LA ART NEWS
ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE NORTHEAST OF LOS ANGELES SECTION A
VOLUME 4 NO. 3
LAARTNEWS.COM
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JUNE 2016
GRONK’S THEATER OF PAINT A reflection on the career of artist Gronk is like a journey through Los Angeles of the past few decades. His performances, paintings, murals, and prints were developed hand-in-hand with the rise of Chicano art. His theater sets reflect the role of cinema and stagecraft in the City, as well as the Angeleno sensibility that we are all part of a drive-in movie. An East L.A. native now working out of a studio Downtown, Gronk began his performance career as a teen. Then, as a member of the seminal arts collective ASCO in the 70s and 80s, he challenged stereotypes of Chicanos and the lack of inclusion of Chicano artists and art in the institutional art world. An Individual Artist Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts marked a transition from performance to painting as a primary art form. It is the theater sets that are the subject of “Gronk’s Theater of Paint,” at the Craft and Folk Art Museum. Theater of Paint is large retrospective of this particular aspect of the artist’s work, beginning with ASCO pieces, continuing with works for plays written by diverse masters ranging from Culture Clash to Henrik Ibsen and David Henry Hwang to William Inge. The Theater of Paint experience reaches the present with Gronk’s recent work for international opera productions. The artwork is largely abstract, yet is Artist Bettye Saar, as La Tormenta, looks at the contains political, spiritual, literary and set for Bowl of Beings by Culture Clash, cinematic references. Gronk’s set pieces are directed by José Luis Valenzuela. crafted of low-tech materials. That aspect Los Angeles Theatre Center, 1991 of his work, coupled with familiar-feeling B-movie allusions, creates a sense of audience-member access to the sets. Low tech does Los Biombos/The Screens by Jean Genet, adapted by Gloria Alvaraz with Pete Galindo, Lynn Jeffries, and Peter Sellars, directed by Peter Sellars. Presented by the Cornerstone Theater Company at the East Los Angeles Skills Center, 1998.
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GLASS IN L.A. by Cathi Milligan
Glass holds intrigue in many artists. Some artists devote themselves completely to the medium, while others use glass for its qualities of transparency, color, and light. For those who are devoted to the medium, Los Angeles is becoming a glass town. When people think of glass they don’t necessarily think of Los Angeles. Those places are Seattle or Corning or Venice, Italy, but not L.A. That appears to be changing and these changes are a good thing. Fortunately for some of us much of this activity is near Northeast Los Angeles. While we’ve always had Judson Studios in Highland Park, Judson has recently added a state of the art glass fabrication studio in South Pasadena. Currently working on a massive window project with glass artist Narcissus Quagliata, utilizing kiln forming techniques, Judson is moving forward with glass work while embracing its stained glass past.
Narcissus Quagliata works with Judson Studio on a large project at their new facility.
Right alongside Judson, literally, is Portland-based Bullseye Glass, manufacturers of glass made specifically for kiln forming. They have opened a Resource Center, where they offer art glass and tools, as well as classes and artist talks. Bullseye has a well trained staff that teaches many of the classes offered, and they have guest instructors come in for more advanced and specialized classes. Not far from South Pasadena, in Glendale, the new Museum of Neon Art has opened. They have a very prominent location on Brand Boulevard, across the street from the Americana at Brand. There is a wonderful collection of signs that have been rescued MONA in Glendale
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not imply, however, any lack of vibrancy or grandeur. Interspersed with the set pieces are studio chachkies--script notes and sketches on coffee cups--which compliment the large-scale pieces in creating the feeling of having entered the special world of Gronk. The culmination of “Gronk’s Theater of Paint” is a fiction about poetry about a fiction. It is staging for a pretend production of “Tomorrow You’ll Be One of Us,” which is actually a book of surrealist poetry by Chuck Rosenthal and Gail Wronksky, illustrated by Gronk. The poetry, in turn, is a homage to sci-fi and horror B-movies; the lines of poetry are lines of dialogue from such movies. It would be a challenge not to get slurped in through so many layers of inference. And Gronk’s designs invite the viewer to move in. Despite his widespread popularity as an artist, “Gronk’s Theater of Paint” is Gronk’s first solo show in more that two decades. Gronk’s Theater of Paint Craft and Folk Art Museum Through September 4 www.cafam.org The Claw (Large) and The Claw (Small), 2012
Gronk’s Theater of Paint at the Craft and Folk Art Museum
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and restored, as well as rotating exhibitions that help educate people about neon and its history. Co-founder of MONA, Lili Lakich teaches neon classes at her Downtown Art’s District studio. No longer affiliated with the museum, Lili has ongoing classes that have become increasingly popular. There is definitely a resurgence in the appreciation of neon art and signage. Glass blowing is also present in Southern California both for classes and productionbased studios. Joe Cariatti in El Segundo creates work that is carried in shops like Trina Turk in Palm Springs, ABC Carpet & Home in NYC, as well as others around L.A. Uri Davillier of Neptune Glass in Downtown L.A, creates lighting solutions, and his work can be seen at the new restaurant Otium LA at The Broad museum. Jaime Guerrero in Boyle Heights, who not only teaches underserved youth in the L.A. area, but will be working on art for the Getty’s next Pacific Standard Time initiative--LA/ LA, the exploration of Latin American art and Latino art--in conjunction with the fine people at Craft in America. Other studios include Los Angeles Glass Blowing, where you can find classes, fabrication services, rentals and more; CI Glass, who also offers classes and accepts commissions; and Pacific Art Glass, offering a fine variety of glass, tools and equipment, as well as classes on glass blowing and flame working.
Glass art created by Gronk at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA. It’s a brain and an arm.
If you are looking for glass as an experience, Los Angeles is becoming a city that provides a variety of opportunities depending on what you want to learn. So if you want learn more check out the web sites listed and go out to museums and galleries and see what’s already out there. Judsonstudios.com Bullseyeglass.com At MONA: #SIGNGEEKS: Vintage Neon Photography Featuring the work of 60 different Sign Geeks from around the world. DANCING WITH LIGHT: The Neon Art of Brian Coleman and the Visionary Photography of Roger Steffens. Exhibit runs: March 11 – June 19, 2016
Bullseye Glass welcome people to their new South Pasadena Recource Center.
JUNE 2016
One of the many neon signs that are part of the Museum of Neon Art’s collection.
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STAFF Publisher Cathi Milligan Creative Director Cathi Milligan Managing Editor Margaret Arnold Advertising Sales Cathi Milligan Contributors: Margaret Arnold, Cornelius Peter, Brian Mallman, Amy Inouye, Stuart Rapeport, Cathi Milligan, Jennifer Hitchcock, Florence the dog, Jeremy Kaplan, Harvey Slater, Kristine Schomaker, Baha Danesh, Leanna Lin, Saundra Lauterbach LA Art News is published monthly at the beginning of each month. LA Art News is available free of charge. No person may, without prior written permission from LA Art News, take more than one copy of each monthly issue. Additional copies of the current issue are available for $1, payable in advance, at LA Art News office. Only authorized LA Art News distributors may distribute the LA Art News. Copyright No news stories, illustrations, editorial matter or advertisements herein can be reproduced without written consent of copyright owner.
SUMMER HAS ARRIVED It’s summer and it couldn’t have come sooner! There are so many things that are coming up this summer. Festivals and music and art. And then there’s the circus of politics...we vote on the 7th. Please go vote. It’s your civic duty. It’s good to participate in the system. It’s essential. This could be one of the most important election in our time, especially November. But back to art. We talk about a number of really great shows that are going on throughout the city. Alison Saar in Venice, Gronk at CAFAM, and how about the art on the new Expo Line stations to the beach. That’s a huge deal. You can take a train and create your very own art crawls. NELA to Downtown to Culver City to Bergamot Station. Who needs a car? Well at least now and then. I know I am so excited to be able to take a train to the beach. Summertime...let’s enjoy it! Thanks, Cathi Milligan Publisher, LA Art News
How to reach us LA Art News 5668 York Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90042 323-387-9705 Contributions cathi@laartnews.com Calendar information margaret@laartnews.com Sales - cathi@laartnews.com cathi@laartnews.com laartnews.com Where’s Monica?
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JUNE 4TH WE HEART EAGLE ROCK FIRST SATURDAYS Friendly events highlighting the unique small businesses of Eagle Rock through arts, culture, clothing, gift items, kids activities, wine and more. Leanna Lin’s Wonderland 2 Illustrators from PAWS Art Show, Joey Chou and Chin Ko, will be popping up at Leanna Lin’s Wonderland for a book signing. Monster & Son illustrated by Joey Chou and EveryDad by Chin Ko can be personalized for a special someone! They will also be bringing prints and other goodies that make great Father’s Day gifts. Also, see the current PAWS Art Show on view through the end of June. 10% of this show and pop-up will be donated to Dogs of the Rock off leash Eagle Rock Dog Park. 5024 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock (4-8 p.m.) O & M Leather Join O & M Leather during We Heart Eagle Rock First Saturday for a pop-up with Tome Ceramics, beautiful handcrafted functional ceramic wares. 5048 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock (4-8 p.m.) Kumquat Silhouette artist Karl Johnson will be creating hand cut silhouette portraits at Kumquat! It just takes 5 minutes, and all ages are welcome. $15-30. Make your appointment now! www.tinyurl.com/Kumquat-Baby2 5054 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) The Green Bean Join The Green Bean for a family friendly Prince celebration in the back patio with a DJ, face painter, photo sittings, and more! 5060 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock (3-7 p.m.) Owl Talk Clothing Congratulations to Owl Talk for turning 22 years old! They will be celebrating with “Cake & Tea” and gift bags with purchase! 5060 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock (4-7 p.m.) Pop Secret Gallery Join Adam Rosette at Pop Secret Gallery for his Journey To 100 Print Release Party. All prints will be $20. Adam Rosette’s solo exhibition of 100 small collectible original gouache paintings opened last month and are almost sold out! See them all at this closing reception. 5119 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock (6 p.m. to closing).
SKU at CoWineCo
Purple Twig Purple Twig will be setting up some sensory play for the monthly First Saturday. They will be making play dough, potions, and more. Sensory play is so important for all ages, so please stop by and smooth something, around $15. 2038 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock (3-6 p.m.) CoWineCo Eagle Rock local artist “SKU” will be holding an Art Opening, “UTTERANCE”, at Colorado Wine Company! Stop by during We Heart Eagle Rock First Saturday to meet the artist and take in his latest creations of Acrylic Paintings and Mixed Media. Sku’s artwork, including paintings on paper, vinyl, and canvas will be available the entire month of June at CoWineCo. 2305 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock (7 p.m. to closing) Many more businesses will be open and offering tastings, music and specials. Pick up a map and watch for the balloons! Eagle Rock First Saturdays are made possible by the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar, and the hard work of local small business owners.
EveryDad signing with Chin Ko at Leanna Lin’s Wonderland
Joey Chou at Leanna Lin’s Wonderland Silhouette artist Karl Johnson at Kumquat
JUNE 2016
Tome Ceramics at O & M Leather
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NELAart SECOND SATURDAY GALLERY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS FOR June 11, 2016
(check NELA ART GALLERY NIGHT on Facebook for updated listings the day before) Join ALIGN GALLERY for “Ancient Metamorphosis,” a solo exhibition of new work by artist Heriberto Luna, as he explores the cosmic connection we once had with our ancestors. At AVENUE 50 STUDIO: • BAM SMASH ZIIIIP. "Art of the Comic." A comic book inspired exhibit featuring: Lalo Alcaraz, Carlos Saldana, Jules Rivera, Lonnie Millsap, Graciela Rodriguez, Rafael Navarro, Beyrnece Talley, Kiyoshi Nakazawa, Javier Hernandez, Sarah Roman, John Narcomey. Curated by Javier Hernandez and co-sponsored by The Latino Comic Expo. • "Under the Skin: Revealing Portraits." Curated by Nancy Buchanan and featuring Donovan Vim Crony, Nancy Mizuno Elliott, and Jos Sances. • Paintings Under The Influence. Blacklight paintings by Adam Vilanueva. Bike Oven's SPOKE (N) ART RIDE. Meet at the Bike Oven for a fun, slow-paced bicycle tour of art galleries. Blinkie lights recommended. Gather at 6. Roll at 6:30. BOOK SHOW will host "Vermin on the Mount," a night of irreverent readings with Bruce Bauman, Chris Camargo, Daniel Hernandez, Shawna Kenney, Bernadette Murphy, Amy Silverberg and your host Jim Ruland. At CACTUS GALLERY, a "Symphony of Wings" will focus on wings and their symbolism. Throughout time, whether in nature, mythology or folklore, wings have been associated not only with power, speed, elevation, flight and freedom, but with the qualities of aspiration, protection, departed souls or intellectual thoughts. A new venue! At ETA, #humanelements is an art/music/nightlife collaboration between COlabs and ETA. June's show will feature pieces from LA-based artists Reef & Tarajosu. THE GLASS STUDIO will be open with glass making demos and a sale! Get some macrame and glass goodies! THE MARKET will host live acoustic music by Brad Byrd, Lucy Peru, and Naked Walrus. MI VIDA is presenting a Group Pin Exhibit. VAPEOLOGY will host free portrait sessions. Stop by and have your portrait taken.
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On the Seco Elysian Valle art and eate the updated
Northeast Los Angeles Arts Organization, Inc.
June 11, 2016 - 7pm - 10pm
(Individual Gallery Hours May Vary. CHECK Gallery web sites for individual information. Just because a gallery is listed does not mean it’s open this month)
1. Avenue 50 Studio 131 No. Avenue 50 323. 258.1435 avenue50studio.org
21. The Market 1203 Avenue 50 www.themarkethp.com
2. Bike Oven/Flying Pigeon 3706 No Figueroa
22. Bob Taylor Properties 5526 N. Figueroa St. 323-257-1080
3. Namaste Highland Park 5118 York Blvd. www.namastehighlandpark.com 4. Offbeat 6316 York Blvd www.offbeatbar.com 5. Council District Office #1 Gil Cedillo 5577 N. Figueroa St. 6. Future Studio 5558 N Figueroa St. 323 254-4565 futurestudiogallery.com 7. Elephant 3325 Division St. 8. Meridian 5007 1/2 York Blvd. meridianstorela.com 9. Vapegoat 5054 York Blvd. 323.963.VAPE
23. Cactus Gallery @ Treeline Woodworks 3001 N. Coolidge Ave 24. The York Check out their dog friendly patio. 5018 York Blvd. 25. Ball Clay Studio 4851 York Blvd. ballclaystudio.com
41. The U Space 2626 N. Figueroa St., suite C 42. The Situation Room 2313 Norwalk Ave. 43. Bookshow 5503 Figueroa St. www.bookshow.com 44. Vroom Vroom Bitsy Boo 5031 B York Blvd. 45. The Slow Down Gallery @ Random Gallery 200 N. Ave 64 46. Curve Line 1577 Colorado Blvd.
26. Collective Arts Incubator 1200 N. Ave 54 collectiveartsincubator.com
47. The Glass Studio 5668 York Blvd. www.theglassstudio.net
27. Antenna Studio 1617 Colorado Blvd. antennastudioart.com
48. Rock Rose Gallery 4108 N. Figueroa St. 323.635.9125
28. The Greyhound Highland Park Independant Film Festival 570 N. Figueroa St.
49. All Star Lanes 4459 N Eagle Rock Blvd. 323.254.2579
29. Urchin 5006 1/2 York Blvd.
50. Pop Secret 5119 Eagle Rock Blvd.
30. Two Tracks Pola Lopez, open studio. 131 North Avenue 50
51. Apiary Gallery at The Hive Highland Park 5670 York Blvd. www.thehive.la
31. O & M Leather 5048 Eagle Rock Blvd www.ommleather.com
52. Leader of the Pack 5110 York Blvd. www.leaderofthepackvintage.com
32. Vapeology 3714 N. Figueroa St. 323.222.0744
53. Short Hand 5028 York Blvd. shopshorthand.com
13. Mi Vida 5159 York Blvd.
33. Pop-Hop 5002 York Blvd. www.thepophop.com
54. Rosie Bunny Bean 1309 N. Ave 51 rosiebunnybean.com
14. deb3321 3321 Pasadena Ave.
34. Social Studies 5028.5 York Blvd.
15. Antigua Coffee House 3400 N. Figueroa St. www.antiguacoffeehouse.com
35. Dotter 5027 York Blvd. www.dotterstore.com
55. co-Lab Gallery 5319 York Blvd. www.co-Lab.com
16. Align Gallery 5045 York Blvd. www.aligngallery.com
36. Leanna Lin’s Wonderland 5204 Eagle Rock Blvd. www.leannalinswonderland.com
17. New Stone Age Mosaics 1754 Colorado Blvd.
37. Good Eye Gallery 4538 N. Eagle Rock Blvd. www.goodeyegallery.com
10. ETA 5630 N. Figueroa St. 11. Shopclass 5215 York Blvd. 323.258.2500 shopclassla.com 12. Matters of Space 5005 York Blvd www.mattersifspace.com 323.743.3267
18. Panorama Press House 4700 York Blvd. www.thepanoramapress.com 19. Evil or Sacred Tattoos 4524 Eagle Rock Blvd. 20. Toros Pottery 4962 Eagle Rock Blvd 323.344.8330 torospottery.com JUNE 2016
38. Highland Cafe 5010 York Blvd. 323.259.1000 39. CucuArt Gallery 4704-06 Eagle Rocl Blvd. 323.202.0672 40. Vintage Tattoo Art Parlor 5115 York Blvd.
56. The luxelust life Vintage Furniture 6095 York Blvd 57. The Erin Hanson Gallery 2732 Gilroy St. erinhanson.com 58. MAN Insurance Ave 50 Satellite 1270 N. Ave 50 323.256.3151 59. Possession Vintage 5119 York Blvd. www.possessionvintage.com 60. Civil Coffee 5639 N. Figueroa St.
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ond Saturday of every month galleries, businesses, and artists in Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, Cypress Park, ey, and Lincoln Heightsopen their doors a little later in the evening and welcome visitors. Use this map for locations of eries, grab someone you love, get some dinner, and enjoy some art. Friend NELA Art Gallery Night on Facebook for d last minute list.
Second Saturday Gallery Night map is sponsored by
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Visit us at NELAart.org
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Eric “Cre8” Walker at Vapegoat Loushana Roybal Rose and Selamawit Mekonen at Align Gallery
Lena Sayadian at Cactus Gallery
JUNE 2016
Manuel Benitez at The Portico Collection
Joe Carrion at Cactus Gallery
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Miriam Jackson at The Highland Cafe
Johnny Zurdo Quintanilla at The Avenue 50 Studio Satellite Gallery
Colin Ambulance at Collective Arts Incubator Body Politic at Avenue 50 Studio
Avila Arte at Mi Vida Sarah Polzin at Cactus Gallery Toni Scott at Avenue 50 Studio
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GOVERNMENT NOTES
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CREATIVE ECONOMY A MAJOR FORCE IN CALIFORNIA The third annual Otis Report on the Creative Economy was released in May before a meeting of the California Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Arts in Sacramento. The annual report is a project of Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and is researched by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s Kyser Center for Economic Research. State Senator Ben Allen who represents Los Angeles County westside and beach communities, opened the Joint Committee meeting by pointing out that before the Otis Report, “we never had a comprehensive study of our creative sectors in California.” “Although California has likely produced more iconic global brands,” said Allen, “produced ideas, art, etc., more than any other place on earth, we were, in a sense, taking it all for granted.” “We are the arts community of the world,” said Assemblymember Richard Bloom of Santa Monica, “We serve arts not only to Californians statewide but to the world.” “These reports have given us a great baseline as to where we’ve been, what’s at stake, as well as projected forecasts,” said Allen. “And with this quantitative economic data, we can measure the impact that these sectors have.” Bruce W. Ferguson, President of Otis College of Art and Design, presented highlights of the Otis Report at the legislative hearing. The report, Ferguson explained, deals with direct, indirect and induced effects of the creative world on jobs, payroll, economic output, and state and local taxes, as generated by for-profit, non-profit, philanthropic and educational sectors and independent contractors. Creative industries looked at in the report include architecture and interior design, art galleries, communication arts, digital media, entertainment, fashion, furniture and decorative arts, product/industrial design, toys, visual and performing arts, performing arts schools, and publishing and printing. “Across California,” said Ferguson, “with a total of 1.6 million workers, the creative sectors account for 11.9% of all wage and salary employment and contributed 9.4% of California’s gross state product in 2014.” “That means, on average,” Ferguson continued, “the creative economy in California accounted for one in eight payroll jobs and a dollar out of every 12 dollars generated in the State.” California has far and away more people employed in creative industry jobs than any other state. “Arts bring jobs in extraordinary numbers in Southern California,” said Bloom. Kimberly Ritter-Martinez of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation identified for the committee three major components of a creative economy-businesses and individuals producing cultural, artistic, and design goods and services; organizations that provide a venue for artists to share their work; and support systems that teach, nurture and sustain creative activities. The largest job-producing creative sectors are entertainment, publishing and printing, and fashion. These three sectors collectively account for almost 60% of creative employment. The creative industry output, according to the report, totals $374.5 billion--direct, indirect and induced. New in the report this year are regional snapshots, detailing the creative economies of eight regions. The use of the snapshots and location quotients (LQs), detailing concentrations of particular creative industries in regions as compared to the nation as a whole, according to Ferguson, “reveal what makes a region unique and give an indication where a region has a competitive advantage.” Seven of ten occupations with the highest LQs in California are creative. The ten occupations with the highest LQs in California, according to the report, are farmworkers and laborers; farm, fishing and forestry workers; media and communication workers; film and video editors; farm labor contractors; makeup artists; media/communication equipment workers; agents/managers of artists, performers, etc.; fabric apparel patternmakers; and actors. In the Los Angeles-Orange County region the statistics regarding creative work are dramatic. The region has 34% of the State’s population, but hosts 56% of the state’s total creative industry employment. Ten of ten occupations with the highest LQs are creative. According to the report, Los Angeles-Orange County “has an outsize presence in both entertainment and fashion (each 80% of the statewide total employment in the industry), as well as toys (67% of the statewide total).” According to Ritter-Martinez, the LQs, representing employment clusters, are extremely high for some aspects of production such as producers, directors, and, especially, film editors. “In a post-industrial society and information society like we live in today,” said Ferguson, “activities based on creativity are an essential feature of a flourishing economy, and the data in the Otis Report leaves no doubt that creativity is one of California’s foremost assets.” “It is my hope the cities and counties throughout California can leverage the Otis Report to encourage further investment in arts education, economic development, and cultural planning,” Ferguson told the legislators. FILM SHOOTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FilmL.A.--the non-profit organization that contracts with the City of Los Angeles to oversee permit processes for on-location motion picture, television and commercial production within the City--and the Los Angeles Council have come to terms on a contract. The contract is for a second five year term for the agency, until June of 2020, with the option of two extensions for a total of 20 years. City Councilmember Nury Martinez, who chairs the Council’s Entertainment and Facilities Committee, told her colleagues as they approved the contract that filming in Los Angeles has increased almost 11.4% in the past year. As part of the terms of the new contract, FilmL.A. will track reported impacts of filming on neighborhoods geographically and will make that information available to the public. The upswing in production is due in large measure to the California Film and Television Job Retention and Promotion Act of 2014, the purpose of which was to stem the exodus of industry jobs to other states and even other countries by offering tax credits. On May 10, FilmL.A. President Paul Audley reported to the Entertainment and Facilities Committee
JUNE 2016
Highland Park stands in for South America during a film shoot at North Figueroa Street and Avenue 56 continued on page 13
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that, with each television show equating to 200-300 jobs, and films meaning possibly over 1,000 jobs, “We’re looking at 58 projects, which include 21 feature films and 37 television projects in the first year of funding, including five relocating television series. That’s going to equate to almost $670 million in wages going to people who work behind the cameras on these productions and $1.7 billion direct production dollars back into the State of California.” Audley added that many vendors and suppliers have brought back supplies and people whom they had sent to other states. “So they are fully here, fully engaged again, and really thrilled with the outcome,” said Audley. “We haven’t seen employment like this in over ten years,” said Ed Duffy of Teamsters Local 399. Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, a member of the Entertainment and Facilities Committee, added, “I think anecdotally we’re seeing a tick downward in our unemployment rate, and I think that that is representative of getting people back to work in the entertainment industry.” Inevitably, increased on-location filming will have impacts on Los Angeles neighborhoods. Philip Sokoloski, Vice President, Integrated Communications for FilmL.A. told the Council Committee about ways in which FilmL.A. addresses community concerns. Measures presented by Sokoloski included a standardized notification system, on-site monitoring, community surveys, area-specific special conditions, and 24/7 on-call production coordinators. In 2015, FilmL.A. received 1,329 requests for assistance with film-related issues. Given that there are, on average, 120 productions underway in Los Angeles on any day, that means that one call is received per 26 shoot days. One in four complaints are about loss of street parking. The second greatest concern is apparent filming frequency. Third is extended filming hours. Loss of business and notification problems tie for fourth. Sokoloski told the Councilmembers that FilmL.A. works to prevent complaints in the first place by crafting concerns into permits. The agency also works to get the word out regarding its willingness to work with community members. For example, this year it is sponsoring 25 film nights in neighborhood parks. The issue of parking in areas where film production is taking place remains problematic, however. Discrepancies between posted no parking times and hours when filming actually take place are frequent. “Here’s the frustration,” said O’Farrell. “Sometimes there’ll be a commercial shoot, and they’ll just film for two hours, from seven to nine, and they’re done for the day. But the no parking from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. stays all day long, and the community’s confused, and they’re inconvenienced needlessly.” “This is our number one signature industry,” said O’Farrell, “and we want to increase filming in our neighborhoods. So without us demonstrating everything we can possibly do to lessen the inconveniences, we’re not doing enough.” On May 18, the City Council passed a motion by O’Farrell requiring the City’s Department of Transportation to use new equipment it has obtained to improve signage within two weeks. CREDENTIALS FOR THEATER AND DANCE TEACHERS PROPOSED A bill that will, if passed, lead to single subject teacher credentials for teachers of theater and dance, SB 916 by State Senator Ben Allen, is making its way through the State Legislature. According to Allen, California is one of only two states (with West Virginia) that do not offer credentials in these subjects. Currently, Allen says, those who want to teach theater get credentialed in English, and those who want to teach dance get credentialed in physical education. Theater and dance are the only subjects with Content Standards that do not have associated single subject credentials. “This bill recognizes the importance of the arts to our students’ education and our economy,” Allen told a legislative committee hearing. LANCASTER ENACTS CULTURAL PLAN The City Council of the North Los Angeles County City of Lancaster voted in May to enact a five-year Cultural Plan for the City. Lancaster is already an arts destination, attributable largely to the popularity of its Museum of Art and History (MOAH). The new plan seeks to solidify and expand on the City’s cultural reputation. The plan has three stated objectives: 1. Increased partnerships and improved communications between arts organizations, the City, Lancaster school districts, higher education facilities, businesses, culturally specific communities and residents; 2. Increased opportunities for youth with a focus on arts and culture – both curriculum and community based; and 3. Enhancement of the City’s public image. MOAH Director Andi Campognone told the City Council that the impetus for the plan came from Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council President-elect the Council’s understanding that arts enable economic growth and improve a community’s quality of life. Harvey Slater and out-going President Monica Alcaraz--both Six hundred forty Lancaster residents and stakeholders participated in community meetings during the strong supporters of local arts--discuss the transition. crafting of the plan. “These meetings not only improved community communication, but revealed a wealth of existing resources previously unknown,” said Campognone. Additionally, over 550 community members participated in a survey. “This was about listening to our community members tell us, ‘I’m interested in culture’,” said Campognone, “’I’m interested in murals, I’m interested in public art, I would like to be able to attend more ethnically and culturally related performances’. So it wasn’t pie-in-the-sky. It was about how does this affect our local community and real people that live here in Lancaster.” CA TRAVEL AND TOURISM MONTH A motion is pending before the California State Legislature that will proclaim May 2016 and every May thereafter as California Travel and Tourism Month. Ryan Becker of Visit California, the non-profit agency charged with marketing California tourism, told a May meeting of the State Assembly’s Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee that travel and travel-related spending generated $122.5 billion in the State in 2015--a 3.4% increase over 2014. More than 251 million travelers from every corner of the globe generated $9.9 billion in state and local tax revenue. The tourism workforce accounts for almost 1.1 million jobs, with 36,000 of those jobs, according to Becker, created in the last year alone. continued on page 14
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The California Travel and Tourism Month motion was introduced by Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee Chair Kansen Chu. Most Los Angeles area Assemblymembers have signed on as coauthors. ARTISTIC LIGHTING FOR HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN Artist Roel Punzalan has won a public vote for the design of new streetlights that will soon line Temple Street in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown. Artists were asked to submit three designs evoking the Filipino values of “kappa,” meaning shared humanity and togetherness; “lakbay,” meaning journey and travel; and “kapayapaan,” meaning peace and harmony. “My design proposal aims to incorporate the three core concepts of the project,” said Punzalan, “the inclusive experience and nature of Filipino culture, and the ethnic diversity of Historic Filipinotown. The designs anthropomorphize three symbols with the idea that the human figure is the fundamental building block to achieve each of the core values.” CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL GRANTS The California Arts Council in May announced $1,654,023 in grants to California nonprofit organizations under three unique competitive grant programs. Over 100 grants will be awarded for programs supporting arts and at-risk youth, community activation through sustained artist engagement, and statewide and regional arts and cultural networks. A new pilot grant program, Artists Activating Communities (AAC) supports sustained artistic residencies in community settings, demonstrating that the arts are a central component of civic life, and that artists are vital in shaping society. AAC projects are artist-driven, engage community members as active participants, and activate participants to develop and express their own creativity. Grant recipients in the Los Angeles area include: Roel Punzalan’s winning entry 18th Street Arts Center, which will commission Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle to collaborate with Pico neighborhood residents to develop an interactive installation that explores how “African-ness” is structured within urban and rural African-American communities; Armory Center for the Arts, which will conduct a residency with Giacomo Castagnola examining the phenomenon of street vending, building upon the recent push to legalize food vending in LA County; Collage Dance Theatre, which will partner with Heidi Duckler and Toogie Barcelo to curate a festival at King Hing, a historic Chinese Cinema Hall in the heart of LA’s Chinatown, animating the space with dance, film and multidisciplinary installations; Contra-Tiempo, which will use Urban Latin Dance Theater, its “choreographic lab” approach, to foster dialogue and create change around social issues facing low-income Black and Spanish-speaking South LA residents, helping develop residents develop senses of themselves as artists and agents for social change; DSTL Arts, which will partner with Exposition Park Regional Library for an artist residency with Luis A. Pichardo, Jennifer Fuentes, and Andres Rivera facilitating 13 zinemaking workshops with South LA residents, examining the effects the 1992 L.A. Riots had on their communities. Los Angeles Master Chorale Association, which will engage composer/conductor Eric Whitacre, who will use emerging technology to provide unique opportunities for active participation in singing and the choral arts in traditional and non-traditional settings; Los Angeles Opera Company, which will expand its partnership with the Mariachi Conservatory to engage community members using year-long, weekly workshops to train and nurture a community opera performing group—with participation of children, families and adults—in the creation and production of Zarzuela, a popular form of Spanish opera; PEN Center USA, which will engage Lilliam Rivera to facilitate a series of workshops in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and screenwriting for PEN Center USA student members, incorporating social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to share youth stories; Piece by Piece, through which artist Betty Rosen will conduct community-participatory programming to engage low-income residents of the Taylor Yard area in the completion of Mosaic Storytelling Sculptures themed with motifs that explore and celebrate the critical value of water, Los Angeles River ecosystems, family recreation opportunities, the role of creativity in family life, and similar topics of importance to the community as determined during the Sculpture Design Planning phase; Santa Cecilia Orchestra, which will present “Musica del Pueblo,” comprised of chamber music workshops and performances for beginning musicians, amateur musicians and retired musicians, particularly adults of color who are underrepresented in orchestral fields; TheatreWorkers Project, which will work with Friends Outside to provide theatre workshops to men who are transitioning from incarceration to society, promoting self esteem as the men redefine their personal narratives. California Arts Council Jump StArts grants support arts education and artists-in-residence programs for at-risk youth within the juvenile justice system. Recipients include the Armory Center for the Arts, which will work with teens incarcerated at Challenger Memorial Youth Center, providing arts instruction, mentoring, and collaborative art projects. The Council’s Statewide & Regional Networks program nurtures collaborative service organizations and networks that advance the arts and artists in the State. Local grant recipients include: Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network, which will provide multi-disciplinary arts programming at youth detention facilities across the county; Arts for LA, which will offer leadership training, convenings, and opportunities to engage with elected officials, and provide salaries and technology to communicate stories of local advocacy to a large constituency; The California Alliance for Arts Education, which will advance arts education in California through pushing for a robust agenda at the state level and empowering local community members to preserve and expand arts education in schools; The California LGBT Arts Alliance, which will provide capacity-building arts services programs, arts advocacy activities, and e-newsletters publicizing LGBT events taking place in the LA region; The Latino Arts Network, Inc., which will conduct the Maestro Award Program, recognizing unsung heroes who have dedicated their lives to supporting Latino Arts, conduct the Catalyst In Residence Program, which matches elders and experts to mentor arts organizations, and provide research and resources through the Cultural Vitality Index; The National Association of Latino Independent Producers, Inc., which will provide Latino Lens Incubators within four tracks: Digital/Stream, TV, Doc/Film and Tech Arts), as well as the Latino Media Market Accelerator; Poets & Writers, Inc., which will host eight roundtables bringing members of California’s literary community together to exchange information and ideas, offer half-day retreats for writers who teach workshops with special populations, conduct outreach in underserved areas of the State, provide technical support to writers and literary presenters, and facilitate communication throughout the literary community; The Dance Resource Center of Greater Los Angeles, which will expand and nurture relationships with dance communities in other counties, and advocate for dance on local/state/ national levels and provide technical assistance. continued on page 15
JUNE 2016
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JUAN DEVIS APPOINTED TO CA ARTS COUNCIL Los Angeles resident Juan Devis has been appointed to the California Arts Council effective May 1. Devis is Senior Vice President of Content Development and Production for KCETLink. In that capacity, he has charted KCET and LINK TV’s new Arts and Culture Initiative. He is Executive Producer of Artbound, which consists of a television series, an online networked cultural hub, and programatic partnerships with cultural institutions. He is also Executive Producer of a slate of new production series, including Live @ the Ford, Studio A, Border Blaster, Departures, City Walk, Studio A, Ocean Stories, and Re-Plan It. Devis is a founder and board member of the LF Charter School for the Arts in Northeast Los Angeles. Devis was appointed to the council by California’s Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León. PERSHING SQUARE DESIGN Pershing Square Renew, Inc., a non-profit collaboration among government, community and business leaders in Downtown Los Angeles, has announced the results of its design competition to “Reimagine the Heart of L.A.” Agence Ter, which has overseen major open space projects in several European countries, has partnered with local landscape architecture firm SALT Landscape Architects. It will also work with specialized The winning Pershing Square design partners Deborah Murphy Urban Design + Planning, Fehr and Peers, Community Art Resources (CARS), Kelly Shannon, Leo Villareal, Pentagram, still room, Rachel Allen Architecture, KPFF, M-E Engineers, and Lighting Design Alliance. The winning proposal combines natural and built environments in a variety of ways. The space will be level, reconnecting it to its surroundings, including the Biltmore Hotel. It will allow for easy pedestrian access and crossing. Cycling lanes will be incorporated on Olive and Sixth Streets, and cars will be concentrated on Hill and Fifth Streets. Adjacent rail and bus stops will mark the square as a multimodal transit hub. Nature elements will include a great lawn, water features, gardens with grasses and flowers, and a tree canopy. Shade will be provided by a pergola canopy and the tree canopy. The smart canopy will collect electricity through photovoltaic panels to supply lighting. Rain water will be collected and stored in the parking garage and recycled for irrigation. The space is designed to be flexible and programmable for both small spontaneous activities and larger organized events. The smart canopy is predicted to attract a vibrant nightlife. STATEMENT OF LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCILMEMBER MIKE BONIN ON THE VANDALISM OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL IN VENICE Councilmember Mike Bonin released the following statement to update members of the community and the public at large on the disgraceful desecration of an historic Venice mural dedicated to 2,273 POWs and troops declared Missing in Action during the Vietnam War. The enormous mural, painted in the early 1990s, is on Pacific Avenue, just a few blocks from Venice Beach, on a the wall of a former bus yard owned by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “As we celebrate Memorial Day, Los Angeles and the nation are horrified at this despicable act of desecration, a horrible insult to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. We are taking every step possible to identify and arrest those responsible, and to restore this historic mural that pays tribute to our POWs and MIAs. Photo: Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin’s Office “My office and LA Metro, which owns the property, has engaged a range of agencies to accomplish both tasks: the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department the Los Angeles Police Department; the City of Los Angeles Office of Community Beautification; and the The Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC), one of the most respected mural restoration agencies in the country. “The Sheriff ’s Department is the lead agency in the investigation. Anyone with information about the incident or those responsible should call 888-950-7233, or my office at 310575-8461. The City of Los Angeles offers a standing reward of $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people responsible for illegal graffiti, and when the City Council meets next on Tuesday, I plan to introduce a motion increasing that reward to $10,000 for this incident. I anticipate the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will do the same. “Unfortunately, restoring the mural is not as simple as removing the paint left by the vandals. The mural, which is several decades old, had no protective anti-graffiti coating, so removal of the vandals’ paint could destroy the mural itself. Judy Baca, Founder and Artistic Director of the Venice-based SPARC, and her team are conducting an assessment and will determine the best way to save and restore the mural. “Peter Stewart, the artist who painted the mural in the early 1990s, is deceased. To properly restore the mural, we will need the public’s assistance. Anyone with photos of the mural (especially photos of the lower portion of the mural, including the names of the POWs and MIAs from that section of the mural) are asked to send them to my Venice-area field deputy Taylor Bazley at Taylor.bazley@lacity.org. “While the restoration work is being completed, the mural will be covered out of respect for the brave men and women it was painted to honor. “I sincerely thank the members of the community who have called attention to this disgraceful act, and for all those who have voiced their outrage, sending a powerful reminder to our veterans that their service and sacrifice are respected and cherished by the people of Venice, of Los Angeles, of California, and of the United States. “I also want to thank Phil Washington, CEO of LA Metro; Alex Wiggins, Executive Officer, System Security & Law Enforcement of LA Metro; Judy Baca, Debra J.T. Padilla and Carlos Rogel of SPARC; Paul Racs of the Office of Community Beautification; George Francisco of the Venice Chamber of Commerce; and Stewart Oscars, a Venice resident, for their quick action and attention.”
“We’re going to keep coming back until this street is as safe as can be.” --LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds at the inauguration of the new traffic signal at North Figueroa Street and Avenue 55 in Highland Park
LA ART NEWS SECTION A