By Lori Bartlett

Special to the Daily Press

SM AIRPORT — Fine art that’s certain to cross all language and cultural barriers is on display at Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hanger this weekend. “Art International: A Fine Art Affair” features the works of American, European, Asian and Latin American artists.

The show opened on Wednesday night with a museum night gala and is scheduled to run through Sunday. The exhibit features works from many styles and eras, including impressionist, modern, post-war, late 20th century and contemporary, and mediums ranging from sculpture and photography to prints, drawings and oil paintings.

More than 30 galleries and seven museums from across the U.S. and Europe comprise the 70-plus booths exhibiting their fine art fare.

Impressionist art depicting the scenic charm of early California from 1880 to 1940, and California artists who painted in Europe are all featured in the William A. Karges Fine Art Gallery. Most of the works are museum quality paintings.

Owner Karges said the show is a must-see for art admirers and buyers in the area.

“It’s a diverse show,” said Karges. “There is modern, fine art, watercolors and sculpture. It should cover something for everybody. There is even some photography as well.”

The show features many California galleries and museums, including Trigg Ison Fine Art. Ison will feature the original works of Gravleur — a contemporary French artist discovered by himself and Johnny Depp.

Ison will also be showing some celebrity art by musician Marilyn Manson.

Art International also invited galleries from New Orleans — impacted by Hurricane Katrina — to join the event. Two New Orleans galleries, Callan Fine Arts and the Cole Pratt Gallery, are showing their works, as well as a special photography exhibit with shots from Hurricane Katrina.

“It’s become difficult for our clients, who are serious collectors of fine art, to get to New Orleans, so it’s increasingly important to us to connect with them, wherever they are,” said Steven Callan, owner of Callan Fine Arts. “Art International gives us a high-quality venue to do just that.”

The director of Cole Pratt Gallery, Erika Olinger, adds, “As New Orleans moves beyond the devastation of Katrina, the gallery, which specializes in Southern contemporary art, has experienced an upswing in sales. People are looking for beauty and joy amidst the chaos, and the art market is coming back.

“We’re eager to see how the work of our artists, who came to us undiscovered and whom we bring to national attention, will present at this important new fair.”

Many of the exhibiting museums are from right here on the Westside. The Downey Museum of Art, the Fowler Museum of Cultural History at UCLA and the Barnsdall Municipal Art Gallery are some of the booths featured at the fair. The Downey Museum of Art is a noted venue for 20th Century art that serves a multi-ethnic public. Devoted to art and culture from Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americans, the Fowler Museum features works of the past and present. Barnsdall Municipal is the premier exhibition facility of the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs.

Art International is open today, from noon until 8 p.m.; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $15. Information and advance tickets can be obtained by calling (310) 287-1896 or e-mailing osatco@aol.com.