JAN
UAR
Y/F
EBR
UAR
Y
ART MUSIC
LACANVAS.COM
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Vol 2, no 2 jan/feb 2012 Creative Director/ Publisher Dante Colombatti Editor-in-chief Rebeca Arango Art Editor Shana Nys Dambrot STYLE EDITOR ERIN DENNISON Food Editor Kat odell Senior Account Managers Matt Olson Mike QuitiQuit design David salazar jimmy MNOIAN photography Albert Kodagolian Emily Bradley Luke Lovell BirdMan +CREW SHIREEN ALIHAJI, Stephanie Chen, Marilyn Chiu, Luis Fierros, Justin Fitzwater, Dina provatas, DJ Raylus, Intro, BomBr, Stampz WHERE 1778 N, Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90031 P:(323) 352-3250 E:PR@LACANVAS.com
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Copyright 2012, by LA CANVAS. All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission in writing from LA CANVAS. LA CANVAS makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but is not responsible for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. LA CANVAS is not held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions.
RZA LOGOS: RZA S HO T B Y K A I R E GA N www. we s c. co m / ch a m b e r s
CONTENTS MUSIC ART 18. LA STREET ART 20. ARTIST: AUSTIN YOUNG 23. GALLERY: OHWOW 10. PLAYLIST: GLOOM AND DOOM
24. BOOK: IT CHOOSES YOU by MIRANDA JULY
12. BAND: YACHT
26. ART EVENTS
14. VENUE: JAM IN THE VAN
FOOD STYLE 42. CHEF: MICHAEL VOLTAGGIO 45. RESTAURANT: NAYA FUSION 46. FOOD SCOOPS: THE BRUNCH DIARY 28. DESIGNER: MAYA REYNOLDS 30. STORE: WILLIAM B + FRIENDS
48. DRINK: THE DESERT FACIAL 50. BAR: THE WRITER’S ROOM
32. FASHION SPREAD: COLORBLIND 48. GROOMING: DEATH TO FRESH 40. RADAR: GET FIT
Check out the extended version of this issue at LACANVAS.com
CULTURE 54. TECH: CONSTANT EVOLUTION 58. JANUARY EVENTS 60. FEBRUARY EVENTS 64. LAST LOOK: MODERN MULTIPLES
BROTHER BASIL LO
NOTE We started with a cliché—New Year, new beginnings. From there, we made a quick mental leap to something more specific, deciding: let’s talk to people who have recently made a conscious decision to adapt, challenge themselves, or change course. Of course, LA CANVAS is an arts & lifestyle magazine, so it wasn’t quite difficult finding stories that fit the bill. Change is a struggle all artists must endure—it’s pretty much part of the job description. In October, when I saw YACHT announce their recent move to Los Angeles during Culture Collide, I knew we absolutely had to have them in this issue. Luckily, they are incredibly giving artists who invited us into their home for what was possibly the most exciting LAC shoot to date. Director, photographer and friend Albert Kodagolian jumped on board to photograph the duo on his 35 mm Leica while beats from a yet unreleased DFA record filled their new Silverlake pad. Talking to them affirmed something for me—the realization that the most fascinating people are also the most fascinated, the kind of people who are constantly intrigued by what others might dismiss as mundane. Miranda July, whose new book It Chooses You gets reviewed by Art Editor Shana Nys Dambrot, is undoubtedly one of those curious types. The book chronicles her investigation into the lives of random LA residents who placed ads in the Pennysaver. Both the publication medium and the process of talking to strangers were new to July, but the theme doesn’t end there. In this issue, Kat Odell chats with Top Chef winner Michael Voltaggio, whose new restaurant ink. pioneers a locally inspired, modern cuisine, and Erin Dennison profiles menswear designer Maya Reynolds—a very intelligent and seriously cool chick who recently opened up shop in DTLA. Featured artist Austin Young rounds out the group, captivating a variety of audiences with his diverse, multi-disciplinary approach to fulfilling his artistic purposes. We’ve always wanted to have Richard Duardo in the magazine—after all, his iconic and alwaysevolving print shop Modern Multiples is just around the corner from the LAC clubhouse, and we’ve spent quite a few evenings there, drinking cranberry vodkas and learning about gardening (yes, really). With the new Volume 2 tradition of putting images from the Last Look on the cover, we knew it was the right time to talk to Richard. And as a side bonus, we now have two limited edition prints of his signature poodle logo, one of which is going up right by my desk. Now more than ever, I find that the most successful independent artists are those who are willing to stretch themselves in more directions and take control of various aspects of their work. An ability to evolve is essential, while a willingness to study and attempt the unfamiliar is downright powerful. And curiosity is, most likely, the first brave and honest step towards change. As YACHT member Claire L. Evans said it, “The more we learn about the world, the more we can learn to exploit it—in a positive way, not in a sinister way.” To which I think I replied, “Word.”
- REBECA ARANGO Editor-In-Chief
NOTED. SHOE PORN
Is there a girl in Los Angeles who doesn’t swoon over a JEFFREY CAMPBELL shoe? Probably, but we haven’t met her (your mom doesn’t count). Well, in the JC Resort 2012 look book, those beautifully wacky, sky-high platforms we’ve come to know and love are paraded all over this city, posing in gorgeous shots everywhere from Venice to DTLA. The love affair—it’s mutual.
CHARITABLE ELEGANCE
PHILLIP LIM, ISABEL MARANT AND HELMUT LANG, oh my! By far the best collection of previouslycherished designer pieces we’ve seen. Closet Rich founder and former Rachel Zoe staffer Elizabeth Kott hand-selects each impeccable item from her sartorial arsenal. Garments are then sold on an easy-tonavigate online boutique at competitive prices. Oth-
DRUNK DRAWING
er items are donated on the clients behalf to a list of charities such as Dress for Success—a foundation
Last fall, the folks over at PABST BLUE RIBBON launched PBRART.COM—an amazing new website that
that promotes economic independence for disadvan-
encourages you to “drink & draw.” Submit your own PBR-inspired work of art by February 29th and you could
taged women by providing them with professional at-
be selected to win schwag, money and fame. Or, if you’re more of a non-competitive PB-Rtist, download the
tire. Exquisitely cultivated designer duds + women’s
iPhone app and upload your creations to drnkdrw.com—you’ll be among some rather raunchy company.
charities? Sounds like a formula we can get behind.
WORK IT DIESEL has always been committed to making great denim, and their S/S 2012 line is no different, carrying a range of on-trend fits and washes for men and women and embracing a utilitarian-chic aesthetic. But what we’re really digging here is the new selection of ultra-covetable accessories—specifically the men’s shoes. Guys, if you were wondering what to rock this spring, look no further than some perforated suede and leather oxfords from Diesel.
TAKE ME OUT
BALLS-TO-THE WALL
PARTY ALL NIGHT & DAY
“Hi, yes—I’d like an order of the Cauliflower with
There’s a lot we love about the Standard Downtown.
Sometimes, it seems the only solution to a hangover
Vadouvian and Cashews, a Seasonal Mushroom
Summertime pool parties, the Biergarten, film
is keeping all the blinds down and popping Advil’s
Flatbread with the Fresno Chili and Wilted Arugula,
screenings in the lobby—the list goes on and
while watching TV in bed. But we all know there’s
an order of Merguez Sausage and a side of Saffron
on. But probably one of the most exciting things
nothing like a little hair-of-the-dog to cure even
Rice. 20 minutes? Okay, thank you, bye.” Back
about the Standard is their constant support
the worst headache. Luckily, NYC’s BAGATELLE
in the day, that would have been us, ordering a
and patronage of the arts. Not that you need an
is coming to town and bringing rowdy champagne
delicious Middle Eastern takeout feast from CLEO.
excuse to walk down 6th street, but the new yarn
brunches with it. If you ever thought people didn’t
But now of course, we’d just do it online.
mural by MAGDA SAYGEG? Killer.
get wild before Sundown, prepare to think again.
http://www.snapfinger.com/menus/cleo
ART FOR ART’S SAKE
Last October, LA CANVAS opened its doors to over 1000 people for the 80//20 PARTY. The event brought together skaters, DJs, artists, and friends for a night of mayhem—but the real point was to give back to the local community. That night, 20% of sales from our gallery of 30 street artists, which included Shepard Fairey, Mr. Brainwash, and Banksy and some of LA’s best up-and-comers, was donated to local charity Inner City Arts, with 80% going directly to the artists themselves. To help provide an arts education for underprivileged kids in Los Angeles, visit inner-cityarts.org.
NITE JEWEL
STONE DARLING Enough with the 4-ON-THE-FLOOR. Every now and then all this new-fangled Electro music just leaves us craving something simple and sweet—which is why we’re currently stuck on the retro-pop sounds of LA locals Stone Darling. Think classic Western heartbreak, folky girl group harmonies, fuzzy guitars with the just right amount of twang, and a healthy-dose of reverb. It’s alt-country for the indie-rock set, and we love it.
PRINCETON These local boys are gearing up to release their new album, A Remembrance of Things to Come, on February 21st with a January residency at the Bootleg. You might recognize Jesse Kivel and his smooth, polished croon from LA band Kisses. Princeton’s jaunty lounge-pop does bear some similarities to the tropical funk bounce of Kisses, but without the lo-fi haze. Instead, A Remembrance of Things to Come delivers a crisp hi-fi sound complete with crystal clear keyboards, sharp string arrangements and snappy drum tones.
LA-based singer/songwriter/producer RAMONA GONZALEZ has been performing as Nite Jewel since 2009, but her new single “One Second of Love,” (featured on this issue’s playlist) has us seriously anticipating her upcoming album, which drops March 6th on Secretly Canadian. In the meantime, got to nitejewel.com to stream three examples of Gonzalez’s dark, twisted take on electro-pop and R&B.
PLAYLIST
GLOOM AND DOOM IT’S OFFICIALLY WINTER IN LA—IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO SIT INSIDE AND BROOD, THIS WOULD BE IT. SO GO AHEAD AND GET A LITTLE GLOOMY WITH OUR LIST OF SULTRY, SYNTH HEAVY ELECTRO-POP.
michael jackson with support from
“Surgeon” St. Vincent
“Vanessa” Grimes
“Born to Die” Lana Del Rey
PROFESSIONAL
“The Night” School of Seven Bells
“Avalanche” Zola Jesus
“Don’t Move” Phantogram
“Running” Computer Magic
“Little Man” Little Dragon
“Love in the Dark” YACHT
“Mirrorage” Glasser
“One Second of Love” Nite Jewel
“Mirrors” Superhumanoids
TO STREAM THE EXTENDED VERSION OF OUR PLAYLIST, CHECK OUT LA CANVAS’S PROFILE ON SPOTIFY 10
140-403_GM_LACanvas_final.indd 1
12/7/11 3:24:4
BLACK & WHITE
P O R T L A N D
ELECTRO-POP BAND
Y
CHT
DESCEND TO
LOS ANGELES
BY REBECA ARANGO
PHOTOGRAPH BY ALBERT KODAGOLIAN
WHITE
“You can’t spell Shangri-La without LA;” and the “LA” tattoo on Claire L.
a space that is separate from the rest of the world, you end up isolated from the
Evans’s shoulder exactly matches the font from the neon sign hanging in
things that make being a human being valuable, which is change, engagement
YACHT’s living room. On the title track from their latest album, named Shangri-
with others and the challenge of others,” says Claire. “That kind of explains
La after the earthly utopia from James Hilton’s 1933 novel, Lost Horizon, Claire
why we moved away from Portland too,” replies Jona. “Some people see
and YACHT’s other half, Jona Bechtolt, sing about finding their own such place
Portland as a utopia, and it’s cut off from the world in some ways.”
in Oregon, West Texas or Los Angeles—the places where they’ve felt happiest, though it could be anywhere.
For Jona and Claire, a harmonious life requires balance—not the uniformity that blankets a sheltered, peaceful town like Portland. Uprooting to LA last
After a year spent discussing ideas from 2009’s supernaturally inspired See
fall wasn’t a career-move but a mental and artistic choice. It’s the classic
Mystery Lights, Jona and Claire decided to tackle something more concrete
plot from dystopian fiction, like when Toby McGuire’s character escapes the
for Shangri-La. “A Utopia is a commitment to your ideas in a really profound
black & white ‘50s world of Pleasantville to face the multi-colored peril of
way—an actual place where you can enact any ideology that you have. As we
reality. “There’s kind of a post-apocalyptic feeling about LA—an anarchist,
made the record, we discovered that it’s not really possible. Once you delineate
unhinged, dangerous feeling,” explains Claire. “And that level of darkness is
PORTLAND ELECTRO-POP BAND YACHT DESCEND TO LOS ANGELES
something that makes me feel more connected to the world. A lot of what we
really fascinating to us. Can we have people stuck on ideas that are heavier
do is about the binary of darkness and light; having that dark streak makes us
than what they’re normally encountering in pop music?” Apparently, yes.
feel like we have something to talk about.” While most pop music—especially dance music—is staunchly escapist, YACHT’s buoyant electro-funk tunes are
So what ideas will influence YACHT’s next album? They’re not ready to say.
vehemently not so; their lyrics are a head-on confrontation of the thoughts
“We’ll make an album when we’ve decided our philosophical conversation or
filling their heads. “I think if the actual sonic tone of our music matched
worldview needs to be made into a concrete object that we can disseminate.
exactly what we were saying, we’d be more of a death metal band,” claims
When we start developing our ideas past where they got on Shangri-La, then
Jona. Of course, death metal is repellant and aggressive by design, but the
we’ll have to make a new album to stand for that.” But until then, they’ll
cheerful and sometimes-humorous sound of YACHT—which as producer,
continue creating. In between their never-ending tour—now an amazing
Jona has cultivated for nearly a decade—is one that welcomes you with open
production involving a full band—Jona and Claire keep busy designing
arms. On closer inspection, it’s a sly invitation to a rather serious party. “Pop
websites, creating video/visual art, and writing blogs and essays (Claire runs a
songs can stay with you until the day you die. Having a pop hook that’s about
science blog called “Universe”), all of which can be found on teamyacht.com.
consciousness, death, or the nature of reality and identity is something that’s
Poke around—you’ll definitely find something cool.
VENUE
ON THE
ROAD VENICE MUSIC MACHINE JAM IN THE VAN KEEPS ROCK-AND-ROLL ALIVE AND KICKIN ’
Photos by Abran Rubiner
It’s 2012, and it seems safe to say we’ve survived
a way to escape unfulfilling day jobs and partake in
say the least, and when we ask if they’ve taken any
the digital media revolution. Lamentations to the
the thriving LA art scene. “I moved out here after
measures to acoustically treat the van, Rubiner
contrary are finally dying down as laggards come
college,” says Cotler, who has studied everything from
shrugs, points at the vintage carpet and says,
to terms with the online free-for-all that’s replaced
film to writing to law, “It’s LA...everybody’s talking
“Not really, it just has naturally great sound I guess.”
our aging media institutions. Like all forms of
about doing something, and this was our way to be
Of course it does.
post-millennial web content, the live performance
a part of that—a way to get our writing, photography
video comes in two flavors: dreadful, and pretty
and videos out.” Since launching the project the boys
Currently, the Jam in the Van team are working to
great—the latter floating atop a sloppy sea of the
have featured acts like Milo Greene, The Henry Clay
solidify their status as a serious music media source,
former. But while thousands of iPhone-toting fans
People, Switchfoot, Chali 2na, Chromeo, and YACHT.
and continue to collaborate with local charities like the Harmony Project and produce shows at Santa
run rampant, uploading low-quality videos of their favorite bands, there are also some talented people
Of course, the online video series benefits the
Monica’s The Central. Looking ahead, they’ve got
out there trying to showcase live music at its best.
bands as much as the crew, if not more. “It’s a
plans to cover SXSW, and hope to eventually t ake their
The French have La Blogthèque and its trés-chic
win-win for both of us,” explains Rubiner, who is
show on the road. In the wake of the digital media
take-away shows, the English—the Black Cab
director of photography for the project, and films
revolution, one thing’s for sure: Jam in the Van and
Sessions. And here in LA, we have Jam in the Van.
the artists beautifully using four HD cameras.
their foreign counterparts—they’re the new MTV.
“I want somebody to see a video and say, ‘Woah, Imagine this: five sweaty musicians piled into the
they really rocked out in that van, I need to go see
back of an old van; rocking-out fully-amplified in
them live.’” And in today’s ticket-sale driven music
a SoCal heat wave at the height of summer; the
industry, this goal is more vital than ever.
windows shut—blocking out any leftover bits of breeze—in an attempt to placate the cops. Does
The Van, which was really an old RV bought from
it get any more all-American rock-and-roll badass
a man named Big Bud, is now essentially a mobile
than that? Because that’s what happened when
recording studio. The JITV team gutted the thing
Silverlake band Vanaprasta loaded up all their gear
themselves, leaving behind just a few clues as to
and spent the day in Jake Cotler’s Venice backyard.
the vehicle’s former glory. Microphones are stored in the refrigerator, and the bathroom is now a
14
Cotler, inspired by frequent road trips to Bonnaroo,
control room, though the toilet remains as a chair
started Jam in the Van with friends Dave Bell, Abran
for sound engineer Matthew Ungson. The sound
Rubiner and PH (the Perfect Hippie…long story) as
Ungson manages to get in there is impressive to
// Rebeca Arango
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19
KISS MAKE U P AUSTIN YOUNG EXPLORES BEAUTY WITH PHOTOGRAPHS FILM AND FALLEN FRUIT BY SHANA NYS DAMBROT
PHOTOGRAPH BY LUKE LOVELL
Q
uestion: What do John Waters and Divine, Russ Meyer, Siouxsie Sioux, Andy Warhol, and Hollywood glamour photography from the ‘30s and ‘40s
have in common? Answer: the wild, wonderful, surreal, and socially engaged work of post-Pop multimedia artist Austin Young. 2012 promises to be Young’s most interdisciplinary year yet, with planned books, films, photo shoots, performances, and best of all, a limited edition Pin-Up Calendar that weaves together elements of his portrait, fiction, and conceptual projects deconstructing mainstream beauty. “I’ve been doing portraits of drag queens, transsexuals and androgynes since 1985. I’m drawn to the spaces in between what society expects and what’s real. What is gender? What is beauty? Who are we supposed to be and who are we in fact? When I was a kid, I forced myself to be attracted to Farrah Fawcett. Now, I create new images. I don’t have any idea who I am; I’m trying to discover it. I think this is why I’m attracted to people who fall somewhere in the middle.” Speaking of “falling in the middle,” there’s a side to Young’s practice that
version called California New Wave at Royal/T for their PST show curated
may seem unrelated, namely his work with Fallen Fruit (a collaboration with
by Ann Magnuson and Kenny Scharf. Tranimal (with Squeaky Blonde and
David Burns and Matias Viegener). But look closer—the project is also about
Fade-Dra) is a similar experience—transforming willing victims in a gender-
challenging dominant paradigms. Using art as a starting point, Fallen Fruit
bending assembly line. There’s a Tranimal “Master Class” at Machine Project
takes direct action investigating cultural, economic, and ethnic oppression
on January 28, so mark your calendars. Besides his sparkling, exuberant,
surrounding public and private fruit-bearing agriculture as a function of
and so-wrong-it’s-right Jackie Beat music videos (look all six up on YouTube,
resources and colonial history. In addition to photography, video, cartography,
you won’t be sorry), Young is still adding to the epic episodic film The Worm.
tree adoption, and raucous jam-making parties, Fallen Fruit is opening LA’s first
The web sensation (written with and starring Nadya Ginsburg) explores
public fruit-park this summer at Del Aire Park in Hawthorne through a County
“consumerism, celebrity, and the black hole of desire within us.” Look that up,
Arts Commission grant, which is something they’ve tried to materialize for years.
too. And then there’s the whimsical naughtiness of En Plein Air, with LA Road
They’re also working on two books—one of their year-long show EATLACMA /
Concerts and Stephen Van Dyck. “Basically I announce a location where I will
LET THEM EAT LACMA, and one fully documenting the last seven years.
take anyone’s nude portrait if they show up. The last time was at sunset at the beach. In this and all my work I have been moving from creator to co-creator to
Less nutritious but no less life-affirming are Young’s video-art and public-
a co-participant with the viewer. And people get so excited to take their clothes
portraiture sessions. For his insanely popular Your Face Here show at Pop
off where they aren’t supposed to!” Eat your heart out, Cheryl Tiegs.
tART Gallery, Young brought in costumes, props, and make-up artists to create a collaborative experience with the public. He did a more choreographed
For more information visit AustinYoung.com or visit him on facebook
GALLERY
WESTWARD EXPANSION I N N E W YO R K , M I A M I , A N D N OW W E ST HO L LY WO O D , O H WOW R E D E F I N E S L O C AT IO N , L O C AT IO N , L O C AT I O N OHWOW is more than a galler y, retail store, or curatorial project—it’s an at titude. Al Moran and Aaron Bondarof f star ted in 20 08 with a galler y space in Miami and a book-centric shop in NYC; and in October 2010, OHWOW came to West Holly wood. Painter and street-ar t phenom Neck Face inaugurated the space on Halloween night with a multimedia ar t and shriek-fest. A night of ghosts and ancestors was the per fect way to open on a stretch of La Cienega once famous for a progressive galler y row that included the legendar y
Top Photos by Joshua White
Ferus Galler y—where a then-unknown New York ar tist named Andy Warhol first showed a bizarre
Ryan
suite of Campbell’s Soup Can paintings, with what
unexpected, as when performance and conceptual
McGinley.
Whatever
it
is,
expect
the
were decidedly controversial results. OHWOW’s
artist Bert Rodriguez cooked dinner for the crowd, or
owners were more than aware of that histor y. Says
street-art poet Jose Parla turned the gallery into an
Al Moran, “My biggest influences are Leo Castelli,
abstract wonderland. Starting January 20 they will
Walter Hopps and Irving Blum. The oppor tunity to
show Daniel Arsham, and in February, they have a
open on the same block where Ferus was 50 years
major solo show for controversial fashion-inspired
ago proved too great a temptation to pass up.”
photographer Terry Richardson. Despite his high
As for the reception their East Coast program is getting
profile, Terry hasn’t exhibited in the US for years, so that’s a big deal, and definitely deserves a rousing
from LA this time? It seems people these days are
OH! WOW!
less hung up on arbitrary things like geography and medium. Everyone is doing everything everywhere
// Shana Nys Dambrot
all the time—and that’s the point. Despite making very different kinds of work, one thing the artists of OHWOW do have in common is that attitude of
LOCATION: 937 N. La Cienega Blvd.
Photo by Javiar Clift
Los Angeles 90 069
adventure and boundary blurring. Perhaps it’s generational, as posited last year with the powerful group show of NYC artists who came up together Post-9-11, and included locally familiar names like Terence Koh, the late Dash Snow, and photographer
23
BOOK
STRANGER
THAN FICTION MIRNDA JULY TURNS PROCRASTINATION INTO ART
“When you’re lost, you have a super-power called empathy that you lose
about the differences between fiction, non-fiction, and autobiography—in
when your life improves.” Miranda July makes movies and visual art that
other words, how to determine what constitutes truth when you’re making
are about everything and nothing, with a reverent curiosity about how the
a character out of yourself or other “real” people—July’s absurd ploy
smallest and most seemingly meaningless actions—things that don’t even
worked, yielding the inspiration she needed to finish the film as well as this
feel like choices—become the foundations for people’s sense of self. She
charming, unlikely, and really magical book of interviews, photographs, and
has said that her art’s true subjects are other people, and how she imagines
instant memoirs. “I decided it was okay to feel creepy, it was appropriate,
they cope day to day with the lives they inhabit. But as she knows only too
because I was a little creepy. But to feel only this way would be a terrible
well, this mostly involves using herself and those she knows best as test
mistake, because there were a million other things to notice.” But in the
subjects for study, analysis, and transplantation into her fiction. In It Chooses
end, the main story was really about Miranda—and every word is true.
You, July turns this formula against itself, relating her attempt to overcome the malaise and writer’s block that threatened to derail her then-unfinished screenplay for her most recent film, The Future, by talking to strangers. Basically, she called people from ads in the PennySaver, and went to the homes of those who also agreed to be interviewed and have their pictures taken by her and her cohort, photographer Brigitte Sire. “I had forgotten that it’s allowed to ask people about their lives. It’s not really something we do in Los Angeles.” Besides giving rise to all sorts of July-esque ideas
24
// Shana Nys Dambrot
PACIFIC STANDARD TIME
in L.A. AND
PA I NT I N G
SCULPTURE
In the 60s we called them neighbor. Today we call them genius.
© 2011 J. Paul Getty Trust
Experience Ruscha and the other revolutionary artists whose works launched L.A. into the world art scene and changed the perception of modern art everywhere. The J. Paul Getty Museum presents Crosscurrents in L.A., on view through February 5 at the Getty Center.
Standard Station, Amarillo, Texas,1963. Ed Ruscha. Oil on canvas. Image courtesy of the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; gift of James Meeker, Class of 1958, in memory of Lee English, Class of 1958, scholar, poet, athlete and friend to all. © Ed Ruscha.
ART EVENTS
GALLERY OPENINGS JILL GREENBERG: Commentary and Dissent Katherine Cone Gallery January 7 - February 4 Opening: January 7, 6-9pm Katherine Bell Cone, formerly the director at Subliminal Projects and Robert Berman Gallery before that, inaugurated her new Culver City digs with new, top-secret work by Cool School legend Billy Al Bengston; her second show features celebrated photographer Jill Greenberg. katherineconegallery.com PHOTO LA Santa Monica Civic Auditorium January 12 - 16 Opening Night Gala: January 12, 6-9pm Returning for its 21st edition, expect vintage, contemporary, video, and multimedia; plus lectures, panels, book signings, and docent tours, including a 9:30am tour with LA CANVAS’ own Art + Books Editor on Friday the 13th. photola.com RAMIRO DIAZ-GRANADOS: Go Figure SCI-Arc Gallery January 13 – February 26 Opening Reception: January 13, 7pm Exhibition Discussion: February 10, 7pm This unique installation by LA-based architect Ramiro DiazGranados of Amorphis promotes simultaneity in the evolution of the delineated figure by distributing cartoon and visceral features across a 3-dimensional form. Whoa. sciarc.edu THE LOS ANGELES ART SHOW Downtown Convention Center January 18-22 Opening: January 18, 7-10pm Once an encyclopedic show, the new LA Art Show is focused on today’s and tomorrow’s contemporary trends, honed to showcase top caliber galleries featuring modern and contemporary works by established and emerging artists. laartshow.com DANIEL ARSHAM: the fall, the ball, and the wall OHWOW January 20 - February 16, 2012 Opening: January 20, 6-9pm This exhibition reveals Arsham’s diverse artistic practice and the progressive manner in which he approaches his subject matter, chosen media, and the surrounding environment, featuring architectural interventions and new gouache paintings. oh-wow.com MAXIMO GONZALEZ: Playful Craft & Folk Art Museum January 28 - May 6 Opening: January 28, 6-9pm This exhibition is a journey through a decade of Mexico City-based Argentinean artist Máximo González’ playful investigations into contemporary politics, popular culture, and the re-utilization of discarded material. cafam.org TERRY RICHARDSON: Terrywood OHWOW February 24 - March 31 Opening: Feburary 24, 6-9pm Controversial photographer Terry Richardson returns to LA from his adopted hometown of NYC, with what promises to be one of his most luscious and evocative series of fashioninspired, oversexed glamour shots yet. oh-wow.com ALI SMITH & CHRISTOPHER DAVISON Mark Moore Gallery Feb 25 – Mar 31, 2012 Opening: February 25, 6-8pm Ali Smith illustrates the existential plight the artist has in finding new, personal meaning and direction within abstract painting. Mining the subconscious for evocative imagery, Christopher Davison meanders through garish dreamscapes rife with fantasy, phantasmagoria and myth. markmooregallery.com BRICE BISCHOFF: Bronson Caves Kopeikin Gallery February/March Opening in early February Haunting photographs with ghostly, prismatic images made during a performance after sunset at the historic Bronson Caves, a popular location for filming since the earliest days of cinema, especially sci-fi and/or Westerns. kopeikingallery.com
26
LACANVAS.COM TAKES YOU TO MORE OF L.A.’S BEST OPENINGS
Design: ahoystudios.com
Let art take you places
Los Angeles January 18 – 22, 2012 Event Deck at L.A. LIVE 1005 Chick Hearn Court www.affordableartfair.us
danny fuller slymz mid leather gravisfootwear.com
THE
TRAVELER FEARLESS MENSWEAR DESIGNER
MAYA REYNOLDS HANGS HER HAT DOWNTOWN
Story by Erin Dennison Photographs by Luke Lovell
W
alking along Spring St. today, it’s obvious that Downtown LA has changed considerably over the past several years, with new
businesses popping up all over the place. Alongside the trendy new coffee shops, book stores and juice bars sits the area’s most exciting new addition: CLADE, a menswear boutique on 6th St. just East of Spring. If the name’s not familiar, the aesthetic might be. Formerly titled MB999 – a line that’s been stocked at such iconically cool retailers as Fred Segal, Opening Cermony, and Oak in NYC – the label has been reintroduced as CLADE for SS12. While the name change celebrates designer Maya Reynolds’s creative rebirth, the clothes continue to uphold her signature style—one that embraces individuality, history, eclecticism, and a bit of goth-punk sophistication. At CLADE, Meticulously constructed garments line the walls of the gallery-like boutique, while custom built industrial-chic racks artfully display everything from thick grungy knits to handsome leather coats and rock-star worthy jackets. Paintings by local artists and reupholstered gothic couches add rich, eclectic touches to the space, with slate-blue walls serving as an absurdly complementary backdrop for Maya’s flaming red curls. Maya’s current FW11 collection was inspired by a trip to the temples of Angkor Wat, Cambodia. More specifically, she was fascinated by the coexistence of ancient and modern in Cambodian society, as well as the experiences of French explorer Henri Mouhot. “What I really found inspiring was the idea of the traveler, the intellectual who chose to leave behind refined society and family to go explore and discover the world...I can’t image it would have been easy.” A parallel could easily be drawn between ‘the traveler,’ and Maya’s relationship to her own work. Early in her career, the classically trained 3D artist found success designing basics for a mainstream audience, but then quickly abandoned it to pave her own way in fashion. “This collection is an exploration…I started MB999 with another designer. We did one season together and he moved on, so I was given the opportunity to walk away or make it my own—an overwhelming prospect at the time. I was always very comfortable being anonymous as a designer, but that created a lot of confusion. So I decided to create a tangible presence in Downtown LA, which I really love. We came up with the name CLADE; the term encompasses all species evolved from a common ancestor—a branch on the tree of life. Symbolically, this is how each collection is tied together, by the common thread of a creative seed.” How does Maya produce such intelligent, insightful menswear? One secret ingredient may be detachment. “Being an artist, you are so attached to what you’re making. When I was designing women’s, it felt as if I was creating everything for myself, it was really hard to step back.” With menswear, Maya is able to look at her subject with considerable objectivity. “Additionally, I feel the avant-garde movement in menswear is the most sophisticated thing going on in fashion right now.” Looking forward to next fall, Maya is intrigued by 2012, the Mayan calendar, aliens, the apocalypse, and all things spooky and whimsical. Smart silhouettes and a forward thinking narrative unite to define Reynolds as a true 3D artist whose muse is more of a verb than a noun; a formula that will be sure to bring her audience welcome surprises in upcoming collections. We’re excited to see what comes next for this sculptor turned menswear designer – and over the moon to have her first physical location open up in one of our favorite neighborhoods.
STORE
Photo by Luke Lovell
TRUCK SHOW ST Y L E - S AV V Y T R U C K C H A S E R S C A N TA K E A B R E A K AT W I L L I A M B + F R I E N D’ S N E W 3 R D ST. HO M E Ever had the itch to peruse a luxur y sample sale for the
This October, the DeLeos transitioned their mobile
per fect light-knit sweater during your farmers market
business
jaunt? Well luckily for us, Los Angeles is home to William
accessories, shoes and specialty denim are woven in
B + Friends— a luxur y boutique on wheels. Bet ter still,
amongst pieces exclusive to the William B brand, which
the ingenious idea has recently extended itself into a
trends seasonally and accounts for the majority of the
permanent store on 3rd street for those craving a lit tle
boutique’s
consistency. We sat down with the crew to get the scoop
business-wear, jewelr y and decorative candles constitute
about their brand, events, and first retail spot.
a collection that’s suitable for nearly all demographics at
into
10 -90%
a
brick-and-mor tar
merchandise.
below
retail
shop.
Well-made
cost.
Think
Designer
basics,
Kitson
smar t
meets
The WILLIAM B brand was launched in 1985 and sold in
independent boutique meets Henri Bendel— at a co-op
stores such as Fred Segal, Barneys, Saks Fif th Ave and
price point.
Neiman Marcus. The concept behind the collection was to of fer merchandise directly to the consumer at a fraction
Love the chase? Fear not adventure-junkies—the truck is
of its original retail price.
Founders Nick and Linda
still making appearances around L A on the reg. You can
DeLeo hosted large-scale sample sale events around
find the mobile boutique any where from Studio City to
the countr y featuring the WILLIAM B label along with a
Mid-Wilshire, depending on the day. How do we keep up?
rotating roster of other designer apparel. The momentum
William B sends out email blasts for ever y event, plus you
of their success inspired the duo to make their concept
can keep yourself posted by following them on Twit ter and
literal, and the boutique truck was born. A mobile shop
Facebook. Space-age treasure hunt, anyone?
housed the entire collection along with other designer merchandise all at discounted prices, allowing them to bring their exclusive selection to dif ferent neighborhoods in and around the Los Angeles area.
32
// Erin Dennison LOCATION: 8207 W 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90 0 4 8
Sometimes irreverent. Never irrelevant. Always stylish.
hollywood
styleSCENE.Com
RIGHT: Ted Baker Shirt, Laeken Necklace
On Daniel: !iTEM Jeans, Ted Baker Shirt, New Era Hat
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SHIRT: Ted Baker NECKLACE: LAEKEN
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RADAR
GET FIT
THIS IS YOUR YEAR TO GET IN SHAPE. NOT BECAUSE YOU TOO-OFTEN TR ADED QUINOA FOR MASHED POTATOES OVER THE HOLIDAYS, BUT BECAUSE LA IS NOW HOME TO SOME VERY CREATIVE FITNESS ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE CHALLENGING THE TRADITIONALLY BLAND GYM-EXPERIENCE WITH DESIGN, ATMOSPHERE, MUSIC, AND OF COURSE — GREAT WORKOUTS.
DAVID BARTON gym
When NYC fitness icon David Barton opened his first gym in 1991, he installed the lighting himself. “I was a trainer, but also a musician and an artist, and so were most of my friends. None of them really went to the gym—I wanted people to see that going to the gym could be elegant and meaningful.” His inaugural Chelsea gym, though simple compared to future creations, invited the downtown creative-crowd to workout in style. From there the idea took off. Today, DavidBartonGym—which has locations in Miami and Seattle as well as three in NYC—is finally in LA. Taking a cue from the building that houses it, the West LA gym references Le Corbusier and ‘60s pop, while the Century City space channels old Hollywood glamour. Though no longer hanging lights, Barton still conceptualizes each distinct design himself. “I always have this vision when I walk into a space, l know what it should look like. I do that with people too—when I see someone walking down the street, I know how they could look if I trained them.” Of course, the DBG motto is look better naked. www.davidbartongym.com
PoP PhYSIQUE
On twitter, people call Pop Physique #buttschool. “We create firm, shaped butts, toned arms and legs, and rock hard abs,” says creator Jennifer Williams. But there’s more to it than that. Jennifer, a former ballet dancer and Pilates instructor, teamed up with husband Deric to develop a workout that’s as much about the experience as the results. “We were living the creative class lifestyle in Silverlake, but there wasn’t a workout that matched our aesthetic.” So in 2008, they opened their first studio, and by emphasizing design, environment and music, created something that really resonated with locals. The hour-long Pop Sculpt class, Williams’s original ass-kicking workout combining Pilates, ballet, light weight-training and stretching, is certainly tough—it will have your legs shaking half-way through—but don’t be scared; it’s not like a boot camp, and you’ll leave feeling so good about yourself that you’ll want to go back again and again. “The response has been insane. People are more than addicted to what we do and how we do it.” And with a DVD series in the works and new locations opening in and out of state, the addiction is certainly spreading fast. www.popphysique.com
38
FOR MORE ON THE DAVID BARTON GYM + POP PHYSIQUE, GO TO LACANVAS.COM/BLOG
GROOMING 1
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R E J U V E N AT E YO U R W I N T E R LOOK WITH THESE INDULGENT, G L OW- H A P P Y M U S T- H AV E S . Story and Illustrations by Erin Dennison
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NARS, Albatross Highlighting Powder- $27
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10
www.hufsf.com/
CLAWS+WINGS I T ’ S A BI R D? I T ’ S A PL A N E ? I TAUG H T I TAW ? BI R D PR I N TS , F E AT H E R S & AV I AT ION; T H I S S S12 I S C OM I NG BY L A N D & SE A Illustrations by Erin Dennison
Circle Scarf HELENE BERMAN $98
Owl Ring
Handbag
AQUA, $20
MARC BY MARC JACOBS, $498
Booties
Aviator Hat
CALVIN KLEIN, $179
AQUA, $80
Sunglasses
Cuff Links
PRADA, $290
MON ART FIRENZE, $65
Canvas Bag
Tie
ALLY CAPELLINO, $395
THE MEN’S STORE at BLOOMINGDALE’S, $65
Pocket Scarf PECKHAM RYE, $65
INSPIRED BY THE DIVERSITY OF LA, TOP CHEF WINNER
MICHAEL VOLTAGGIO
PUTS A FRESH SPIN ON FINE DINING By Kat Odell Photograph By Luke Lovell
Michael Voltaggio has charmed palates near and far as Chef de Cuisine at The Bazaar and The Langham, and now, the Top Chef season six winner is busy running his inaugural solo restaurant, ink. There, he showcases a contemporar y style of cooking he dubs “Modern Los Angeles” cuisine – a current take on plates influenced by the diversity of cultures in Los Angeles. L AC caught up with the omnipresent chef to talk edibles, inspiration, and cheese-filled noodles.
1) HOW IS THE FOOD SERVED AT INK. DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU PREPARED AT THE L ANGHAM? It ’s not that it ’s dif ferent; it’s just in a dif ferent package. The cooking is the same, with ink., we are just tr ying to make it more accessible to more people. 2) YOU’VE DESCRIBED YOUR ST YLE OF FOOD AS “MODERN LOS ANGELES” CUISINE. WHAT E X ACTLY DOES THAT ME AN? To me, the cuisine in this cit y is influenced by so many dif ferent cultures, and I think that diversity is what defines Los Angeles cuisine. Our term, “Modern Los Angeles,” is more true to what we do than the term “Modern American,” as we are inspired by what surrounds us. 3) WHAT ARE SOME SPECIALT Y INGREDIENTS THAT ONE WOULD FIND IN YOUR KITCHEN, BUT PROBABLY NOT IN MOST OTHER KITCHENS IN L A? We use many cuts of meat, but honestly we do this for t wo reasons. First – we love the challenge of taking the less desired cuts and making them taste great, and second – food is so expensive today, so by sourcing high-quality alternative cuts, we can keep the food af fordable for our guests and still of fer a memorable experience. 4) TAKE US THROUGH YOUR CRE ATIVE PROCESS WHEN YOU’RE CRE ATING A NEW DISH. It usually star ts with one ingredient or tool/equipment that the dish is constructed around.
For example, we bought a pasta
extruder, and we wanted to make a long, filled rigatoni. Then we needed to figure out what to stuf f it with. We had some really nice cheddar in the fridge, so liquid filled macaroni and cheese was born... 5) WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Our guests. I actually read most of the comments that guests make, good or bad, and tr y to listen and react to what they are saying. We can’t please ever ybody, but I really do tr y to provide people with what they want. It’s about finding a balance of what makes you happy as an ar tist and what makes the business profitable, but most impor tantly, what makes people happy. It really bums me out when people have a negative experience, but food is so subjective today and people want dif ferent things. 6) WHO WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR MENTOR? I’ve had several and all for dif ferent reasons. I am thankful ever yday for the experiences that I’ve had and I never take them for granted. Professionally, to name a few: José Andrés, Charlie Palmer, Lawrence McFadden, Feter Timmins, Arnaud Ber thelier, Sonny Sweetman, and of course, my brother Br yan. 7) DOES APPE ARING ON NATIONAL TELE VISION BEFORE OPENING A RESTAURANT ADD PRESSURE FOR YOU TO “PERFORM” IN THE KITCHEN, SAY, FOR FANS THAT COME IN? It creates dif ferent expectations, and it also reaches a new demographic of diners. I always love to hear people say, “I never eat food like this, but I watched it on television and wanted to tr y it.” T V reaches a lot of people and perhaps even inspires them to go tr y other restaurants where maybe the guy in the kitchen wasn’t on T V. Sometimes people do get angr y that I stay in the kitchen and work as opposed to “working the room,” but I have a long way to go before my dues have been paid. 8) ANY OFF-THE-MENU SPECIALS AT INK. FOR THOSE IN THE KNOW? Nah, no secrets. I do tr y to recognize people’s dietar y restrictions, and if they can’t find food on the menu that meets their needs, I tr y to accommodate them as best as I can.
ABSOLUTE`
RESTAURANT
SPICE WORLD S I LV E R L A K E ’ S L AT E ST HOT S P OT, N AYA F U S IO N , T U R N S U P T H E H E AT Indian food in Los Angeles is often relegated to
As if the food isn’t already an adventure, walking
those dim, hole-in-the-wall places with cheap
into Naya is like embarking on a forbidden
lunchtime curry buffets.
escapade. It looks unassuming on the outside—
Restaurant
&
Bar,
But at Naya Fusion
Indian-Pakistani
food
is
just a dark building by the road, but through a
elevated to a rather ungodly level of gourmet.
set of heavy drapes, diners find themselves inside
While Chef Imran Mookhi continues to use a clay
a heavenly temple, complete with diaphanous
tandoori oven and traditional spices, his French-
white curtains that sweep from high ceilings
style entrees and appetizers would definitely
to the floor.
not be found in a typical Indian restaurant.
emanates an almost sinister atmosphere, luring
On the other side, the lounge
guests into its intricate archways.
Through the
At Naya Fusion Restaurant & Bar, lamb chops
thoughtful execution of food and decor, Naya
stand in a tripod over an amber-colored mound
enchants Los Angeles with a much-needed new
of curried mashed potatoes, with mint chutney
dining
concept:
sophisticated
Indian
fusion.
drizzled in a zigzag over a petite dome of saffroninfused jello.
The Chilean sea bass, a protein
// Marilyn Chiu
rarely used in Indian dishes, exemplifies Chef Mookhi’s French-American spin on Indian cuisine. A generous cut is seasoned, skewered, and thrust into a 900-degree tandoori oven, where the high
LOCATION: 3705 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, 90026
temperature creates a tender, yet firm texture ringed with a crispy clay-oven char and served with another inspired dish: apricot curry. As an added bonus, the cocktails pair well with the food; “Kiss of Naya” smooths out the spiciness of dinner with Bacardi Gold, pineapple juice, crème de coconut, lime juice, ginger, and basil. Dessert at Naya is just as extraordinary. Faloodah, an Indian summertime treat, is an infusion of rose
syrup,
cream,
tapioca,
basil,
vermicelli
noodles, and other South Asian flavors.
At
Naya, it can be found in an impeccable glass cup,
blended
with
berry
and
mango
puree
and topped with a spot of whipped cream.
45
FOOD SCOOPS
THE BRUNCH DIARY T H R E E G R E AT R E A S O N S TO G E T O U T O F B E D O N S U N DAY // Marilyn Chiu
ZENGO
(395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA)
The ultimate brunch indulgence can be found at Zengo—a rooftop eatery on Santa Monica Place where, on weekends, unlimited mimosas and Euro-Asian tapas flow freely from kitchen to table. Tapas include traditional breakfast-inspired items with a fusion twist, like the beef tenderloin mini benedict with kimchi, and the Peking duck hash—a savory-sweet bowl of mashed plantains, poblano chili peppers, and crispy duck topped with a poached egg. Across the menu, ceviche, sliders, and dimsum complete the trans-national circle of flavors. A justifiably popular dish is the Thai Chicken Empanadas—baked envelopes of chicken and Oaxacan cheese dipped in Thai red curry sauce and topped with a zesty mango salsa.
ALOHA FOOD FACTORY (2990 W Valley Blvd., Alhambra, CA) Ever felt like you wanted to lick a pancake? Or drink from a plate? If not, it’s probably because you haven’t had the macadamia nut pancakes at Aloha Food Factory. This tiny brick establishment out in Alhambra houses the most mouthwatering, island-inspired jacks on the mainland.
A plain buttermilk
pancake topped with a generous splash of a vanilla cream sauce and a sprinkling of ground macadamia nuts is beyond satisfying by itself, but when paired with Portuguese sausage and smoky-roasted kalua pork, or perhaps the Loco Moco— king of comfort food—it becomes an Angeleno’s perfect morning getaway.
SALT’S CURE
(7494 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA)
Salt’s Cure not only cures its own meats, but will cure the great American morning craving: bacon.
Thick-cut bands are butchered directly from the
belly of a California-raised pig, cured with house spices, and then griddled right behind the bar to a meaty perfection. That’s right, meaty. These aren’t the greasy, thin strips that supplement your grand slam. Two pieces of bacon are served with a steak knife, two perfectly molten eggs and two flavorful sausage patties—also made completely in-house. Add a stack of three oatmeal griddlecakes with cinnamon butter, and you’re set. Now that’s breakfast.
46
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DRINK
CHiLL OUT K IC K- I T I N T H E D E S E R T W I T H T H I S C O O L C U C U M B E R C O C K TA I L
On a dr y day in Palm Springs, the next best thing to a relaxing, deep-cleansing facial might just be this chilled cucumber cocktail, which happens to be called, “The Deser t Facial.” Af ter a chaotic tasting frenzy, the L AC crew voted “The Deser t Facial” to be the best drink at the Amigo Room— one of our favorite bars at our favorite deser t retreat, the Ace Hotel & Swim Club: a remodeled vintage resor t within walking distance of downtown Palm Springs. With cucumber rounds that refresh both eyelids and taste buds, it’s as therapeutic as a cocktail can get. Seasonally inspired drinks rotate through the Amigo Room cocktail list. With herbs from the patio garden and syrups made in-house, this bar is like those ar tisanal L.A. ones, but in the middle of a deser t oasis a hundred miles east. Other cocktails have included fresh local rhubarbs, homemade lavender syrup, and `
pureed watermelons from the chef’s watermelon field. The Amigo Room also shakes up solid renditions of bar classics, like the Moscow Mule, served in an icecold stainless-steel mug. At night, the Amigo Room’s dark, tavern-like space of ten hosts live indie-bands, DJs, and a young, trendy crowd—per fect if your idea of an L A getaway still involves get ting down. // Marilyn Chiu LOCATION: 701 E Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs 9226 4
RECIPE: -2 cucumber rounds (about ¼ inch thick) - 6 - 8 mint leaves -2 fl. oz. pineapple juice -2 fl. oz. vodka -Ice
Muddle the cucumber, mint, and pineapple juice. Add the vodka, fill with ice, and garnish with a cucumber round.
48
KINGS
ROW
P U B & D I N I NG R O OM
“ ...a sc r a tc h k itc h e n tha t off e r s d in e r s s o me se r ious pub n o s h ma d e f r om loc a lly s o u r c e d ingr e die nts.” “ Loc a te d on Co lo r a d o in a c ha r min g a n d c o z y histor ic la nd ma r k . ”
We have great rates for your private event.
Live Entertainment Now booking smaller acoustic acts. Contact: marksandstrom@thefallslounge.com
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thefallslounge
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pa tio pub be e r ga r de n dining r oom
whiskey bottom
626 S.Spring St. Downtown Los Angeles P: 213.612.0072
ope ns ja nua r y 2011 ba r r e l whiske y r a r e distilla tions ha nd- c r a f te d c oc kta ils Join us f or a gre at Am e r ic an t r a dit io n. . . Sunday Br unc h wit h live b lue g r a s s 10AM t o 3PM ( m usic 1-4 pm )
Fine Dining Restaurant & Bar
You’re Invited ! Come down & enjoy the explosive tastes of South American and Italian Cuisine. Enjoy the relaxed ambience, indoor and outdoor. We offer Lunch & Dinner on our patio that is perfect for a sunny afternoon with friends. Happy Hour is from 3pm to 7pm everyday!
monthly pig r oa sts be e r dinne r s ha ppy hour
Two Great Locations El Caserio Silver lake
HOURS: Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm / Fri 11am-11pm Sat 12pm-11pm / Sun 10am-10pm (Silver lake)
KINGS ROW PU B & D IN IN G R O O M
20 E Color a do Blvd Old Pa sa de na 91105 ( 626) 793- 3010 kingsr owpub.c om
11 0 f w y Del Mar Tr a in Sta tio n
G re e n S t re e t F a i r O a ks
make reservation at www.elcaseriola.com
R a y mo n d
401 Silver Lake Blvd 213-273-8945 closed Mon. Sun. Brunch 10 am-2pm
yo Pk wy
309 N. Virgil Ave. 323-664-9266 open 7 days a week
A rr o
El Caserio Virgil
C o l o ra d o B l v d .
BAR
OLD SCHOOL, NEW TRICKS OLD HOLLYWOOD AND PRESENT-DAY LA GET TOGETHER AT THE WRITER’S ROOM Holly wood Boulevard—it ’s cer tainly not the first
chocolate leather, 25 -foot ceilings dripping with
place you go in search of a high-qualit y intoxicar y
glistening chandeliers, and mirrors set in original
or a meticulously constructed cocktail. Enter The
window frames from NYC’s Flatiron building.
Writer’s Room— a secluded new haunt behind Supperclub that ’s bringing a lit tle class back to
Barman Daniel Nelson, previously of The Doheny,
the boulevard. The secret to finding this place is
presides over the venue’s lone bar and, believe it
locating the Las Palmas Taco window; once you
or not— drinks here are not rooted in the classics.
find that, continue down the adjacent alley, and
Rather, Nelson draws influence from the ethnic
you’ll soon find yourself transpor ted to another,
neighborhoods that define Los Angeles, which
more sophisticated time.
explains why one might come across a “Kaf fir Rickey”— composed of vodka or gin, kaf fir lime
The Writer’s Room’s small, intimate chamber is
juice, lemongrass syrup, and carbonated coconut
steeped in histor y. In fact, the space has been
water; or a “Cho Sun One”— corn whiskey, Korean
around since the 1930s, and once ser ved as the
pear, perilla leaf, lemon, date, and sesame. The
back room for famous eater y Musso & Frank.
binding theme at The Writers Room is what goes
Keeping the past in mind, principals Nur Khan of
around, comes around.
Rose Bar in New York Cit y, film producer Holly Wiersma, and Abdi Manavi of Supperclub hired
// Kat Odell
Gulla Jonsdot tir of G+ Design to helm creative. The resulting space evokes a sense of old Holly wood glamour with its high-back booths tuf ted in
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LOCATION: 5372 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles 90019
Photos by Luke Lovell
www.clubnokia.com/specialevents.php
Club Nokia is located @ L.A. LIVE and is the proud Pollstar Awards winner for 3 years in a row!
NEED A LOCATION FOR YOUR EVENT?
WE HAVE ONE FOR YOU.
Come set the stage at Club Nokia at L.A. LIVE for parties of 2-2,000. Special event offers available by mentioning: LA CANVAS. DJ’S / CLIENT ENTERTAINMENT / BENEFITS / BACHELOR(ETTE) / PARTIES / SCREENINGS / BUSINESS / SHOWS / RELEASES / FUNDRAISERS / CELEBRATIONS / INCENTIVES / REHEARSAL DINNER / CEREMONIES / FASHION SHOWS / ART EXHIBITIONS / WEDDINGS / PHOTOSHOOT / BRIDAL SHOWERS / PROMOTIONS GRADUATIONS / ACTIVATIONS / EXPOS/ GALAS / ENGAGEMENTS / CONCERTS / CONFERENCES / LAUNCH PARTIES / TRADE SHOWS / PRESS JUNKETS / P RESS RELEASES / CONVENTIONS / AWARD / MITZVAHS / RED CARPETS / PRODUCT LAUNCHES / BIRTHDAYS / CORPORATE MEETINGS
Call: 213.763.4669
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TECH
TECH iT OUT IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT ASSOCIATING IT WITH THE IDEA OF CONSTANT EVOLUTION. THINGS CHANGE SO QUICKLY NOWADAYS, AND EVEN A DEVICE THAT SEEMED YEARS AHEAD OF ITS TIME 6 MONTHS AGO CAN SEEM ANCIENT AS IT’S REPLACED BY SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER (OR, MORE LIKELY, SMALLER AND FASTER). HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE GADGETS THAT HAVE TAKEN A TRADITIONAL CONCEPT OR PRODUCT AND REVOLUTIONIZED HOW WE EXPERIENCE IT. // JUSTIN FITZWATER.
TENONEDESIGN FLING MINI, 2 for $24.95 Yes, yes—mobile gaming is so in right now. However, there are few games that actually feel right when played on a touch screen. The Fling Mini alleviates this issue by providing you with a thumb-stick that attaches directly to the front of your fancy touchscreen device. It’s pretty amazing how well it actually works, and can give new life to a game you once thought unplayable on your iPhone, iPod touch, or Android devices. There are even larger versions available for you tablet gamers. www.tenonedesign.com
KINGSTON Wi-DRIVE, 16GB/32GB $126.99/$174.99 Hard drives have been around as long as computers – KINDLE TOUCH, $99-$189
which, now that I think about it, isn’t actually that long.
Sure we featured the Kindle Fire last issue, but the
While they’ve gradually gotten thinner and lighter, it
Kindle Touch and the Fire are in fact two very distinct devices (and I want them both!). The Kindle was one of the first, and now most popular, e-book readers on the market; it reinvented the way we read books with an e-ink screen that’s easy on the eyes and a two month battery life. The Touch is a natural progression of the tech, losing the buttons and adding touch controls,
was only a matter of time before they went wireless! The Wi-Drive provides four hours of battery life and connects to most Apple devices through its integrated Wi-Fi, giving you more space for music and movies on the go. Make sure to shop around; I found them on Amazon for almost half the list price! www.kingston.com
text-to-speech, small form factor, a 3,000 book capacity and much, much more. www.amazon.com
OLLOCIP 3-IN-1 LENS / iPhone 4/4S, $69.99 The iPhone grows more impressive with every new model.
The 4 &
4S brought more power and better screens, but most exciting are the improvements to the camera. The Olloclip reimagines how we use this new tech and truly brings the iPhone one step closer to totally replacing that digital camera you carry everywhere. You get a fisheye, wide angle and macro lens, all in one tiny clip-on device you can carry in the included pouch. I honestly don’t know how I ever took pictures without it. www.olloclip.com
NATIVE UNION PLAY, $59.99 You know what seriously needs a makeover? Post-it notes. Unfortunately, Native Union beat us to the punch. Fortunately, you can buy their Play right now in an assortment of colors. With a magnetic back (or included wall0tape pad), this small videomemo device can be mounted almost anywhere to remind you about … whatever you’ve forgotten to remember. It has a 2.4” screen and records memos up to 3 minutes in length; much better than writing it all out I say! www.nativeunion.com
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Start Living The Dream! The Los Angeles Film School helps you succeed in the entertainment industry by providing a comprehensive education with the knowledge and technical experience to enter a career you will love. Earn your A.S. degree in about a year* in Film, Game Production, Computer Animation or Recording Arts! Learn from our experienced industry professionals.
Create Your Future Today. Call:
866.573.0656 www.explorelafilm.com
• V A-Approved, Accredited College, ACCSC • Financial Aid & Military Education Benefits (including BAH) available to those who qualify • Located in the heart of Hollywood • On-site housing coordinator • The Los Angeles Film School is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity College Consortium (SOC School) • More than 250,000 square feet of sound stages, live sets, recording studios, labs and pro gear! The Los Angeles Film School is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program
*Length of program and start dates are dependent on course of study and degree option. For more information on our programs and their outcomes visit www. lafilm.edu/disclosures. ©2011 The Los Angeles Film School. All rights reserved. The term “The Los Angeles Film School” and The Los Angeles Film School logo are either service marks or registered service marks of The Los Angeles Film School. Accredited by ACCSC
Scan for more Information
CUBE LASER VIRTUAL KEYBOARD, $179.99 You know that moment when you see a new device and refuse to believe it can be real? Meet the Cube Laser Virtual Keyboard. ThinkGeek saw PLAYSTATION VITA, $249- $299 Sure, cellphone gaming seems to be getting a lot of attention these days, but am I the only one who’s not overly fond of touch controls? Playstation Vita will be launching on February 22 nd, and it’s clear that Sony learned a lot from its predecessor (the PSP). With graphics on par with modern consoles, dual thumbsticks, a 5-inch multitouch OLED display, rear touch
that boring old keyboard of yours and sent it hurtling into the future, giving you a full-size laser keyboard that you can project onto almost any opaque surface. It connects via Bluetooth to almost any gadget, and also has a mouse mode which allows you to use your finger as a mouse. It’s tiny, has a rechargeable battery, and I’ll take two! www.thinkgeek.com
controls and so much more – you can tell that Sony wants us to rethink what’s possible for portable gaming. Price varies for wi-fi and 3G models. us.playstation.com/psvita
POLAROID Z340, $299 The joy of being able to instantly see the photo you’ve just taken has been forgotten as it’s become the norm with digital cameras. The Polaroid Z340 combines the convenience of digital with the excitement of sharing a real photo with friends in the moment. Save your images to an SD card, or edit each image and border before printing (even print 3x4” borderless images). With their ZINK (Zero Ink) technology and rechargeable batteries, it couldn’t be simpler—just make sure you’ve got plenty of film! www.store.polaroid.com
PARROT DIA DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME, $500 Updating the photo frame is not a new idea. Digital frames have been around for years, but NoDesign sought to merge the old with the new in the Dia. The 10.4” translucent screen is set in what appears to be a light box, tricking you into believing it’s an actual photo. With access to Picasa, Flickr, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the ability email photos or flick directly from your iPhone/iPad to the device (among MANY other options), this is far from your ordinary photo frame. *Available in the US in February 2012. www.parrot.com/dia/en
AGLOVES TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES, $17.99 Gloves are gloves, right? We’ve worn them for years to stave off the cold, but how inconvenient do they become when you need to answer a call on your touchscreen phone? I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but Agloves actually found a way to update a classic by creating touchscreen gloves that allow you to actually use your device without removing them. They come in several tasteful colors to match any attire, and at such a lowprice, I’m finding little reason not to pick some up myself! www.agloves.com
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JANUARY
ART OPENING Tag! You’re It! @ Royal/T
HAPPY NEW YEAR
from all of us @ LA CANVAS !
1 2
EVENT Oshagatsu: Japanese New Year Celebration @ Little Tokyo Village Plaza
PARTY Cheap Soul @ La Cita
3
THEATRE Wicked continues @ the Pantages Theatre
CONCERT Handsome Furs & the Soft Pack @ Mammoth Mountain Canyon Lodge
GALLERY OPENING Hijacked Art by Robert Brandenburg @ Gallery 1988
4 5 6 CONCERT Summer Darling + Birds and Batteries @ the Echo
7
DRINK EVENT Wine Tasting @ Campanille Restaurant
DRINK EVENT BOCK FEST: All-You-Can-Drink International Beers @ Vanguard LA
8
CONCERT No Age, !4th Anniversary @ the Smell
9
PARTY BACKBEAT: Northern Soul Dance Night @ the Echo
EVENT Lakers vs. Clippers @ the Staples Center
GALLERY OPENING Feodor Voronov’s “Word Paintings” @ Mark Moore Gallery
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LA EVENT World Archery Day @ Eldorado Park in Long Beach ART EVENT Photo LA @ Santa Monica Civic Auditorium PARTY Full Moon Celebration @ the Ace Hotel and Swim Club COMEDY Innovative Artists @ Improv Comedy Club Hollwood
EVENT Abbot Kinney First Fridays – Shops Stay Open Late @ Venice
STYLE EVENT LA Beauty Sample Sale @ the Mark for Events
CONCERT Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, and Eric Bellinger @ Club Nokia
CONCERT Milk Carton Kids @ Largo
FOOD EVENT The Taste Awards and After Party @ the Egyptian Theatre
L A C A N V A S . C O M —Y O U R EVERYDAY SOURCE FOR THE LATEST EVENTS.
60 58
ART EVENT Art Walk @ DTLA CONCERT La Sera @ the Echo
EVENT Last Day of Downtown on Ice @ Pershing Square
FILM EVENT Film Courage Presents SANTIAGO @The Downtown Independent
STYLE EVENT LA Fashion Market @ California Market Center
CONCERT Wolves In The Throne Room @ the Echoplex
ART EVENT LA ART SHOW: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY @ The Los Angeles Convention Center
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FOOD EVENT Fresh Pasta Class w/ Chef Ian Gresik @ Drago Centro
EVENT LAVA Salon featuring Dan Fante @ Musso & Frank Grill
COMEDY Stephen Merchant @ Largo
CONCERT The Mahler Project: Mahler 7 @ Walt Disney Concert Hall
PARTY “Funktion Wednesdays” w/ DJ HYPE @ the Music Box
THEATRE Michael Jackson “The Immortal Tour” w/ Cirque du Soleil @ The Staples Center
CONCERT Princeton w/ Letting up Despite Great Faults @ The Bootleg
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PARTY Oscar G @ Playhouse
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ART EVENT California Design Now Panel Discussion @ LACMA
29
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DRINK EVENT Introduction to Wine @ San Antonio Winery
ART EVENT Affordable Art Fair @ The Event Deck at LA Live
CONCERT Beer & Bingo Night w/ Olin & the Moon @ the Echo
THEATRE Our Town @ The Broad Stage
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ART EVENT Active Cultures Lecture, Stuntman + Film Historian Craig Reid talks Kung-fu Cinema @ Pacific Asia Museum
FOOD EVENT Japanese Food & Sake Festival @ Hilton Hotel Universal City LA EVENT Los Angeles Times Travel Show @ The Los Angeles Convention Center
CONCERT Wu Tang Clan @ Club Nokia
PARTY 2012 Hollywood Dance-A-Thon @ Avalon Hollywood
CONCERT BLOUSE @ the Echo
CONCERT Augustana + Grafitti 6 @ the El Rey
CONCERT Wallpaper @ the El Rey
FOOD FESTIVAL Dine LA Restaurant Week, through 1/27
DRINK EVENT Pinot Days @ the Barker Hangar Santa Monica
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FEBRUARY CONCERT Young the Giant @ the Wiltern
FOOD EVENT “Dinner On The Go” Weekly Food Truck Event @ Korea Town
EVENT Open House @ SAE Institute LA
MUSIC EVENT 2012 All Indie Awards @ the Key Club
CONCERT Twin Sister @ the Echo
CONCERT Brooklyn Zoo @ LittleTemple
FOOD EVENT Indulge Los Angeles @ the Olympic Collection THEATRE EVENT OVO by Cirque Du Soleil @ the Santa Monica Pier
CONCERT Fujiya & Miyagi + TV Girl @ the Echo
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COMEDY UHH YEAH DUDE @ Largo
FILM EVENT Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You! @ Artworks Theatre
COMEDY Kathy Griffin @ The Pantages Theatre
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ART EVENT 18th Annual Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale @ the Autry
GALLERY OPENING Michael Kalish + Eric Liot @ Fabien Castanier Gallery
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CONCERT Milo Greene, Family of the Year + Maniac @ the Sattelite
CONCERT Dr. Dog @ the Music Box
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LA EVENT 34th Annual Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker 5/10K Run @ Chinatown Central Plaza PARTY Full Moon Celebration @ the Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
EVENT Grammy Awards
CONCERT Jóhann Jóhannsson w/ the Formalist Quartet @ the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
COMEDY Keep It Clean Comedy Night @ Public House
EVENT Rose Bowl Flea Market @ Pasadena
L A C A N V A S . C O M —Y O U R EVERYDAY SOURCE FOR THE LATEST EVENTS.
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ART EVENT Shortboard Revolution curated by Nathan Pratt @ California Heritage Museum
PARTY Dance Competition @ Exchange LA
PARTY Funky Sole @ The Echo CONCERT My Brightest Diamond @ the Troubador
DRINK EVENT A Februery Dinner w/ Craft Beer from The Bruery @ Mezze
EVENT Melrose Trading Post @ Melrose & Fairfax ART EVENT Active Cultures Lecture w/ artist Richard Jackson @ Pacific Asia Museum
MUSIC EVENT The Asteroids Galaxy Tour @ The Echoplex CONCERT Ra Ra Riot & PAPA @ The El Rey
ART EVENT Palm Springs Fine Art Fair @ Palm Springs Convention Center
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PARTY Part-time Punks @ the Echo
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PARTY FRINGE: The Indie Music Video Dance Party @ Madron Art Bar
COMEDY Shitty Jobs @ the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre
CONCERT Die Antword @ Club Nokia
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CONCERT Craig Finn (of The Hold Steady) @ the Troubadour
THEATRE LA OPERA: Simon Boccanegra @ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
CONCERT Disappeares + Fresh & Onlys @ the Echo
23 24
DRINK EVENT Beverly Hills Wine Festival
CONCERT Grimes @ the Echo
25 26 FOOD EVENT Academy Awards Dinner menu inspired by Best Picture Nominees @ Mar’sel
CONCERT Bleached @ the Bootleg
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COMEDY Andy Borowitz in Conversation w/ Sarah Silverman @ Saban Theatre
FILM EVENT The 27th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards @ Santa Monica Beach
FOOD EVENT Pasadena Certified Farmers Market @ Villa Parke Branch
28
THEATRE Monty Python’s Spamalot @ the Pantages Theatre
PARTY Low End Theory @ the Airliner
29 MUSIC EVENT Incan Abraham @ the Bootleg
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L A C A N VA S. C O M
LAST LOOK
LA’s ORIGINAL STREET ART PRINT SHOP
64
R
ichard Duardo is an ar tist of the people,
was taking of f at Zero- 0 (the precursor to Zero-
and his expanded serigraphy HQ at Modern
1) and Rober t Berman Galler y, as people learned
Multiples, Inc. is a popular place. World-class
simultaneously to respect his personal vision of
printer and publisher, witness to histor y, ersatz
the grit tier edges of mainstream culture, and his
fomenter of class war fare, and still a work in
credibility as the master of his own shop.
progress, Duardo has been a force in L A’s punk, pop, and street scenes for four decades. While
The expanded MMI retains its communal vibe of
at tending college as a ceramics major, one day
experiment and boundary-pushing, with the newly
in about 1971 a project required him to produce
added benefits of a shiny factory floor, high-
printed decals— and he never looked back. He
tech equipment, and the best production talent
took his MFA in fine-ar t printmaking and returned
available. Even a partial MMI roll-call is an art
to Boyle Heights, where he helped set up Self-Help
aficionado’s fantasy party: Bansky, Blek Le Rat,
Graphics and later, Fatima Records, which ‘repped
Shepard Fairey, Becca, Buff Monster, D*Face,
Chicano punk bands from East L A. Somewhere in
Futura, Gajin Fujita, Gregory Siff, Kofie, Mear One,
there, he and Carlos Almaraz star ted the Public
Philip Lumbang, Ray Pettibon, Retna, Revok, Ron
Ar ts Center with the express goal of “total social
English, Ryan McGinness, Saber, Sage Vaughn, the
revolution.” The civil war failed to materialize,
Date Farmers... many of whom can be spotted on
but the ar t-world revolution was unleashed, and
any given day just hanging around. And Duardo is
a scene that included ever yone from Gar y Panter
liable to collaborate on new work with any and all
to the Screamers to Pee-Wee Herman was forged.
of them. And as for class warfare? He’s working on it from the inside now, through his seat on the
Af ter an inspirational trip to NYC’s feisty East
L ACMA Prints & Drawings Council, for example,
Village, Duardo came back to L A with new friends
where he’s doubled the membership and halved the
like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Pat ti Astor, and Keith
average age by just doing what he’s always done—
Haring, and fresh ideas that influenced his Future
championing young talent. So what’s the secret to
Per fect Galler y here in 1985. The inaugural
his success? “I don’t care about being rich; I love
show was the first serious group showing of
what I do. And I never say no to anything.”
graf fiti ar tists in L A, and their second, “Western E xterminators,” laid the groundwork for MOCA’s “Helter Skelter.” Meanwhile Duardo’s own work
// Shana Nys Dambrot
Cover Art by Richard Duardo
metro.net
It’s easier than ever to Go Metro to a night on the town. Trains now run every ten minutes ‘til midnight on the Red, Blue and Purple lines, so you can ride with us to shop, club hop or make an after-work stop. We’ll be ready when you are. For great deals after dark, check metro.net/discounts.
Scan to save!