“Whistling Past the Graveyard” @ Merry Karnowsky

Mercedes Helnwein's childhood reads a bit like an avant-garde take on a Jane Austen novel. At a young age, she flouted the company of her father's high-profile friends -- including personalities like Andy Warhol -- seeking refuge in literature instead. She spent many of her formative years in a Northanger Abbey of her own -- in a secluded Viennese castle. Last November, BlackBook demystified the artist-writer and found that apart from her exotic backstory, Helnwein was just a creative mind attempting to make sense of the world around her through what she does best.

Having released The Potential Hazards of Hester Day earlier this year and with a solo show opening tonight at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles, things are looking sunny for the gifted hyphenate. “Whistling Past the Graveyard” features an assortment of intricate drawings and, more notably, a short film created by Helnwein and scored by her brother Ali. “Graveyard’s” reception finds the perfect host in one of Helnwein’s friends, My Name Is Earl star Jason Lee, and runs through September 20.