise in poor taste and an assault on the senses”: Lethal Amounts, an art gallery, clothing brand and arguably, a subculture in and of itself.
What he views as simply “an extension of my taste” has attracted the attention of legendary artists and musicians and it’s not uncommon to see members of Devo or Blondie at his shows. Lethal Amounts also now holds licensing deals to produce original t-shirts and posters for some of Danny’s all-time favorite bands and he even enjoyed to a brief stint as Morrissey’s personal bodyguard on a recent tour.
Looking around Lethal Amounts is, frankly, really fucking refreshing. The demand of society and the Internet to be totally politically correct all the time has reached a fever pitch and spun way out of control. People are losing their jobs because they used the wrong hashtag on one of their Instagram photos. Asking questions or expressing even the most innocent of opinions publicly can be construed as shaming or discrimination and punished accordingly. Everyone is so goddamn offended by everything and it’s incredibly stifling and prevents any sort of productive discourse. Danny is curating an alternative to that – shining a spotlight on all kinds of stuff that we’re conditioned not to talk about or take interest in and even poking fun at it.
That said, it’s not all about shock value – the gallery serves as host to some really amazing, never seen before art such as the current installation of photographs ‘The Fast Times and Life of Paul Zone: Stills From the New York Underground 1971-1978’— running through the end of August and upcoming show ‘Idle Worship: California Underground 1978-1984’, featuring the work of legendary punk photographer Ed Colver, which is slated to open Sept 20.
Also coming soon to Lethal Amounts is brand new next-door neighbor, ThrashGnar, a skate shop owned and operated by Danny’s partner, Luke. These dudes are basically building an underground empire right under LA’s surgically sculpted nose.
1226 W. 7th St., Los Angeles CA 90017
Credits:
Words and photography by Malina Bickford, LA.