| By Layla Revis Audis Husar isn't your typical success story. "I came here, studied, and worked in restaurants, which I was very bad at. I got fired from all of them, so a friend recommended I work in a gallery in Hawaii called the Ala Moana Center for Images International. That was where it all began, with my first job in art," Audis relates, laughing. Born in Bogota, Colombia, Husar has led a life anything but ordinary. She served in the Colombian Army and, at the ripe young age of sixteen, she moved to Utah (where she had some friends) and never looked back. "I came to the U.S.A. for a vacation before going back to Colombia to study law (my father's idea), but when I came here to visit, I decided to stay." She went to Brigham Young University and was there for three and a half years before coming to L.A., where she studied fine art and dance at Santa Monica College. "As you can imagine," Audis admits, "my father was very disappointed and did not talk to me for almost two years, but it was that time away that I got into the arts. I come from a very artistic family - I have a painter, a musician, photographers, architects, all in the family, so I also think... perhaps it's in my blood." Now, with more than 15 years' experience as a private collector, broker and consultant of fine art, Husar's Wilshire Screening Room Gallery operates as a collaborative exhibition space where Husar and partner Michael Hall orchestrate monthly evenings of art and film matching fine artists with filmmakers to create an experience around different themes. Films based on the life of artists like Amadeo Modigliani and Frida Khalo are screened, while work by or inspired by those artists is displayed. All evenings of art and film are joint ventures with the studios or filmmakers, and a portion of the event proceeds goes to programs for children in the Los Angeles area. "One of my favorite events was when we took The Aviator with art from Howard Hughes' private collection and aviator artwork from the '40s. I also loved the movie Frida and we gathered together some fantastic artwork from artists in the film, like Tina Modotti, Siquieros and artwork from other Mexican artists that were influenced by her work. We also screened Some Like It Hot with Frank Worth's behind-the-scenes photographs and some never-before-published photos of Marilyn [Monroe]. In our most recent show, we paired Factory Girl with artwork by Andy Warhol." It's this unique blend of artistic media that brings a new vitality to LA's film and art communities. Collectors enjoy an intimate evening getting to know artists and other art appreciators through a blend of art, film and music, creating a unique experience that allows for collaboration between the different art forms. Husar cites Arshile Gorky, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Mark Rothko, Reithhard, Helan Frankenthaler, Almodovar, Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu, Michel Gondry, Woody Allen, Wong Kar Wai among her favorite artists and filmmakers. "When you look at these artists ' work it moves you; everything slows down inside and you are brought back to the present because of it. You are in the moment experiencing that piece of art. Film challenges what you think you know and opens your senses to other people's experiences, to other worlds. It's an amazing thing," Audis reveals. Michael Hall, president and founder of Screening Services Group, developed the screening room with a clear plan in mind. "My plan for the Los Angeles area and, ultimately, in other major cities is to create additional locations with a ‘Very Plush' screening room or an ‘Ultra Plush' executive screening room featuring the most exacting quality standards in the industry, and an ‘Elegant' art gallery managed by Audis Husar Fine Art." How does Audis decide how the art will complement the films? "Sometimes it's the art first, then finding a film that complements the artwork. Mostly, it's bringing everything together as a whole. So, I find artwork that shares a thematic or visceral quality with the film. I have to say I'm very grateful to all of the filmmakers and studios who have been so supportive of this endeavor." What's in the future for The Audis Husar Gallery and Wilshire Screening Room? "It looks like we may be working with Kush and looking for films that have that surreal feel. We are also thinking of incorporating fashion in one of our events this year. We're always keeping our eyes open." | 
