LA Art News May 2017

LA ART NEWS A R T S A N D C U LT U R E F O R A L L O F L O S A N G E L E S VOLUME 5 NO. 2

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MAY 2017

THE CITY FUNDS THE ARTS BUDGET SEASON, 2017 The City of Los Angeles is in the midst of preparing and deliberating the city budget for the coming fiscal year that will begin this summer. The $9.2 billion budget must address myriad issues including homelessness, broken roads, police and fire protection, human trafficking, and ending pedestrian fatalities, while maintaining a reasonable reserve fund and reducing the structural deficit that threatened the City’s solvency just a few years ago.

City support for arts and culture is provided primarily through the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA).

DCA administers this support through five core divisions: Community Arts, Cultural Grants, Public Art, Marketing and Development, and a newly-reconstituted Performing Arts Division.

For the past few years DCA has been moving to bring arts and culture support more into line with the diversity and distribution of the population of the City. Therefore, while continuing to provide existing services and programming, DCA developed several new cultural programs. The Arts Activation Fund invests in creative placemaking events in public spaces. Promise Zone Arts bolsters economic opportunity for traditional artists in underserved communities. embRACE LA engages the City in a conversation about race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, diversity, and multiculturalism. The Big Read Program offers young people an exposure to great literary works. The Artist in Residence Program collaborates with city departments such as the Department of Transportation on creative solutions to save lives. Hire LA Youth provides work experience to the City’s future employees.

Mayor Eric Garcetti’s proposed budget includes some increases for the Department of Cultural Affairs.

Some additional funding has been earmarked for exhibitions, community programs, and grants, with an eye toward advancing the social and economic impact of arts and culture and providing arts and educational programing to residents and visitors spread across Los Angeles’ neighborhoods. Three full-time positions are added for the historic Frank Lloyd Wright Hollyhock House.

Missing from the Mayor’s proposed budget was funding for embRACE LA. This program is the result of a City Council motion by Councilmembers Herb Wesson and Mitch O’Farrell, which instructs DCA to work with the City’s Human Relations Commission to develop a series of conversations about race, sexual James Doolin, Arch Series 14, 1969, Courtesy of the Estate orientation, gender, and cultural identity in the City. of James Doolin.

The City Council Budget and Finance Committee has recommended that $150,000 be added in to the DCA Currently on view at the Los Angeles Municipal Art budget to fund embRACE LA. DCA is funded largely through the City’s 14% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). The recent addition of Gallery, a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of TOT funds from Airbnb rentals amounted to $345,000 in the current fiscal year. Councilmember Nury Cultural Affairs.

Martinez has asked for examination of the possibility of earmarking future Airbnb TOT dollars for cultural services in underserved communities.

Although DCA is the city agency directly charged with administering city arts and culture programming, several other city departments have budget items for arts and culture initiatives as well. continued on page 3

FOR THE LOVE OF THE ARROYO. May 21 to June 18, 2017 Southwest Museum, Mount Washington

From its inception at the Devil’s Gate Dam in Altadena to its terminus near downtown Los Angeles, the Arroyo Seco encompasses a variety of flora and fauna as well as some of the region’s most culturally diverse urban communities. Drawing on and celebrating its rich history as an art community, this exhibition, co-curated

by Roderick Smith and Raoul De la Sota, features paintings, drawings, and mixed-media works depicting the region by artists Judith Amdur, Diane Behrens, Manny Cosentino, Gwen Freeman, Cidne Hart, Kevin Hass, Peter Hess, Bonnie Lambert, Michael Nissen, Ramon Ramirez, Gail Werner, Richard Willson, Katsu Yokoyama as well as Mr. Smith and Mr. De la Sota.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS. The Museum will open weekends on the days listed below from 10 to 4.

Sunday, May 21 – 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Opening Reception Sunday, May 28 – Meet the Artists. Roderick Smith and Bonnie Lambert, 1 p.m.

Saturday, June 3 – Meet the Artists: Diane Behrens, Michael Nissen, Roderick Smith and Richrd Willson, 1 p.m.

Sunday, June 4 – Meet the Artists: Gwen Freeman, Cidne Hart and Kevin Hass, 1 p.m.

Saturday, June 10 - Meet the Artists: Judith Amdur, Raoul De la Sota and Katsu Yokoyama, 1 p.m.

Katsu Yokoyama, On the Parkway

Sunday, June 11 – Meet the Artists: Peter Hess and Gail Werner (Luiseño-Cupeño), 1 p.m.

Raoul De la Sota, Near the End of the Arroyo

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3 continued from page 1 The city Library Department has a new mobile library outreach program, which will bring library resources on the road to parks, schools, community centers, shelters, senior centers, and other locations. The department will transport staff to present storytimes, puppet shows, and career workshops at daycare centers and family shelters.

The Department of Recreation and Parks, meanwhile, is taking a hard hit. The department receives a $10.7 million mandated increase in property tax assessment for the coming fiscal year. However, the increase will be immediately depleted to offset General Fund reimbursements and significantly increased utility costs (mainly water).

According to department General Manager Michael Shull, General Fund reimbursements and utility payments will now divert one-third of the Rec and Parks budget away from public services and programs. (In FY 2007-08, 92% of Rec and Park’s budget went to core services and programs.)

While there is modest good news in the budget in terms of park restroom access, brush clearance, and girls’ sports, there is bad news in terms of the deletion of 53 gardener positions, about ten per cent of the department’s total. These gardener/caretakers not only mow grass and fix sprinklerheads, they also perform such functions necessary to public safety as sifting the sand at 400+ playgrounds every morning.

According to Mr. Shull, Rec and Parks will be expected to removed 780 tons of debris resulting from homeless encampments, illegal dumping, and general park use in the coming fiscal year. But a budget request for $3.2 million for five bulky item crews was not funded.

While the City struggles to maintain existing parks, the need for new parkland remains great.

“We’ve opened 35 new parks across the City in the last four and a half years,” Mr. Shull told the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee. “But it’s apparent to us that it’s just simply not enough. The park access gaps across the City are so incredibly high. Our goal is to get every resident within a half mile walking distance or ten minute walk to a piece of open space.”

The move of the Greek Theater in Griffith Park from contracted management to direct city management has proven successful. After a ten year average of $1.7 million in season revenue, the first season under direct city control has brought in $5.4 million.

The Planning Department is slated to receive staffing to update the City’s community plans on a six-year cycle.

Director of Planning Vincent Bertoni told the Budget and Finance Committee that the department’s work moving forward on a general plan update, “will create a blueprint of how we can both protect our neighborhoods as well as look for opportunities for jobs and housing for both our existing and future residents.”

However, the department asked for, but, in the proposed budget, did not get, funds to support the expansion of the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) program. Due to a sharp increase in interest, the number of HPOZs in the City has expanded from 30 to 35 in the past few months. The Budget and Finance Committee has recommended HPOZ position funding by increasing Historic Preservation and Mills Act (a tax savings program for historic properties) fees.

Funding for artistic and cultural expression shows up in some perhaps unexpected places in the budget. One of the biggest contributors to public arts in the City is now the

Department of Transportation.

The Department’s General Manager, Seleta Reynolds, told the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee that a priority for the department is “building safe and beautiful streets.”

That priority is translated through “Vision Zero Los Angeles,” the City’s program to eliminate all traffic deaths by 2025. The program focuses on protecting the most vulnerable road users, including children, older adults, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Any effort to implement Vision Zero must be cognizant of the economic and social disparities between areas where streets are comparatively safe and areas where deaths are most apt to happen.

“I like to say there’s art and science,” said Ms. Reynolds. “The science is…a deep analysis and understanding of the real causes behind those crashes. And once we understand the causes we can go out and look for what the tool kit is to eliminate them…So we pull together what we think is the appropriate pallet for that street.”

There are such interventions as fewer car lanes, medians, sidewalk widening, and bike treatments. Then the issues are taken to local communities.

“We’ve invested in community-based organizations and arts organizations to partner with us on that outreach,” said Ms. Reynolds, “because we know that we are not always the right messengers and we are hardly ever the experts for the neighborhoods in which we work, and we want to invest and grow those organizations that are the experts.”

Planned Vision Zero projects include: • Mapping and model building, a community mural, a telenovela performance, a pocket park, a walking school bus, and a community festival with superhero pedestrian activist Peatonito at MacArthur Park; • Artwork to promote street safety, tied in with LA Commons’ Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks and Juneteenth Heritage Festival celebrations, on Crenshaw Boulevard; • Transforming Temple Street from a high-speed roadway into a stretch of bold, beautiful art and public performance, through conversations, color, art, design, and choreographed spectacles; • Trees of Life, a weeklong interactive art event helping neighbors to imagine safer streets and sidewalks through poesia, visual art, danza, and community workshops.

(A full list of Vision Zero Events is available at www.visionzero.lacity.org.)

The Mayor’s proposed budget includes an instruction to the City Administrative Officer to work with all city departments involved in film permit coordination, to provide recommendations on process improvements, appropriate staffing levels, and feasible cost recovery.

On May 12, the City Council Budget and Finance Committee, chaired by Councilmember Paul Krekorian, is expected to have a complete budget proposal, which then will go before the full City Council and then to the Mayor for his signature.

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Saturday, June 17 – Dr. Jeremiah Axelrod, Director of the Institute for the Study of Los Angeles, Occidental College will discuss the artistic history of the Arroyo Seco region. Richard Bugbee (Payoomkawichum) discusses his community’s history in the region, 1 p.m.

Sunday, June 18 – Closing of Exhibit, 4 p.m.

Michael Egede-Nissen, The Devil’s Gate

Raoul De la Sota, Shadows in the Upper Arroyo

“FISH GOTTA SWIM, BIRDS GOTTA FLY” A PROCESSION IN HIGHLAND PARK

Fish will swim, birds will fly, as the Arroyo Arts Collective and Teatro Arroyo, in partnership with the Lummis Day Festival, process from the historic Lummis House to Sycamore Grove Park.

Last year, over 100 participants, carrying colorful fish puppets or wearing artistic fish costumes, processed to the Lummis Day Festival. This year, the birds want to get in on the excitement too.

The procession calls attention to the ecology of the region and efforts to restore the Arroyo Seco to its status as habitat for all manner of creatures. It also invokes the Arroyo region’s rich past and present as an area filled with artists, who use their talents for the advancement of their community.

The procession will be accompanied by the music of Cuñao, a spirited Latino folk band.

All are welcome to participate. Come as a fish or come as a bird.

FISH GOTTA SWIM, BIRDS GOTTA FLY A fish & bird puppet-themed procession Lummis House, 200 East Avenue 43, to Sycamore Grove Park, to be part of Lummis Day Festivities Sunday June 4, 2017 starting at 11:30 a.m.

Free and Open to participants and spectators alike May 17: Puppet-Making “Soiree.” Workshop at the Audubon Center in Debs Park, 5:30-8:30 p.m. An evening for adults to socialize and create imaginative fish and bird puppets under the guidance of Master Puppet Artisans.

“FISH GOTTA SWIM, BIRDS GOTTA FLY” is supported in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.

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STAFF Publisher/ Creative Director Cathi Milligan Managing Editor Margaret Arnold Intern Vince Caldera Contributors: Margaret Arnold, Cornelius Peter, Brian Mallman, Amy Inouye, Stuart Rapeport, Cathi Milligan, Jennifer Hitchcock, Jeremy Kaplan, Harvey Slater, Kristine Schomaker, Larisa Code, Dani Dodge, Kailee Stovell, Baha Danesh, John McIntyre 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.

CREATE. RESIST. CREATE. THRIVE! I was talking with many people this last weekend since I was participating in a craft show. With one person in particular we spoke of creativity. I said everyone is creative. They didn’t believe me. But we all are. Problem solving requires creativity. People just aren’t given credit for creativity as problem solving. This person had never heard of that, let alone thought of it. Such a shame. But now they know, as do all of you reading this. We are all creative beings (expect Emperor Sippy Cup and his sons, Beavis and Butthead,) and should be celebrated as such. That said, we all need to create, resist, create.

Make things that help the resistance to the crazy *#$! that’s going on in Washington. Make signs for marches, go to marches, contribute to worthy causes, live by example...create a movement so we can take back our country.

Just venting a bit...

Thanks, Cathi Milligan Publisher, LA Art News

Copyright No news stories, illustrations, editorial matter or advertisements herein can be reproduced without written consent of copyright owner.

How to reach us LA Art News 5668 York Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90042 323-387-9705 Contributions cathi@laartnews.com Calendar information margaretnelaart@gmail.com Sales - cathi@laartnews.com sign up for our newsletter at laartnews.com Where’s Monica?

Sign at Cafe de Leche

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GOVERNMENT NOTES

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ALCOHOL AT GALLERY OPENINGS MAY BE LEGALIZED It may soon be possible for art galleries to offer alcoholic beverages at openings without having to purchase a permit or worry about a visit from Vice.

AB 629, proposed by Assemblymember Matthew Harper of Orange County, would make it possible to provide beer or wine to patrons, as long as the beverage is consumed on the premises, and as long as the price of the alcohol is not included in the sale price of art or merchandise. Offerings must be limited to 12 ounces of beer or six ounces of wine, and alcohol may not be offered after 10 p.m.

The measure is pending before the State Assembly’s Governmental Organization Committee.

SANCTUARY WINDOW An interactive Sanctuary-themed window display attracted a lot of attention during the April NELAart Gallery Night. The window space was provided by Social Study on York Boulevard, and the interactive installation was a collaborative effort of Indivisible Highland Park and Artivist Network. Visitors wrote postcards to Mayor Eric Garcetti supporting a Sanctuary City for immigrants.

NEW L.A. POET LAUREATE Robin Coste Lewis has been named the new Poet Laureate of the City of Los Angeles.

The announcement was made in late April by Mayor Eric Garcetti. The function of the Poet Laureate is to “promote and celebrate the written word, and represent the city’s rich literary scene.”

The Poet Laureate Program is a collaboration between the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles Public Library. The program’s stated aim is to enhance the presence and appreciation of poetry and the literary arts in Los Angeles, and to engage Angelenos who have limited exposure to poetry and other forms of expressive writing.

“Poetry is high art, sure,” said Ms. Lewis, but it is also an exceedingly accessible cultural game that anyone can play. From the elderly to prisoners, I try at all times to remind my students that the only difference between a great poet and a lousy one is practice. Poetry isn’t rocket science.

It’s merely love.”

Ms. Lewis is a winner of the National Book Award. A native of Compton, she is the author of the collection “Voyage of the Sable Venus.” Her broad background includes an MFA in creative writing from New York University, a master of theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, which included study of Sanskrit and comparative religious literature, and a PhD in poetry and visual studies from the University of Southern California.

The term of a Los Angeles Poet Laureate is two years. Ms. Lewis succeeds Luis Rodriguez.

COUNTY CULTURAL EQUITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVE Los Angeles Poet Laureate Concerned that all Los Angeles County residents Robin Coste Lewis do not have equal and meaningful access to the arts, the County Board of Supervisors initiated an 18-month long process of fact-finding and listening to concerns. Fourteen town halls attracted 650 attendees. The resultant report, “LA County Arts Report Cultural Equity & Inclusion Initiative,” was released in April.

According to Laura Zucker, Executive Director of the LA County Arts Commission, four key themes emerged during the hearings: the importance of arts education, the importance of neighborhood access, the importance of communications, and the importance of funding.

Working groups crafted the comments from the town halls into 13 actionable recommendations.

1. Los Angeles County Cultural Policy Establish a cultural policy for LA County with concrete elements focused on equity, diversity, inclusion and access that would solidify the gains made through the process and recommendations, and will serve as a road map for how all LA County departments can contribute to cultural life. This cultural policy would position LA County as a national arts leader in advancing cultural equity and inclusion in every sector of our civic lives.

2. Inclusive Language, Policies and Infrastructure to Recruit and Retain Diverse Staff and Boards in LA County A requirement that all cultural organizations receiving LA County funds have written, board-adopted statements, policies or plans that outline their commitment to diversity,

equity, inclusion, and access, and monitor progress.

3.

College Arts Pathways: Paid Arts Internships for Community College Students Double the existing LA County Internship Program to increase the number of paid arts internships with the additional positions set aside for community college students emphasizing inclusivity of those Installation artist Lani Trock and Highland Park from communities residents Noelani and Monica in the Sanctuary of color, low-income window display at Social Study on York Boulevard neighborhoods, persons with disabilities, and other communities that experience barriers to arts access.

4. Teen Arts Pathways: Employment and Learning Opportunities in the Arts and Culture for High School Students Develop an LA County initiative creating access to work-based learning and leadership opportunities for all high school students, particularly students of color, low-income students, LGBTQ students, disabled students, current and former foster youth, and youth on probation, as well as others who experience barriers to participation, to prepare youth for careers in the arts and creative industries.

5. Creative Workforce Development Center(s) Establish center(s) that link students and mature workers, especially those from communities of color, low-income, LGBTQ and disabled communities, and other communities that are under-represented in the arts, to educational, training and networking opportunities to help them gain skills to work in creative jobs.

6. Neighborhood Bridges: Municipal Grants to Expand Arts and Cultural Programming to All Neighborhoods and Communities Implement an LA County grant program to provide funds to municipal funders that includes diversity, equity, inclusion and access requirements, for re-granting to fiscally sponsored organizations, collectives, traditional and folk artists, and individual artists, especially those from communities of color, low-income, LGBTQ and disabled communities, and other communities that are under-represented in the arts.

7. Artists Working Cross-Sector to Address Social Problems Place artists, arts administrators or other creative workers who are representative of diverse constituencies in LA County departments in paid positions as creative strategists to develop innovative solutions to social challenges.

8. Increasing Diverse, Inclusive and Equitable Cultural Opportunities and Programming in Unincorporated Areas Provide new cultural opportunities and funds particularly for residents of unincorporated areas of the County by extending LA County’s civic art requirement to private developers and enacting ordinances that encourage the creation of cultural assets.

9. Grants to Organizations Serving Diverse Communities Expand LA County’s Organizational Grants Program, which supports arts and culture organizations that have been historically or are currently underfunded and under-resourced, including those that represent communities of color, low-income communities, LGBTQ and disabled communities and other communities experiencing barriers to participation in the arts.

10. Parks and Libraries Arts Partnership Establish grants and professional development services to parks and libraries in areas of LA County with the least arts programming, to support production and marketing costs of arts events with a focus on communities of color, low-income communities, LGBTQ and disabled communities, and other communities that experience barriers to participation in the arts.

11. Connecting Audiences to Cultural Information Establish a five year LA Countywide communications initiative that shares information about the arts with all LA County residents through both traditional and nontraditional methods, taking into account language barriers, geographical concerns, and economic divides that require different forms of outreach.

12. Connecting Organizations to New Audiences and Participants Establish LA County planning and implementation grants to small and mid-sized arts organizations to build their capacity to reach new audiences and participants including those in communities of color, low-income communities, LGBTQ and disabled communities and

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13. Equitable Access to Arts Education: A Three Part Strategy for All Students in Public Schools Grants to fund dedicated arts coordinators who both reflect and promote the diversity of the student population, to serve every school district in LA County. Grants to school districts in support of their arts education plans. Alignment of in-school and out-of-school arts learning opportunities.

The entire report is available online at www.lacountyarts.org.

The April 4 release of the report at the County Board of Supervisors meeting was attended by a roomful of artists and arts administrators from a variety of disciplines, who voiced enthusiastic support for the report. Many implored to the Supervisors to fund and enact the 13 recommendations, and not to let the report fall by the wayside, as some in attendance said had happened with previous documents.

“This report will not gather dust,” Supervisor Hilda Solis said at the conclusion of the hearing. “I will see to it.”

LIONS, ELEPHANTS, GIRAFFES, PARTIES Alarmed by reports of the use of lions, elephants, a tiger, and a baby giraffe as props at parties, the Los Angeles City Council is moving forward with a motion to make the practice illegal. A draft ordinance is being prepared in consultation with the City Attorney’s Office.

The motion was brought to the Council by Councilmember David Ryu, who represents the Hollywood Hills area where much of the reported activity is taking place.

The new law will prohibit the exhibition of wild or exotic animals for entertainment or amusement. However, exceptions are made for accredited zoos, filming, research facilities, and conservation programs or presentations.

Proponents of the motions cite dangers to the party goers, to neighborhood residents, and to the animals themselves.

MONTEREY PARK REJECTS ART INSTALLATION IN HISTORIC PARK The Monterey Park City Council has voted unanimously to turn down an offer of a sitespecific art installation in the City.

The offer was made by “Equitable Vitrines,” a non-profit organization, based in Los Angeles and dedicated to informing and expanding the understanding of art in public spaces.

The proposal was to place a sculpture at Cascades Park Hill. The site is certified as historic by the State of California. It consists of two acres of park space, the dominant feature of which is water cascading down a series of steps. The cascades are capped by an alcove containing a statue of the Greek Goddess Athena. The statue is a 2005 creation. The original was stollen many years ago.

The Cascades were designed in the 1920s as a focal point and a gateway for a new, very high-end, residential community. Peter N, Snyder, the developer of the estates, was also instrumental in the commercial development of Atlantic Boulevard and in bringing industry to the region.

Equitable Vitrines proposed to put a statue, dubbed “Eve,” in the cascades, half way up the hill. Eve was carved in China by artist Xu Wang. at the same quarry where Athena was created. Wang exhumed a discarded statue of Eve and recarved it in the image of a female Chinese artisan employed at the quarry factory.

The two statues would have stood at the cascades in juxtaposition and in symbolic dialogue.

The image of Athena is beautiful. But she is an image from the past, when luxury housing was being built for Whites only. She also lacks the traditional warrior attributed associated with Athena--a helmet, a sword, a snake.

Of the same marble as Athena, but in contrast to her, Eve has a Chinese face in a city where, in the 21st Century, Asians represent the majority of the population. Further, Eve has a snake, true to her Biblical story, but also, by coincidence, pointing out what the Greek image is missing.

The Eve sculpture was proposed to stand in the cascades for up to a year, with Equitable Vitrines assuming responsibility for maintenance.

Feelings ran high both for and against the proposal. It was supported by the Vincent Price Art Museum, which is located at East Los Angeles College in the City. The Vincent Price offered to host educational events about issues relating to the art installation. The installation also received support from staff at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).

The installation was opposed by the local Historical Society. Some speakers at the City Council called it a precedent for future alteration of the park. Many questioned why Eve had to go in the Cascades, as opposed to at the museum or elsewhere.

On the one hand, Sara Chou, a young, third generation Chinese-Filipina-American artist, told the City Council, “As a young, creative, Asian American, I was constantly looking for representation of people like me--women, Asian faces--and, while rare, it was thrilling, validating, and imminently hopeful for me to find representation of Asian Americans in my city and in concrete in real works of art.”

On the other hand, Monterey Park Mayor Teresa Real Sebastian said, “When I look at an

9 art piece, I don’t look to see if she’s Latina like me--or to see if she’s African American, or is it a male, is it a female, is she Chinese, is she Japanese, is she my age or not. To me, when I look at an art piece, it’s symbolic…To me, art should be something that everybody can look at and you identify with in some fashion, way, or form…Art is faceless. Art is art.”

As it became apparent that Eve was not going to be placed in the Cascades, several councilmembers, including the Mayor, wanted to turn the discussion to other possible sites within the City.

“We’re not balking at art,” said Councilmember Hans Liang. “We just feel that we need to preserve that location, because that represents our city.”

However, citing the site-specific nature of the proposal, Equitable Vitrines withdrew Eve from consideration.

Ellie Lee of Equitable Vitrines said that, “The context is the crux of the project.”

Mayor Real Sebastian said that the withdrawal, “left a very negative taste in my mouth.”

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY The field of industrial design Heritage Park, “The Cascades,” in Monterey has become important to Park manufacturing. Yet, according to a new report from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the design field is being underutilized by small and medium-sized manufacturing firms, which are, therefore losing out on a competItive edge in the global economy.

Small and medium-sized manufacturers, particularly those that supply parts for large firms, often do not have the resources for the innovation necessary to diversify their product lines nor their customer bases.

The NEA report cites regional partnership models as a means to support growth for these firms.

“A few examples of local and regional partnerships involving SMMs [small and mediumsized manufacturers] and industrial designers are already occurring around the country,” says the report, “offering models that could be replicated. These programs inform SMMs about the value of industrial design through education, events, and challenges or competitions, they place industrial design students in internships with SMMs, and they connect industrial designers with manufacturers to better utilize manufacturing capabilities.”

Among the report’s recommendations are facilitating access to expert consulting services to enable SMMs to utilize and benefit from industrial design skills and capabilities, and using such potential mechanisms as multiagency partnerships, design school internships, and support from private philanthropy.

The full report may be found on the NEA website, www.arts.gov.

ELEMENTARY ARTS EDUCATION DATA A bill is making its way through the State Assembly that, if passed, will lead to the collection of data on elementary arts education in California. The bill’s author Assemblymember Kansen Chu, says that it is clear that children from low income families and ethnic minorities are not receiving visual and performing arts instruction at the rate other children are. However, data is readily available for secondary school students, but not for elementary students. Chu’s bill, AB 385, would encourage K-6 reporting as well. According to Bob Morrison of the National Art Education Data Program, the release of data leads to change.

The bill has passed the Assembly Education Committee and is pending before Appropriations.

FEDS RELEASE STATE-BY-STATE IMPACT OF ARTS AND CULTURE For the first time, the federal government has released national data on arts and culturerelated employment with a state-by-state breakdown. The report is the result of a collaborative effort between the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Commerce’ Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Data from 2014 shows that the arts and culture sector contributed $729.6 billion, or 4.2%, to the U.S. economy that year. Between 1998 and 2014, the contribution of arts and culture to the gross domestic product grew by 35.1%.

NEA Chairperson Jane Chu commented that the data demonstrates that the arts are part of our everyday lives.

“Now with the new state data, state leaders have a powerful tool to assess and advance arts and culture for the benefit of all their residents,” said Ms. Chu. In 2014, California ranked first among all states in arts and cultural production employment

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and first among all states in arts and cultural production compensation. However, it ranked ninth among all states in arts and culture production employment growth.

By far the largest category of arts and culture employment in California is Motion Pictures.

It is also where by far the highest amount of compensation is earned, at easily the highest rate per capita. Motion Pictures are followed by Government, Retail Industries, Broadcasting, and Publishing.

More information is available at www.arts.gov and www.bea.gov.

NEW PUBLIC ART IN EL SERENO Large steel public art pieces by Michael Amescua are being installed in El Sereno, at the site of the former Soto Street Bridge.

The bridge, a 1939 railway overpass, was deemed unsafe and impractical. North East Trees, with the support of City Councilmember José Huizar, is installing native plants evocative of the site’s past as a water course.

Mr. Amescua’s public art pieces depict stainless steel Monarch butterflies and their dinner of choice, milkweed. The pylons that support the giant butterflies incorporate steel from the bridge girders.

HISTORIC EAST LOS ANGELES BUILDING LISTED ON NATIONAL REGISTER A historic East Los Angeles building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its role in Latinx heritage.

The Pan American Bank, located at East First Street and Townsend, was founded in 1964, and the distinctive facade was completed in 1966. At a time when Mexicans and Mexican Americans were commonly denied banking services, the Pan American Bank provided bilingual financial services.

The bank is now affiliated with Oakland-based Beneficial State Bank, which has an expressed commitment to economic justice.

In addition to its role in Latinx history, the bank has a role in women’s history. Bank cofounder Romana Acosta Bañuelos, the founder and CEO of Ramona’s Mexican Food Products, which became the largest Mexican food wholesaler in the country, went on to become the first Latina Treasurer of the United States. She advocated for both racial and gender equality in the financial industry and led a Pan American Bank scholarship program to assist Mexican American college students majoring in finance or accounting.

Another Pan American Bank figure, Katherine Dávalos Ortega worked her way up from bank cashier to bank vice president, and ultimately served as the second Latina U.S. Treasury Secretary.

The facade of the Pan American Bank features a five-panel mosaic mural, “Our Past, Our Present, and Our Future,” designed by prominent Mexican artist José Reyes Meza, which, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy, was an influential precursor to the Chicanx mural movement.

It was a common practice for banks to put murals on their facades to attract customers.

“Our Past, Our Present, and Our Future” represents not only a continuation of that trend, but also an early example of a commercial enterprise skewing its outreach toward a Latinx demographic.

The Los Angeles Conservancy cites Johnny/Don Juan González, David Botello, and Willie Herrón as having been influenced by José Reyes Meza. Mr. González and Mr. Botello conceived their mural, “The Story of Our Struggle,” an 18-panel artwork created across the street eight years later, to be an extension of “Our Past, Our Present, and Our Future, A listing on the National Register is highly prestigious. The Pan American Bank joins the former Golden Gate Theatre (now a CVS) as only the second property in unincorporated East Los Angeles to receive that distinction.

The April listing for the Pan American Bank represents a coming together of resources.

The Los Angeles Conservancy, a non-profit organization that advocates for Los Angeles’ architectural and cultural resources, prepared the application. Funding to prepare the application came from what may seem like an unlikely source, the National Park Service.

The Park Service runs the Underrepresented Community Grants Program, funded by Congress to increase the representation of historic properties and landmarks associated with communities that are underrepresented on official lists. The federal funding was administered through the California Office of Historic Preservation, which was seeking to support nominations for historic properties associated with Latinx heritage in Los Angeles, Fresno, Riverside, and San Francisco.

NEA UPDATE The National Endowment for the Arts Director of Theater and Musical Theater, Greg Reiner, was in Los Angeles in April. He met with local theater professionals to discuss the current state of affairs at the NEA. While forbidden by his job description from taking an advocacy position, Mr. Reiner was able to address the White House’ proposed elimination of funding for the arts. The good news for arts advocates is that the White House does not make that decision unilaterally.

Departmental elimination takes an act of Congress. There are 20 or so Congressional Committees that the budget process must go through, and there is bipartisan support for the arts.

The NEA gives grants in every Congressional district.

“Arts touch every part of this country,” said Mr. Reiner.

MAY 2017

However, Mr. Reiner added in regard to the possibility of an end to NEA funds, “This is the time it really could happen.”

Regarding the importance of the NEA to local arts, Mr. Reiner pointed out that much of what happens in theater in Los Angeles is not created as commercially viable art. It takes support to take it to the level of viable.

The meeting was sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Michael Amescua’s monarch butterflies arrive in El Sereno

ARTS DAY LA, 2017 The Los Angeles City Council proclaimed April 19 as “Arts Day 2017 in the City of Los Angeles.”

At that day’s City Council meeting, Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, who chairs the Council’s Arts, Parks, and River Committee, passionately declared his support for arts and culture saying: “Now in its sixth year, Arts Day unites artists, audiences, and arts organizations with the leaders who represent them here at city hall, fostering stronger relationships between those crafting the vision of L.A.’s future and those who make it a reality.

The Pan American Bank building in East Los “This year we celebrate Angeles Arts Day in a challenging environment for the arts at the national level, and it affects all of us at every level. If there was ever a time we needed to exercise our freedom of expression, this is it.”

“We have a president who campaigned on a platform of marginalizing entire groups of people because of nationality, physical attributes, religion, gender,” said Councilmember O’Farrell. “…Arguably in my lifetime there has never been more material to work with in the current zeitgeist for satire, live theater, performance art, painting, muraling, sculpture, poetry, photos, literature, and all forms of expression that challenge indifference, that challenge our thinking, our comfort level, and our conscience. Good art provokes, makes us feel, forces us to think. Art is spiritual. Art is carnal. Art is primal. Art is mysterious. Art is a unique language that informs us in a vocabulary all its own. Art is essential. Art will illuminate where there is only darkness. Art can influence our culture at large, and exposure to art can steer us away from disaster and into enlightened ways of thinking. Art almost always makes us more humane and sensitive to the suffering of others. Art can be a rebirth of the soul.

“During these uncertain times, at a moment when a lack of concern for basic human decency from our executive branch is exhibited daily and at a time when the other two branches of government either appear to be complicit, indifferent, or just plain outnumbered, artists must make their voices heard. We as leaders must support the arts in Los Angeles…”

Rory Pullens, Executive Director of the Arts for the Los Angeles Unified School District, told the City Council, “The arts are a right that every child deserves to experience, no matter their socio-economic background, no matter their ethnicity, no matter their place in life-foster children, homeless children, English language learners, black children, white children, Jews, Gentiles…”

Sofia Klatzker, Executive Director of Arts for LA, applauded the City’s commitment to creating and conserving murals, which, she said, for many residents and visitors, represent a first exposure to visual arts, “to seeing people actively creative in our neighborhoods, to seeing individuals making a difference in our lives.”

Arts for LA supports arts as a social justice issue in all neighborhood of the City, and encourages funding for Department of Cultural Affairs programing designed to promote equity.

On Arts Day 2017, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a motion declaring its support for any legislation or administrative action that protects the current funding level for the National Endowment for the Arts and increases the budget for the endowment in the future.

THE CITY’S BEST CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS HONORED IN EXHIBIT AT MUNICIPAL GALLERY Every year, the City of Los Angeles honors an assortment of the City’s best contemporary artists in a variety of disciplines. A financial grant enables the artists to create new work.

And the Department of Cultural Affairs, through its City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship Program (C.O.L.A.), organizes a museum exhibition, a performing arts showcase, and an online catalog.

A large-scale exhibit, “COLA 20,” currently at the City’s Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, celebrates the 20th anniversary of the C.O.L.A. awards. All 271 past C.O.L.A. recipients are honored in displays arranged by year across the large gallery. Eleven honorees, those who have passed away over the 20 years of the program, are singled out for special recognition with display of their work. These 11 featured artists include: Michael Brewster (1946-2016), who coined the term “acoustic sculpture”in 1970 to describe his mix of electronic tones appreciated through a “move and listen” approach; Wanda Coleman (1946-2013), whose poetry and other writings dealt starkly and unapologetically with racism and poverty in Los Angeles; James Doolin (19322002), who used light, color, and pictorial structure to create a complex illusionism of Wester landscapes; Ron George (19372006), who was Ron George a percussionist, composer, instrument builder, and educator; Tony Gleaton (1948-2015), who photographed African Americans and Native Americans of the American West and Latin America; Arthur Jarvinen (1956-2010), who created a body of musical work ranging from contemporary chamber and experimental music to songwriting, surf music, electronics, improvisation and multimedia, as well as visual art, word works, and experimental theater.

Larry Karush (1946-2013), who was an innovative force in jazz, world, and improvisational music; Willie Robert Middlebrook, Jr. (1957-2012), who documented black life in L.A. via chemically treated or digitally altered photography, often self-portraiture; Rachel Rosenthal (1926-2015), who pioneered interdisciplinary performance, synthesizing dance, theater, dramatic monologue, improvisation, and visual art in support of feminism, environmentalism, and animal rights; Michael White (1930-2016), who incorporated Western, Middle, and Far Eastern classical music, as well as blues, R& B, and jazz into his violin musicianship; Norman Yonemoto (1946-2014), who appropriated the visuals of Hollywood and advertising to challenge viewer assumptions through video.

Panels with quotations from C.O.L.A. recipients are interspersed with the exhibit timeline. Some of the quotes are powerfully specific to Los Angeles: “As an object maker who represents the body and as a feminist, I was attracted to Los Angeles in the 1970s. The vibrant art environment

11 continues to nourish my practice that integrates gender politics and the sphere of craft.”

--Phyllis Green “Because t h e Industry came to Los Angeles early and established a culture of c re a t i v i t y, LA is a place for invention a n d reinvention, where the James Doolin construction of the self is dynamic and fluid: the kind of place where artists thrive.”

--Kent Young “Artist writers (already a hybrid) have contributed to the amalgam in this metropolis by opening doors, bridging gaps and building communit y t h r o u g h unexpected apparitions and revelations.

The The C.O.L.A. reading area unpredictability of what they will do, when and where creates a synergy unique to LA.” --John O’Brien “I grew up in a ranch house with sliding glass doors, leading in and out through transparent public and private worlds. I build connections between audience and performer and subvert their attraction. I activate performance sites in unexpected places, sending the moment of recognition into the body of the spectator.” --Heidi Duckler The show fosters an excitement about the quality of artistic expression generated in Los Angeles, and about the wide range of genres present in the City.

The exhibit is interactive. Post-it notes allow visitors to post impressions or remembrances.

A reading area allows the relaxed perusal of materials ranging from art books to exhibit ephemera to funeral programs.

The C.O.L.A program was born during a time of reductions in financial support for the arts. The fact that the country is facing that situation yet again lends a poignant feel to COLA 20.

COLA 20 Celebrating the first twenty years of the City of Los Angeles (C.O.L.A.) Individual Artist Fellowship Program Through July 2 Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery Barnsdall Park, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard www.lamag.org

Willie Robert Middlebrook, Jr. Rachel Rosenthal

LA ART NEWS SECTION A

MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS BY DANI DODGE

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Explore the spaces in between in “Interstitial” Through August 6, 2017, at Pasadena Museum of California Art From Merriam-Webster: Definition of interstice a space that intervenes between things; especially: one between closely spaced things In “Interstitial” at the Pasadena Museum of California Art, curator John David O’Brien pulled together seven Los Angeles-based artists to create a contemplation of space. Each piece incorporates everyday objects into the extraordinary, and together, they form a treasure hunt of joyful exploration.

For instance, Joel Otterson’s “American Portable Pottery Museum” is a rolling collection of vintage ceramics arranged by color and shape. A collection that may have been kitschy at the county fair now challenges the hierarchies of culture. In the same room is Jeff Colson’s “Stacks,” which on first glance appears to be random stacks. This time it is paper on a desk, as if in mid-work mode before our push for paperless workplaces. But the stacks are actually rendered in wood, paint, and shellac. No papers will be shuffled on this desk.

Other artists in the show are Renee Lotenero, Kristen Morgin, Rebecca Ripple, Aili Schmeltz, and Shirley Tse. “The aspect that ties all the work together is their relationship to the world of everyday objects,” O’Brien said. “There is quite a difference in the transformation of the objects that Rebecca or Shirley puts them through as compared to the almost trompe l’oeil qualities of Jeff or Kristen, but essentially I think that they are all both recognizable as something from the world we inhabit and an abstract version of that.”

In addition to being a curator, O’Brien is a teacher, a writer, an organizer, and an artist represented by Causey Contemporary in New York City and Galleria Alberto Miralli in Viterbo, Italy.

“I am most interested in making or adding to an art world, not just being an artist who makes art objects and then tries to get them to the marketplace,” he said.

“Interstitial” does just that. From one piece to the next, the works build on each other. Tse’s complex “Vital Organ Series: Audio,” a metal sculpture that looks like a musical instrument but on closer inspection appears to mimic a human ear, is contrasted with the Schmeltz’s seemingly simple “Brick.” What appears to be a random brick left on the ground is actually a bronze sculpture, which again questions our idea of mundane.

This again contrasts with Morgan’s sculptures, which appear to be discarded vintage toys and cards, but are actually made of fragile, unfired, and painted clay.

But not everything is playing with idea of small, everyday objects. Ripple’s “Balzac” is an impressive, towering work of vacuum-formed vinyl and aluminum. And Lotenero takes the idea of her own neighborhood and smashes it upon the museum floor in the most magnificent way.

Accentuating the sense of the objects as everything was the curator’s decision to leave the walls bare of text.

“I hope the visitors walk away with the sense of the kind of majestic beauty that art can give everyday objects,” O’Brien said. “I hope the visitors also notice the exquisite crafting that each artist works with, even if they’re going in very different directions individually.” ______ Related programs: Family Day Saturday, May 27, 12-5 p.m.

Participate in family-focused fun art projects and gallery tours PMCA’s 15th Birthday Friday, June 2, 12-6 p.m.

Enjoy free admission, extended hours and special programs Exhibition Walkthrough: Extra-Ordinary Saturday, June 3, 4 p.m.

Look at the spaces in between during a walkthrough with “Interstitial” curator John David O’Brien Children’s Workshop: Sculpting Everyday Objects Saturday June 24, 2-4 p.m.

Inspired by “Interstitial,” create sculpture using objects and material from everyday life. Bring an object from home to incorporate into the artwork. _____ Pasadena Museum of California Art Other exhibitions currently on display: The Golden Twenties: Portraits and Figure Paintings by Joseph Kleitsch and Gustave Baumann in California Hours: Open Wednesday-Sunday, 12–5 p.m. and the third Thursday of each month, 12-8 p.m.

Admission: $7 for adults; $5 for seniors (62+); $5 for students and educators; free for PMCA members and children (12 and under).

Free the first Friday and the third Thursday of each month.

Location: 490 E. Union St., Pasadena, CA 91101 Website: pmcaonline.org

Namaste Highland Park Yoga Studio | Art Gallery | Tea Shop www.namastehighlandpark.com

Vinyasa Flow| Power Lunch | Candlelight Flow | Prenatal Kids Yoga | Yoga Sculpt | Mixed Level Flow

5118 York Blvd | Los Angeles | CA | 90042 MAY 2017

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MODERN ANGELENOS

FREE ART EVENT AT THE MONTALBAN Written by Baha Danesh from WeChooseArt.com In harmony with the upcoming 2017 Getty PST: LA/LA and following the path paved by Latinos such as Ricardo Montalbán, The Montalbán Theater, located in the heart of Hollywood, is proud to present Modern Angelenos. Opening Friday, May 12th at 7:00 p.m.

Modern Angelenos features a group of artists whose artworks push beyond the lines of modern contemporary art and whose voices – through their canvases – convey a broad spectrum of socio political issues.

Featuring works of art by Victor Castillo, Pablo Cristi, Fabian Debora, Oscar Magallanes, Poli Marichal, Juan Carlos Muñoz Hernandez, Monica Orozco, Antonio Pelayo, Sandra Vista, Wenceslao Quiroz, and Sonia Romero, among others, Modern Angelenos is jointly curated by art historian/curator Isabel RojasWilliams and Baha Danesh - artist, founder, curator at WeChooseArt.com. Join them and the We Choose Art team for a night of eclectic art, music, and a complimentary drink before 9 p.m.

The historic Montalban Theatre is located at 1615 Vine St., positioned in heart of Hollywood and less than 5 minutes away from the Hollywood and Vine Metro Station. The theatre is the embodiment of Ricardo Montalban’s dream to provide young people, most particularly in the Hispanic community, with a place to learn and practice the skills necessary for a successful career in the arts.

Pablo Cristi

Built in 1926, The Montalban is one of the few remaining mid-sized and fully-equipped proscenium theatres in Los Angeles and is known for its excellent sightlines, acoustics, and pop up gallery shows located upstairs at The Mezz Gallery. The Theatre and the Foundation have partnered with community performing arts groups such as the Harmony Project, the Lula Washington Dance Company, the Tierra Blanca Arts Center and the UDLA. Do not miss this incredible show, doors open at 7 p.m. and stay open until 11 p.m. For more information regarding Modern Angelenos visit WeChooseArt.com or email Info@ WeChooseArt.com.

John McIntyre is proud to be affiliated with Dilbeck Estates/Christie’s International Real Estate and Luxury Portfolio. He specializes in the marketing of distinctive and historic properties. These homes require specific expertise and individual attention. A home represented by John receives special handling through a company that has marketed local properties for over fifty years. Through strategic networking and exclusive affiliations with estates brokers worldwide, Dilbeck listings are targeted to the hard-to-reach home buyers. Selling your home should be a professional and rewarding experience.

John McIntyre and Dilbeck Estates are dedicated to making that a reality.

Inspired by Work Done Well

John McIntyre P R O P E R T I E S Estates Agent

CalBRE#01377075

323.481.6229 | john.mcintyre@dilbeck.com If your home is currently listed with another Broker, this is not intended as a solicitation.

LA ART NEWS SECTION A

NELAart

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On the Secon Elysian Valley, art and eateri the updated l

Northeast Los Angeles Arts Organization, Inc.

May 13, 2017 - 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

41. Possession Vintage 5119 York Blvd. www.possessionvintage.com

2. Bike Oven 3706 No Figueroa

22. Bob Taylor Properties 5526 N. Figueroa St. 323-257-1080

42. The Situation Room 2313 Norwalk Ave.

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.

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

6. Future Studio 5558 N Figueroa St. 323 254-4565 futurestudiogallery.com

26. MAN Insurance Ave 50 Satellite 1270 N. Ave 50 323.256.3151

7. Collective Arts Incubator 1200 N. Ave 54 collectiveartsincubator.com

27. TAJ • ART 1492 Colorado Blvd. www.tajartinc.com

8. Meridian 5007 1/2 York Blvd. meridianstorela.com

28. The Greyhound 570 N. Figueroa St.

9. Vapegoat 5054 York Blvd.

323.963.VAPE 10. ETA 5630 N. Figueroa St. 11. Adjunct Positions 5041 Coringa Dr. 12. Matters of Space 5005 York Blvd www.mattersifspace.com 323.743.3267 13. Mi Vida 5159 York Blvd.

14. Vintage Tattoo Art Parlor 5115 York Blvd.

15. Antigua Coffee House 3400 N. Figueroa St. www.antiguacoffeehouse.com 16. Align Gallery 5045 York Blvd. www.aligngallery.com 17. Leanna Lin’s Wonderland 5204 Eagle Rock Blvd. www.leannalinswonderland.com 18. Panorama Press House 4700 York Blvd. www.thepanoramapress.com 19. Mindfulnest 5050 York Blvd.

323.999-7969 20. Toros Pottery 4962 Eagle Rock Blvd 323.344.8330 torospottery.com MAY 2017

29. Urchin 5006 1/2 York Blvd.

30. Arroyo Arts Collective @ Ave 50 Studio 131 North Avenue 50 arroyoartscollective.org 31. O & M Leather 5048 Eagle Rock Blvd www.ommleather.com 32. Vapeology 3714 N. Figueroa St. 323.222.0744 33. Pop-Hop 5002 York Blvd. www.thepophop.com 34. Social Studies 5028.5 York Blvd.

35. Occidental College 6100 Campus oxy.edu 36. The Glass Studio 5668 York Blvd. www.theglassstudio.net 37. Good Eye Gallery 4538 N. Eagle Rock Blvd. www.goodeyegallery.com 38. Highland Cafe 5010 York Blvd.

323.259.1000 39. CucuArt Gallery 4704-06 Eagle Rocl Blvd.

323.202.0672 40. Civil Coffee 5639 N. Figueroa St.

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. co-Lab Gallery 5319 York Blvd. www.co-Lab.com 47. Apiary Gallery at The Hive Highland Park 5670 York Blvd. www.thehive.la 48. Rock Rose Gallery 4108 N. Figueroa St. 323.635.9125 49. Imperial Art Studios 2316 N. San Fernando Rd. 50. Pop Secret 5119 Eagle Rock Blvd.

51. Showboat 6152 York Blvd. showboatgallery.com 52. Leader of the Pack 5110 York Blvd. www.leaderofthepackvintage.com 53. Short Hand 5028 York Blvd. shopshorthand.com 54. Living Room 5807 York Blvd. livingroomhome.com 55. The Quiet Life 5627 N. Figueroa St. thequietlife.com 56. El Diablo Moto Cartel 5657 York Blvd. www.eldiablomotocartel.com 57. The Erin Hanson Gallery 2732 Gilroy St. erinhanson.com

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nd Saturday of every month galleries, businesses, and artists in Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, Cypress Park, , and Lincoln Heights open their doors a little later in the evening and welcome visitors. Use this map for locations of ies, grab someone you love, get some dinner, and enjoy some art. Friend NELA Art Gallery Night on Facebook for last minute list.

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50 31 17 20

27

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42 39 37 35 18

25

11 44 12 8 16 21

41 46 48 14 31 13

56 54 36 47

4 29 34 9 23 5 26 3 24 5319 3 38

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Visit us at NELAart.org LA ART NEWS

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NELAART SECOND SATURDAY APRIL 2017

Stephen Linsley, SLOMOCEAN, at Namaste Highland Park

Stephanie Kelly Clark, Motel, embroidery on fabric, at Good Eye Gallery

Juanita Garcia at ETA Ginger Mayerson, collage, at Avenue 50 Studio

WordsUncaged, a creative, interactive, exhibit for incarcerated artists, writers, students and poets at California State Prison, Lancaster, to dialogue, and critically engage. At Avenue 50 Studio.

Rebeca Guerrero, Spiritual Medicines, at Avenue 50 Studio

MAY 2017

Richard Turner, The 7th Lesser Saint of the Discarded, at Avenue 50 Studio

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Spiritual Medicines at Avenue 50 Studio

Raoul De la Sota (front) and Scott Froschauer (rear), Spiritual Medicines, at Avenue 50 Studio

Peter Hess at Future Studio Peter Hess at Future Studio

Selamawit Mekonen at Align Gallery

Peter Hess at Future Studio

Tona Music (front) and Anna Alvarado, Puro Selfies (rear) at Mi Vida

Featured Class

Coldworking Basics June 9–10 Grind it, blast it, slice it, work it!

A great hands-on introduction to the wide variety of tools & methods used to shape glass.

Bullseye Glass Resource Center Los Angeles 143 Pasadena Ave, Suite B, South Pasadena 323.679.4263 bullseyeglass.com/losangeles

PLAYFUL GIFT SHOP + ART GALLERY

5024 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041 LeannaLinsWonderland.com 323.550.1332

LA ART NEWS SECTION A

WORDSUNCAGED

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KAILEE STOVALL

On April 8th, Avenue 50 Studio revealed to a packed house WordsUncaged, an interactive exhibit for incarcerated artists, writers, students and poets at California State Prison, Lancaster. WordsUncaged represents the culminations of Cal State LA English professor Dr. Bidhan Roy’s efforts to develop a creative outlet for reformed inmates serving life without parole (LWOP) while initiating a public discourse regarding our current mass incarceration policies.

Featuring original artwork, writing, poetry and sculptures, WordsUncaged invites the viewer to see the humanity in these so often demonized men, embracing themes of hope, redemption, and the possibility of rebirth. Accompanied by gut-wrenching letters of youthful remorse, poems to loved ones and images of life behind bars are portraits of men at California State Prison, Lancaster by photographer F. Scott Schafer, as well as portraits of family members of the incarcerated by Sister Inmate.

Schafer’s monumental, high contrast, psychological portraiture offers a theatrical representation of the blue jump-suited figures from A-Yard at Lancaster. But behind this shadowy depiction, one realizes that the majority of these faces are of men of color. The systemic, down right genocidal, mass incarceration of black, Latino, and brown men becomes even more glaring when one looks above the over-life-size portraits and reads the phrase: “I am a modern day slave. I am not a lost cause. I am daddy to four, a brother, a son. I am a human being. I am no longer who I was. I am lost. I am found.”

WordsUncaged illuminates the historic disenfranchisement of men of color bringing it into our contemporary world through the unforgiving and racially biased criminal justice system. While the show certainly offers a political critique of our current sentencing policies, it allows the words and images produced by the incarcerated to guide the audience to imagine alternative forms of due process in California. Expanding awareness of prison and prisoners, exploring our common humanity, together we can envision a future built on fairness and atonement.

(Kailee Stovall born in Boston MA, is a senior who will be graduating this month from Occidental College. She majored in Art History, and loves writing. Because of the articles she’s written for LA Art News, Occidental’s Art Department has asked the Avenue 50 Studio to partner in accepting interns who, as part of their internship, will write about exhibitions and/or artists exhibiting at the Avenue 50 Studio.)

MAY 2017

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CLASSES IN NELA

Besides being a haven for artists and creative types, Northeast Los Angeles is the home of a fine array of arts classes, especially the industrial arts, but not limited to them. Below is a list of some of the businesses in the area that have classes. Do check with the facility to verify times and prices of their classes. As we find more places we will bring that information to all of you.

Adam’s Forge 2640 N. San Fernando Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90065 Adamsforge.org You may email Nancy with questions at blacksmithclasses@gmail.com Please check their web site for a listing of all of their classes and special events. Check out a Discovery class.

The Glass Studio 5668 York Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90042 323.387.9705 info@theglassstudio.net Check www.theglassstudio.com for a list of glasses ranging from glass blowing and torchwork to fusing and slumping and jewelry making.

O&M Leather 5048 Eagle Rock Blvd.

323-274-4640 www.ommleather.com

Please check their web site for a listing of all of their classes and special events.

They’re in a new location next to Community Woodshop. Cool new space!

Rock Rose Gallery 4108 N. Figueroa Street Highland Park, CA 90065 (323) 635-9125 www.rockrosegallery.com Visit: Rock Rose Gallery News, Instagram & Twitter KIDS CREATIVE ARTS 2-4 yrs Art, Music, Movement Sat. 9:30am-11am, $5 LATIN PERCUSSION Sat. 12pm-2pm, Bring your conga, etc.

Instructor Robertito Melendez, $15

Basic Leather Working Classes Leather 1 - Leather Basics $200 Leather 2 - Cutting and Skiving $200 Leather 3 - Hand Stiching $200 Leather 4 - Color, Finishes, and Leather $200 For information about scheduling call their store at (323)274-4640 or email them at ommeather@gmail. com Toros Pottery 4962 Eagle Rock Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90041 323.344.8330 Mon. 11:30am-2:30pm Class Mon. 6:30pm-9:30pm Class Tues.

6:30pm-9:30pm Tues.

4:30pm-6:00pm Thurs. 6:30pm-9:30pm time Fri. 11:30am-9:30pm dio time Sat. 11:30am-1:30pm ent

Molten Metal Works NEW LOCATION 3617 San Fernando Rd Glendale, CA 91204 moltenmetalworks.net

Adult Adult Adult Class Kids Class open studio open stuKids & Par-

Blue Rooster Art Supply Company blueroosterartsupplies.com blue@blueroosterartsupplies.com 4661 Hollywood Blvd LA, CA 90027 (323) 302-5613 They offer a variety of art classes.

Check their web site for more information about their classes and events.

Sugar Mynt Gallery 810 Meridian Ave. South Pasadena, CA 626.222.7257 sugarmynt.com

RINCON RUMBERO EAST w Troy Parker 3rd Sat. 3-6pm. Bring your drum $5 New! FREE FOR ALL Artist Only Creative Night Every Wed. 6-9pm, Artist bring your own supplies.

Table & Hospitality provided. $10 GUITAR - Please call regarding interest.

Six students required.

Free Weekend Workshops for Youth: “A Sense of Place: Art, Literacy, Music workshops, Community Garden

3rd Saturday: Rumbero Workshop with Troy Parker Ball Clay 4851 York Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90042 310.954.1454 ballclaystudio.com Intermediate Ceramics Pottery Class 6 class sessions Check web site for start date $240 A Place to Bead 2566 Mission St San Marino, CA 91108 626.219.6633 aplace2bead.com Find a variety of jewelry making classes, including stringing and wirework.

Bullseye Glass 143 Pasadena Ave. South Pasadena, CA bullseyeglass.com They offer a full range of kiln forming glass classes as well as regular free artist talks.

Paint and Pinot Twice a month. Check their web site for more detail.

Leanna Lin’s Wonderland 5024 Eagle Rock Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90041 323.550.1332

Los Angeles County Store 4333 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039 / 323-928-2781

Check Leanna’s web site for a current list of workshops and events.

Please check their web site for a listing of all of their classes and special events.

Community Woodshop NEW LOCATION 3617 San Fernando Rd Glendale, CA 91204 626.808.3725 www.community woodshopla.com These guys offer a wonderful selection of classes from beginner to advanced, membership, and private lessons.

Please check their web site for more information and a list of classes.

New Stone Age Mosaic Studio 1754 Colorado Blvd Eagle Rock They offer mosaic classes on Mondays and Tuesday. All classes are on going and open to all skill levels.We also do mosaic birthday parties. Call Mary at (323) 547-2021 for more information.

Little Knittery 3195 Glendale Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90039 thelittleknittery@gmail.com Beginning Crochet Saturdays 3:30-5:30 Tuesdays 1:00-3:00 Beginning Knitting Sundays 3:30-5:30 Wednesdays 1:00-3:00 Check schedule for new macramé classes Deb3321 3321 Pasadena Ave. Los Angeles, CA email: deb3321@gmail.com Uninstructed Figure Drawing Saturdays 11:00am - 3:00pm $5.00/hr Strictly Charcoal 11am - 1pm First two Saturdays of every month.

Christine Haenen Artists Crit Saturdays Starting at 3:30 $5/session Crit with Karen For more information go to: http://www. deb3321.com/linda-vallejo-fall-2016 Stained Glass Supplies 19 Backus Street Pasadena, CA 91107 626-219-6055 Stained Glass Class Tues. 9-12 or 6:30-9:30 Wed. 9-12 or 6:30-9:30 Thurs. 9-12 or 6:30-9:30 Sat. 9-12 $95 - 8 weeks Tools - $45 - $125 Materials $45 - $100 Classes are ongoing Barndall Art Park 4800 Hollywood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90027 323.644.6295 http://www.barnsdall.org Check they’re web site for upcoming classes.

co-LAB Gallery 5319 York Blvd. http://co-lab-gallery.myshopify.com Check their schedule for fresh classes.

LA ART NEWS SECTION A

MURALISMO IN NORTHEAST L.A. Noted artist Wayne Healy will be a featured artist in the Lummis Day exhi”Muralismo in Northeast L.A.” “Muralismo” is curated by mural historian Isabel Rojas Williams, who has brought together more than 60 exquisite archival prints, printed by atelier Modern Multiples. The exhibit will document the process of mural creation with a focus on the multi-cultural heritage of Northeast Los Angeles.

The exhibit is part of the annual Lummis Day Festival, and it will be held inside the historic Security Trust and Savings Bank, located on a stretch of North Figueroa street rich in art history.

As part of the exhibition, Wayne Healy will be creating new work on-site. Mr. Healy was raised in East Los

‘LIFE IN THE PAST LANE’ Six Local Museums Showcase Arroyo Culture

Explore great architecture, historical discoveries, family fun and entertainment at six local museums, all for free, at Museums of the Arroyo (MOTA) Day on May 21. Climb into a retired LAPD helicopter, check out blacksmithing demonstrations, lend your talent to a chalk masterpiece and discover what continues to make the Arroyo Seco a bustling, vibrant arts-driven community that crosses neighborhoods and social boundaries. Free shuttles connect all museums.

The Autry’s Historic Southwest Museum Mt. Washington Campus: Visitors can view the month-long exhibition For the Love of the Arroyo, which features artists’ conception of not only the flora and fauna of the area, but the culturally diverse urban communities that make up the Arroyo Seco area. Paintings, drawings and mixed media works by more than a dozen local artists. MOTA guests can explore the community garden which offers a commanding view of the Arroyo. The Gamble House: Visitors can tour the 1908 Arts and Crafts gem that is on the National Registry of Historic Places; free refreshments. Children can do crafts on the back patio.

Heritage Square Museum: Guests can wander among the lovely Victorian homes for mini-tours. Adam’s Forge will present blacksmithing demonstrations and enjoy tunes by

A NATION IS BORN

By Vince Caldera Highland Park, CaliforniaA new nation was born today, and its leader is a teenager.

Seventeen-year old Daniel Amaro is the leader of the newly established sovereign nation of Yomommastan, pronounced Yo-Momma-Stan--nation he created entirely on his own, thanks to a wildly successful fundraising campaign that he created online, earning a record $1billion dollars.

People around the world are curious as to what this new nation brings. We contacted Daniel in order to clarify and understand exactly what Yomommastan represents and why it’s here. Daniel kindly agreed to a brief interview.

Vince: “What inspired you to create a new nation?”

Daniel: “Like, a week ago my Dad was watching this show that old people watch. I think it’s called ‘The News?’ I don’t know, something like that. Anyway, my Dad heard this story that was praising our new president. And then my Dad was starting to praise him, too. Saying things like ‘Finally, a capable person is in office!’ And I didn’t like that.

MAY 2017

20 Angeles. In the 1970s he partnered with David Botello as East Los Streetscapers, which created iconic area murals. He has also worked in bronze, glass, lighting, mosaic, printing, painting, paving, sculpture, and steel, and has mentored young artists. Mr. Healy’s themes, use of color, and style make him one of the top figures in Chicano art. His work also draws on precision and skill derived from his career as an engineer.

As part of the Lummis Day Festival, there will also be van and bicycle tours of significant local murals.

Muralismo in Northeast L.A. Friday, June 2, noon-4 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, June 3, and 4, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

5601 North Figueroa Street Admission is free. www.lummisday.org

Veteran muralist Wayne Healy will create new work on site as part of the “Muralismo” exhibit. (photo credit: Eliot Sekuler) ragtime pianist Galen Wilkes. Children can play with Victorian toys, do crafts, and learn about plants and flowers in the Ford House Kitchen garden. “Pump & Splash” will also be onsite for water fun.

The Los Angeles Police Museum: L.A. Vintage Coppers will bring vintage cars and docents in vintage uniforms to welcome MOTA visitors. Tour the facilities, private collections and historical memorabilia that date back to the late 1800s, including a vehicle shelter, a restored 1955 paddy wagon. Kids can climb into a retired police helicopter.

The Lummis Home: Visitors can enjoy self-guided tours of the home and grounds. Children can play games and do art projects as well. Using a newly developed computer application, historian Dennis Harbach will be available to research from his database about the visiting and local dignitaries who were guests at the Lummis Home from 1897 to 1928. MOTA guests can see if any of their relatives were part of the early Lummis’ parties and gatherings.

The Pasadena Museum of History: Visitors can also view the current exhibitions Art in the Street: 25 Years of the Pasadena Chalk Festival (featuring the creation and installation of memorable chalk murals and a look at the art form’s process and techniques) and The Art of Getting There: Railroad Inspired Artistry (featuring paintings, photography, carvings, sculptures and more). MOTA guests are encouraged to join in creating their own chalk masterpieces. Additionally, guests can take a mini-tour of the Fenyes Mansion as well as the Finnish Folk Museum So I said, ‘Our president is stupid and looks like someone who would cancel Christmas.’ Needless to say, he wasn’t fond of that comment. He got super mad and told me, ‘well, if you don’t like it then maybe you should start your own country.’ And so I did.”

Museums of the Arroyo Day at Heritage Square Museum which is housed in a replica of a 19th Century Finnish farmhouse.

MOTA Day May 21, noon to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m.

For more information visit www.museumsofthearroyo.com and “like” MOTA (museumsofthearroyo) on Facebook. #MOTADay2017

nation in the world and the only mutual enemy they have is his father. His strongest ally is his mother. Like many countries, Yomommastan is a country built upon spite and hatred.

In response to the tyranny, Daniel created an online fundraising campaign. He used one sentence to describe his situation: “Trying to move out. Dad is an asshole.”

Within an hour, Daniel had received over $300 million dollars. “I was surprised, honestly. I didn’t think it was going to be this successful, I thought a million for sure, but to raise this much money? Incredible.” Those who contributed to the building of this nation were guaranteed full citizenship, a government position, and the right to party “whenever, wherever.”

Vince: “It’s been less than a week and your country already has an enemy.”

Daniel: “My dad is the only enemy and threat to my nation. He’s always saying negative things to me like ‘Be realistic, go to school, don’t make the same mistakes I did.’

How can I live with someone so oppressive?”

Vince: “That’s disgusting. Have you designed a flag?”

Daniel: “Yes I have. Our flag is a picture of my dad, and beneath it is the word ‘impotent’. On the reverse of the flag is a playstation 4 controller and a slice of pizza.”

Vince: Amazing.

Daniel is of course very happy, knowing that he won’t have to worry about money for a while. “Initially, our economy was going to be dependent upon the allowance I get every Sunday from my Mom, and my paycheck from the pizza place I work at. I was also considering a Summer job to make some more cash and maybe buy an inflatable pool for people to use cause the Summer gets real hot, ya know?”

Yomommastan, is currently working on its constitution, and Bill of Rights.Some of the basic rights Daniel guarantees is the right to stay up all night, free wi-fi in every household, and absolute abolishment of math, since it is “the most oppressive thing in the world,” according to Daniel. You can apply for citizenship at www.Yomomma. gov .

According to Daniel, Yomommastan has virtually no enemies whatsoever. His country has an alliance with every

(Vince Caldera is a Northeast L.A.-based comedian.)

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IDEAS

By Jen Hitchcock The THREE-year anniversary of the Eat Art Open Mic, a monthly event that happens at my bookstore, is upon us. I don’t think people can truly appreciate the work and difficulty behind keeping something like this going for three years straight. The host, Sabrina Dropkick has created a safe, supportive space that welcomes a diverse community of artists at all levels and talents each and every month. She is a passionate badass who inspires and makes the night a good time whether there is one person in the room or thirty people who show up to share their words. Eat Art has become my store’s heartbeat.

Now, let’s go back to the idea of “ideas” and underscore how even though people like Sabrina and other successful folks make it look easy, the reality is that it is incredibly hard to begin, build and keep something going. Everything starts with a creative spark. This is the fun part, and speaking for myself personally, I am never facing a shortage of ideas--just a shortage of time and resources. An idea doesn’t come to fruition on its own just because you have let it escape from your mouth. It is that essential second part, the execution of an idea, where most people don’t want to tread. You know, the hard part.

People love to stroll into an already executed and consistently evolving idea (like Sabrina’s open mic, or my store) and tell us what they would do differently,

inferring of course, what they would do better. In response to this, I have an idea that I would someday like to execute. It would be a machine that would automatically pants dudes who scuffle their flip-flops and frayed cargo shorts into my shop and offer up an array of brilliant ideas for things I should do. Until I get that done, I will continue to just smile, letting faux-wonder fill my eyes and tell them I imagine their shops must be amazing, what with all the great advice they are bestowing on me. To this, I am usually met, of course, with silence.

I’m going to end this article with two new ideas I have rattling around in my brain. Look for them soon. Or not: Tiny Succulent Plant In A Cute Little Pot Adoption Day - Is it just I, or does every store in the world sell wee and overpriced succulents, regardless of what type of shop it is? I predict like cute bunnies in baskets at Easter time, that this plant trend will come to an end once the succulents start outgrowing those quaint little artisan pots. In turn, this will leave a huge population of unwanted plants to rot on the stoops and balconies of over-priced apartments everywhere. This is where I will step in, save them, and find them new homes at my Sunday morning succulent plant adoption day. There will be food trucks. And free glazed donuts (because bacon infused cro-muffin-sants—or whatever-- are SO yesterday.)

Lesbian Hot Tub – When and where isn’t this a good idea?

“NELA Film, NELA Alive: An L.A. Film Event.”

Culture Clash founders/performers Richard Montoya and Ric Salinas will join Los Angeles Poet Laureate Emeritus Luis J. Rodriguez and directors Stephen Pagano, Dustin Brown, John Buck and John Cantú for night of talk, humor, and five very diverse filmed observations of Los Angeles at “NELA Film, NELA Alive: An L.A. Film Event.”

The event is presented by Lummis and the Highland Park Independent Film Festival.

The five short films selected for the program range from satirical comedy to provocative documentary to gut-wrenching drama.

Programming for the evening is as follows:

• “KCET's Third LA” (48 mins ) directed by Stephen Pagano. “Third L.A. with Architecture Critic Christopher Hawthorne" examines the city's architecture, urban planning, transportation and changing demographics, presenting a glimpse of Los Angeles as a model of urban reinvention for the nation and the world. The program originally aired as part of the station’s “Artbound" series.

• "Highland Park is Fig" (9 mins) directed by Josh Buck. A journey into the historical realities and current issues facing Highland Park.

• Luis J. Rodriguez’ “Love Poem to Los Angeles” (6 mins) directed by John Cantú. Luis J. Rodriguez describes his mission as "helping poetry come alive in the city, connecting it with people who may not know about poetry, who may not know about its importance, especially in uncertain and crisis-filled times." He wrote “Love Poem to L.A.” soon after being appointed as the city’s second Poet Laureate and worked with musician Quetzal Flores and filmmaker John Cantú to create this visualization of the poem.

• "Solidarity," (21 mins) directed by Dustin Brown. Two undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles, each dealing with loss, unknowingly become connected in a mysterious and profound way. Winner of “Best Short Film” prizes at the San Diego, Santa Monica and Worldfest Houston film festivals.

• Q&A with the filmmakers moderated by Highland Park Independent Film Festival co-founder Alessandro Gentile.

• Ric Salinas and Richard Montoya of Culture Clash, introducing "The Best of Culture Clash" (45 minute excerpt). In the TV season of 93-94, Culture Clash stormed the FOX sound stages with a highly experimental TV show which combined their political sketches, stand up, music and guest stars for a never before seen hybridity for the small screen. The shows were written, produced and starred Chicanos, a pioneering idea. Soon Rupert Murdoch was in the control room - literally - and after 30 shows, the plug was pulled.

The event will take place at Thorne Hall, Occidental College on Friday, June 2, at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

BOOK SHOW EVENTS Wednesday May 10th 8pm Angry Nasty Women Feminist writing group $5 Friday May 12th 8pm Conjuring Cabaret With Cabernet!

Magic workshop with magic castle magician Daniel Perez $75 per person or $125 for two Saturday May 13th 7pm San Frantic--Literary Fugitives from the City by the Bay Featuring: Tara Jepsen, Bucky Sinister, Michele Tea and Jan Richman and Stephen Brophy Free Thursday May 18th 8pm Poetry workshop Suggested donation $5 Friday May 19th 7:30pm Laughterhouse 5 Comedy night Suggested donation $5 Sunday May 21st 3pm-5pm The Courageous Human: Empowerment Through Creativity Workshop $49 And more!! Please check our calendar on the website!

ONGOING EVENTS and WORKSHOPS EAT ART OPEN MIC Monthly, every 1st Friday 8pm sign ups Poetry and Prose open mic FREE

by Highland Park artist Stuart Rapeport

COLLAGE & CRY Monthly, every 1st Tuesday 7pm – 9:30pm Open collage night!

All materials provided. $5 or bring a snack to share.

LA ART NEWS SECTION A

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ART HAPPENINGS AROUND LOS ANGELES PRESENTED BY SHOEBOX PR UPCOMING OPENINGS Being a Panda Flower Pepper Gallery 121 E Union St, Pasadena, California 91103 Opening May 6th 430-730pm Book Club: Going Native at Durden and Ray Durden and Ray 1923 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021-2917 Opening May 6th 4-7pm Brainworks Gallery | Her Intuition Brainworks Gallery 5364 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90019 Opening May 6th 5-8pm CoLaLaLage - Collage Artists of America Exhibit The Loft at Liz’s 453 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, California 90036 Opening May 6th 7-10pm CSUN Graduate Exhibition CSUN Art Galleries 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, California 91330 Opening May 6th 4-8pm Everywhere but Nowhere, Virtual and Augmented Reality Art Los Angeles Downtown Arts District Space 701 E. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 Opening May 6th 7-10pm Exhibition Opening: Down and to the Left Armory Center for the Arts 145 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, California 91103 Opening May 6th 7-9pm Flower and Flow Art On Scene 8521 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, California 90069 Opening May 6th 7-10pm Im•press - Printmaking exhibition, Curated by Nguyen Ly Orange County Center for Contemporary Art 117 N Sycamore St, Santa Ana, California 92701 Opening May 6th 6-9pm Kent Yoshimura | Oral Floral | Solo Exhibition Jai & Jai 648 & 650 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, California 90012 Opening May 6th 6-10pm Made in California Opening Reception Brea Gallery 1 Civic Center Cir, Brea, California 92821 Opening May 6th 7-9pm

The Blue Wall Art as Resistance: Paintings in Protest to a Trump Presidency Avenue 50 Studio 131 N Avenue 50, Los Angeles, California 90042 Opening May 13th 7-10pm More Courage Pico Union Project 1153 Valencia St, Los Angeles, California 90015 Opening May 18th 730-930pm CAM Studio Gallery: Artist Terry Arena Reception Carnegie Art Museum 424 S C St Oxnard, California 93030 Opening May 19th 530-730pm Beverly Hills artSHOW Beverly Gardens Park Beverly Hills, California 90210 May 20th and 21st 10-6pm Linda Sue Price - Enlightened Systems TAG Gallery 5458 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90036 Opening May 20th 5-8pm Artistic License Awards William Turner Gallery Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90404 , Suite E-1 May 21st 5-730pm Material Identity at Shoebox Projects Shoebox Projects 660 South Avenue 21 #3, Los Angeles, California 90031 Reception June 3rd 3-5pm Superchief 5-Year Anniversary Group Show L.A. Superchief Gallery L.A. 739 Kohler St, Los Angeles, California 90021 Opening June 3rd 6-9pm Trip The Light Fantastic: Marion Lane and Rochelle Botello Groundspace Project 1427 E 4th St, Los Angeles, California 90033 Opening June 3rd 6-9pm ONGOING EXHIBITIONS To May 11th Day Dreamers - Opening Reception BG Gallery, Santa Monica 2525 Michigan Ave, # G8A, Santa Monica, California 90404 Vasan Sitthiket // No Heads // ไม่มีหัว Balconi Coffee Company 11301 W Olympic Blvd, # 124, Los Angeles, California 90064

Posers Gallery Opening at Art Share L.A. Art Share-LA 801 E 4th Pl, Los Angeles, California 90013 Opening May 6th 7-10pm

To May 12th Exhibition: HE Opening Night Last Projects 206 S Ave 20 Los Angeles Ca 90031

Ancient PINES La Artcore Brewery Annex 650 S Avenue 21, Los Angeles, California 90031 Opening May 7th 1-5pm https://www.facebook.com/events/195911764249067/

Opening Reception: The Only Way Out Is In Citrus College Visual and Performing Arts 1000 W. Foothill Blvd, Glendora, California 91741

Dosshaus - In the Country of Marvels 30 South 30 S Wilson Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106-2502, Reception May 7th 3-5pm LACE: Now More Than Ever Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions 6522 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90028 Opening May 6th 7-9pm

To May 13th Birds of America | Explorations of Audubon 101/EXHIBIT 668 North La Peer Drive, West Hollywood, California 90069 Black Mirror - curated by Julia Schwartz Charlie James Gallery 969 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, California 90012

To May 17th Melanie Pullen: A History of Violence curated by M. Caichiolo Building Bridges Art Exchange 2525 Michigan Ave, Ste F2, Santa Monica, California 90404 To May 19th Baker’s Dozen VI: Opening Reception TAM Torrance Art Museum 3320 Civic Center Dr N, Torrance, California 90503 To May 20th Adam Ross “Until the end of the world” Chimento Contemporary 622 S Anderson St, Spc 105, Los Angeles, California 90023 Concrete Island Venus over Manhattan 601 South Anderson Street Los Angeles, CA 90023 Genevieve Gaignard “The Powder Room” Shulamit Nazarian 616 N La Brea, Los Angeles, California 90036 Greg Colson and Alexis Smith Craig Krull Gallery 2525 Michigan Avenue, B3, Santa Monica, California 90404 Guerrilla Girls: Not Ready to Make Nice Opening Reception Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art 5500 University Pkwy, San Bernardino, California 92407 Joe Coleman Retrospective Opening Night Begovich Gallery 800 N State College Blvd (Arts Drive), Fullerton, 92834 Leba / Em Wafer / Joey Feldman / Max Neutra Gabba Gallery 3126 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90057 Lia Halloran opening reception and solo exhibition Luis De Jesus Los Angeles 2685 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90034 Where the Sidewalk Ends Moran Bondaroff 937 N. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90069 To May 21st Caris Reid, Healer Feeler Seer Seen OCHI Projects 3301 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90018 David Reed Opening Reception 356 S. Mission Rd 356 S Mission Rd, Los Angeles, California 90033 Opening reception, ‘Jason Rhoades. Installations, 1994 – 2006’ Hauser Wirth & Schimmel 901 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles, California 90013 To May 24th Grand Re-Opening - ‘Luxe’ Exhibition Opening Reception ChimMaya Art Gallery 5283 E Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90022 To May 27th Alexandra Wiesenfeld: Opening Reception Klowden Mann 6023 Washington Blvd, Culver City, California 90232 BAD GIRLS and Outcasts Cactus Gallery 3001 N Coolidge Ave, Los Angeles, California 90039 Charles Arnoldi Exhibition R.B. Stevenson Gallery 7661 Girard Ave, Ste 201, La Jolla, California 92037

Leigh Ledare ‘Vokzal’ opening reception The Box 805 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, California 90013

Ed Moses: Chance and Circumstance William Turner Gallery 2525 Michigan Avenue, Gallery E1, Santa Monica, California 90404

Masculine <-> Feminine Beall Center for Art + Technology at UC Irvine 712 Arts Plaza, UC Irvine Campus, Irvine, California 92697

Figure / Landscape Zevitas Marcus 2754 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90034

Modern Angelenos The Montalban 1615 Vine St, Los Angeles, California 90028 Opening May 12th 7-11pm

Michael Cutlip: Transition Modern Leisure Exhibition Opening Reception George Billis Gallery 2716 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90034

Flat Earth Society Eastside International / ESXLA 602 Moulton Ave, Los Angeles, California 90031

2017 Fine Arts Film Festival Fine Arts Film Festival 681 North Venice Blvd, Venice, California 90291 May 13th 10am-11pm

Nancy Buchanan – Consumption Charlie James Gallery 969 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, California 90012

Osvaldo Trujillo “Of Our Time” Phung Huynh “Pretty Hurts” CB1 Gallery 1923 S. Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles, California 90021

Times Three! Damian Garcia, Veda B. Kaya and Terry Tripp Groundspace Project 1427 E 4th St, Los Angeles, California 90033

Wrack & Bramble opening reception Lora Schlesinger Gallery 2525 Michigan Ave Suite B5b, Santa Monica, California 90404

To May 14th Body High Tiger Strikes Asteroid- Bendix Building 1206 Maple Ave LA, CA 90015 5th floor #523

GRAEME MITCHELL Detached Pictures Wilding Cran 939 South Santa Fe Avenue Los Angeles CA 90021

Haunted Memories Exhibition Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock 2225 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90041 Opening May 11th 6-9pm

Kira Vollman at The Neutra Museum Neutra Institute Gallery & Museum 2379 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90039 Opening May 13th 6-10pm Lezley Saar “Gender Renaissance” Walter Maciel Gallery 2642 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90034 Opening May 13th 6-8pm Made in the Mojave Lancaster Museum of Art and History MOAH 665 W. Lancaster Blvd Lancaster, CA 93534 Opening May 13th 4-6pm Natural Selections Opening Reception Brand Library & Art Center 1601 W Mountain St, Glendale, California 91201 Opening May 13th 6-9pm

MAY 2017

AMY GREEN-Recent Paintings Highways Performance Space Gallery 1651 18th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Iconic: Black Panther Art Exhibit Los Angeles Gregorio Escalante Gallery 978 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, California 90012 J.frede & AMBER JEAN YOUNG - This Land Monte Vista 1206 Maple Avenue, 5th floor, #523, Los Angeles, California 90015

continued on page 23

WINE OF THE MONTH Larisa Code

Note: Create joy, one sip at a time.

Featured Wine: 2016 OENO (ee-no) Type: Pinot Noir Color: Deep Luscious Red Price: $20.50 Silver Lake Wine 2395 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039 One of my many goals in life is to always have a delicious beverage accompany me on any endeavor; be it a meal or an adventure. After turning 21, my options really opened up. I must say that after I chose to move on from teaching 9th grade English with LAUSD, it also became more of a delight and less of an escape mechanism. No need to dwell on that short and frustrating part of my life. Now, a stressful day includes my favorite things,

PUDDING FOR A HAPPY TUMMY… REALLY! Last weekend I attended a seminar given by Australian herbalist Lee Carroll on the subject of integrative herbal and whole food nutrition. At one point, while discussing Dysbiosis and how to support healthy microbiota, he shared cacao’s benefits, then proceeded to rattle off a rice pudding recipe that he sometimes shares with his patients in Australia. It sounded so intriguing I jotted down the rough concept, and decided to give it or something similar a try.

Manuka honey is considered to have all sorts of nutritional benefits. But getting pure, unadulterated Manuka honey can be a bit pricey. Having said that, a little bit goes a long way. Altogether, this pudding packs some substantial nutrition for a sweet treat. It makes a great dessert, snack, or breakfast with fresh berries.

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writing, working with plants, making things pretty and drinking things pretty too. Oeno is pretty, it is pretty in a bottle.

Let me tell you why; this is a medium bodied wine, with a bit of earthiness complimented by the fruit of cherry and cranberry. It is so well rounded that it stands fine on its own; I do advise some food on or around the second glass or trouble may ensue, i.e. making out with an ex at Johnny’s (York and Avenue 50, 90042 in case you wanna)…

It all makes sense since Oeno was a goddess who could turn water into wine; winemaker Amy Atwood has taken grapes grown in Sonoma, mixed them up with native yeast and neutral oak and turned them into a delicious sip, over and over again.

I paired it with a few meals and I found that it goes great with spaghetti in a tomato and zucchini sauce, steak and fries with a red lettuce and nasturtium salad, as well as well with grilled eggplant drizzled with olive oil and crushed garlic. I think grilled food in general is a key partner in crime for this wine. Mostly, I enjoyed a glass while I was chopping vegetables, preparing for my meal, music playing (Stevie Wonder, Peter Tosh and Radiohead paired the best…well, Jimmy Cliff too).

As this wine is made by a woman, you know you are getting a great deal, as you are more than likely only paying $.80 on the dollar. Something to think about it.

Please, never choose a wine based on the label.

Sante’ well mixed. The honey is pretty viscous, so it may take a little extra smashing and mixing to get it blended in. Mix until the powder is no longer dry and it is well mixed into the rice mixture. It will take on the consistency of thick pudding. Taste for sweetness. Add more honey if needed, but the idea is to not make this a super sweet, high sugar pudding. If it is too thick, you can always add a splash of coconut or almond milk to smooth it out a little.

Once you get the flavor and consistency you want, serve and enjoy immediately with a dollop of coconut cream, and-or a sprinkle of pink Himalayan salt. This can also be put in jars and stored for a quick breakfast or snack on the go, topped with fresh berries, raw nuts, raw seeds, pomegranates, and more.

Harvey Slater is a chef and holistic nutritionist residing in Highland Park. You can find more healthy recipes like this one on his blog: thewholedishblog.com

maca cacao sprouted brown rice pudding 1 cup hot sprouted brown rice, just out of the rice cooker 2 tbsp. cacao-maca powder 1-2 tbsp. Manuka honey (or other organic raw honey) 2 tbsp. 100% sesame tahini paste 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract 2 tbsp. coconut cream (optional for garnish) Himalayan sea salt (optional for sprinkle) Cook a batch of sprouted brown rice in a rice cooker. I make one cup of rice to two cups of water. That gives me enough to double this recipe. If you don’t have a rice cooker, just cook the rice per manufacturer’s instructions, but don’t add any butter or seasoning, as that will alter the consistency and flavor of the recipe.

As soon as the rice is ready, scoop out the cup of hot rice into a mixing bowl. Add the cacao-maca powder, 1 tablespoon of the honey, tahini, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly until continued from page 22 Museums LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (LACMA) James Turrell, Light Reignfall Through May 29, 2017 Picasso and Rivera Through May 7th, 2017 Abdulnasser Gharem: Pause To July 2nd, 2017 Los Angeles to New York: Dwan Gallery, 1959–1971 To September 10th, 2017 Moholy-Nagy: Future Present To June 18th MOAH- Lancaster Museum of Art and History Made on Mojave Opening May 13th CAAM- California African American Museum Derrick Adams

No Justice, No Peace Keyatta A.C. Hinkle To June 11th Pasadena Museum of California Art Interstitial To August 6th MOCA Kerry James Marshall: Mastry To July 3rd Artist Talks In Conversation: Black Performance in Contemporary Art California African American Museum 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California 90007 May 23rd 7-9pm

LA ART NEWS SECTION A

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, DARLING

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Jeremy Kaplan of READ Books

Whilst listening to NPR in my car on a recent evening, I realized that I’ve lived more than 1/2 of my pissant life, the better 1/2, in Los Angeles. I knew this because of math. The L.A. Uprising/ Riots, according to NPR, transpired 25 years ago, and when I moved to L.A. in February, 1992, two months before said UpRioting, I was less than 25 and had no car. Practice your fractions, kids, and one day you too will be able to calculate how much time you’ve pissed away.

At 3:15 on 4/29/92, I was pissing away the afternoon at Pan Pacific Camera in Hollywood, working alongside Tony B in the film department, when Robert C, shaggy manager of the adjacent camera rental department, staggered out of his smoky storage room, arms a-flailing: “Oh it’s on brother! They cleared the cops who beat down RK! L.A.’s burning dooooown! Y’all can quote me on that!”

I looked to the man standing next to me for perspective. Tony was one of two Afro-Americans, out of some 40-50 total workers, employed by Pan Pac. (Lest ye’ derive the wrong idea, many AfroAmerican customers traversed our doors daily, and I’d wager that not a whole lot more than 1/2 of them were routinely tailed by security—racist fractions!) Tony sank slowly onto the narrow bench behind the counter & slumped forward with head in hands, the shrill soundtrack to his grief provided by Robert’s unvarying mantra of “It’s burning doooown!”, which sounded like Nostradamus channeling Yoko Ono, or vice-versa.

Were the other passengers on the 181 bus filled with apprehension as fires tailed us north through Hollywood? I was too preoccupied with being twenty-three and in love, pining away for a faraway girl in Iowa City. When the bus deposited me in Glendale during the early stages of twilight, I’d almost forgotten about the verdicts, Tony’s bereavement, & Robert’s sweltering prognostications.

I was living, thanks to the largess of my brother and his two roommates, almost rent-free in a crappy apartment complex on Justin Avenue. The tender relief with which they greeted me on 4/29 was a creepy contrast to the disdain they usually exhibited for a grumpy college boy who’d recently bogarted their lone couch. On 4/29, they took turns embracing me because no one had killed me (?), and then re-sat their selfish asses upon my temporary bed to watch their damn TV news. There was a white guy standing on a roof aiming a rifle at Black & Latino people on the street below.

“Hey I know that guy!” I pointed at the screen. “That’s Len Jac of Len Jac’s Auto Sound, about two blocks south of my camera store. What gives with the Charles Whitman shtick, Len? Jac.” “There’s a riot going on,” my brother sadly informed me. “Owners are protecting their property. Rioters are destroying Hollywood.”

“Can’t hardly blame ‘um,” I shrugged. My roommates disagreed. This sort of rambunctious behavior, they felt, solved nothing. “What are they supposed to do?” said I. “Appeal to the authorities?

How much shit would you be willing to eat before you started busting heads?” Then the news replayed the Reginald Denny beating, and my roommates stink-eyed me in tandem.

We drove to the park on Mulholland Drive, perched above the Hollywood Bowl, and watched helicopters hovering over twilight fires. I exhausted rolls of black & white film on something called a “35mm camera”. Edgy white men toting guns & axes boasted that looters wouldn’t dare enter Burbank where the police force stood sentry all raring to go. But just in case, there were those axes and guns. I supposed that this is how I might have felt abiding with white settlers in a 19th century frontier fort while insurgent Indians raised hell outside... or locked inside the armory at Jerusalem as Nat Turner and his men approached. Yeah I guess I’m safer over here, but is this really where I want to be? Perhaps I should be elsewhere.

Pan Pacific was closed for several days, but due to the staggering level of gun ownership amongst my co-workers, and their willingness to spend several evenings on a murky roof with donut in one hand & firearm in the other, PPC was neither burned nor looted. There are three conspicuous memories I recall subsequent to returning to work: 1) A photographer came into the store sporting a thick, raw-sausage-like scar emanating from upper lip toward scalp. Tony and I asked. Turns out he had driven into South Central the second afternoon of upRioting to shoot photos. An African-American man with a brick approached his car (Tony & I cringed). Our photographer raised his fist and told the man: “I’m with you my brother!

Revolution!” (Our eyes bugged out). Obviously no adherent to Marx, the man released his building block into the care of our photographer’s face, and then released the offending camera from the car on its own recognizance. (We kinda laughed. A lot. Lost a sale.).

2) Our main competitor, Samy’s Camera, was burnt down. PPC’s owner , Steve K, called a staff meeting where he announced giddily: “Samy’s will be out of business for at least half-a-year, gang.

This is our big chance!” I envisioned Michael Jordan twisting his ankle and Charles Barkley standing over his writhing body clapping like a seal. This is not a good sporting sentiment.

3) There were three African-American men with whom I regularly conversed when they came into the store to buy film. In separate conversations, I inquired into their insights about what had happened. Their answers were essentially unanimous: It was unfortunate about people getting beaten up, but fuck property. The King & Harlins verdicts had re-confirmed what the last few hundred years of American history had been shouting in their faces: Our rules don’t really apply to you people. So be it.

It was during the 4-day void in-between the uprising & the reopening of the camera store, in that brief abeyance where it was solely my choice on how to utilize time, when Los Angeles began to feel like home. For two days I walked the wrecked streets of Hollywood, eventually making my way to Samy’s charred shell at La Brea & 3rd, where I silently apologized for my boss’s unsportsmanlike, sealish behavior. From there I sojourned south until some kid in a National Guard uniform, standing next to his tank near the 24-hour Lucy’s at Pico, turned me in a northernly direction.

I took the bus back to Glendale and wrote a letter to the girl in Iowa, telling her that Los Angeles is beautiful, so she should come on out and live here with me. I enclosed this photo: I read The Times classifieds, spent

several days apartment hunting & eventually found a 1940’s era Spanish quadruplex on Masselin Ave in an African-American neighborhood a few blocks east of the Ethiopian restaurant row at $775/month. The girl moved to L.A. that summer, which she called “hell” in a bad way, and soon changed her mind & left for San Francisco, or Portland, or one of those places everyone loves. As L.A. transitioned from floods-to-fires-to-earthquakes, I was more than a little pleased whenever someone told me that he/she hated L.A. and was bailing out. Good riddance. L.A.’s our dirty little secret. Not the beaches, or mansions, or boutiques, or movie studios, or theme parks. My L.A. is the mountain trails, the $4 burritos & $3 Bahn Mis, weird places like the Museum of Jurassic Technology, the used bookstores, old bungalows, & arroyo secos, and sometimes it’s the people who take exception to being hit upside the head and thus take to the streets to demonstrate their displeasure.

MAY 2017

25

BREWERY ARTWALK APRIL, 2017

The Brewery ArtWalk is a twice-a-year opportunity to visit the world’s largest arts complex, located in Lincoln Heights. Over 100 artists exhibit and sell all manner of art--from painting to mixed media, sculpture to fashion, photography to installation. The next ArtWalk will be in October. www. breweryartwalk.com

Kristine Schomaker

Rikki Niehaus, “Capsule”

The Dream Factory LA Studio Tony Pinto, “Kristine Schomaker,” “Bradford J. Salamon”

Schools 4 Freedom

IN THE COUNTRY OF MARVELS WITH DOSSHAUS A visit to a Dosshaus exhibit is like a step into a black and white photograph.

Dosshaus is an artistic collaboration of Zoey Taylor and David Connelly. Their current show, at Gallery 30 South in Pasadena, is a trip to Brussels of the 1920s. Dosshaus’ “In the Country of Marvels” is a walk-in, cardboard recreation of La Fleru en Papier Doré, the maisonette pub that became legendary for giving René Magritte his first show.

True, the real world of René Magritte probably had colors. And the canned sardines were probably a little stinky. And the shabby shoes probably left one’s feet cold. But this is not the real world; this is the black and white photograph of our mind’s view. It is a romantic world, as we want 1920s Europe to have been.

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STATE HISTORIC PARK OPENS

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The long-awaited 32-acre State Historic Park opened to the public April 22. The opening was attended by such noted figures as California Governor Jerry Brown and Smokey Bear.

The park, often known as the Cornfield, sits near the Los Angeles River. It serves residents of Chinatown, Lincoln Heights, Solano Canyon, the William Mead public housing project, and Downtown Los Angeles, and it is readily accessible from the Chinatown Gold Line Station as well. The land was acquired by the State after local residents objected to proposed industrial development at the site.

The urban setting of the park represents a significant shift in thinking about what a State Park should be.

At the grand opening, Mayor Eric Garcetti quoted former California Governor Gray Davis as saying, “I’ve long believed that people should not have to travel hundreds of miles to see their State Parks.”

“Environmental justice starts with parks in our backyard,” continued Mayor Garcetti, “within walking distance, that young people in this community can feel and can experience.”

Besides providing open space, the park honors the rich history of its location. The site figured prominently in Tongva-Gabrielino Tongva-Gabrielino Nation Chief Anthony “Red Blood” life, the Portola Expedition, the provision of water to the early Morales and his son Andy “Guiding Young Cloud” Los Angeles pueblo, the railroad history of the 19th and 20th Morales with State Senate President pro Tem Kevin de centuries, and the displacement of Old Chinatown and Chavez León Ravine. Interpretive features in the new park explain that history.

A “Park Promoters” group, made up of residents of the immediate neighborhood, is engaging the community and setting a framework for developing culturally relevant and language accessible park content.

“This is a moment where we return this land to people who have always owned it,” said Mayor Garcetti, “to the people of L.A.” The grand opening of the park was dedicated to the memory of Chi Mui, Founder of the Chinatown Yard Alliance.

Smokey Bear and colleagues

California Governor Jerry Brown

Quetzal in the park

Ribbon cutting to open the park: Park Promoters Deborah Miller and Xochitl Manzanilla; Superintendent, California State Parks, Los Angeles Sector Sean Woods; Director, California State Parks Lisa Mangat, State Assemblymember Miguel Santiago; California Governor Jerry Brown; State Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León

Historic reminders

MAY 2017

LUMMIS DAY

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THE FESTIVAL OF NORTHEAST LOS ANGELES June 2, 3 and 4 Music~Dance~Poetry~Art~Film~Theater~Puppetry Lummis Day, a grand celebration of Northeast Los Angeles, will return for its 12th year in early June.

The Lummis Day Festival is unique among festivals with its range of offerings--music, dance, poetry, visual art, film, puppetry, and theater--presented by noted names, seasoned professionals, and new discoveries who have a relationship to the Northeast of Los Angeles.

The festival is a major undertaking, spread over three days and six locations.

Lummis Day draws its name from Charles Fletcher Lummis (1859-1928), a local icon and colorful character who grappled with what it is live in the Southwestern United States. Lummis walked from Ohio to Los Angeles, where he served as the first City Editor of the Los Angeles Times, founded the Southwest Museum (the City’s first museum), fought to La Santa Cecilia at Lummis Day 2011 preserve old Spanish Mission buildings, advocated for Native Americans, and published a literary magazine.

Lummis’ home, hand-built from arroyo rock, is still a landmark in Northeast L.A. The house was a cultural center in the region, attracting noted figures for days of art salons and parties. The Lummis Day Festival, therefore, is the modern manifestation of over 130 years of Northeast L.A. tradition.

The Lummis Day Festival is motivated by a sense of place, by a recognition of the unique qualities of Northeast Los Angeles--in terms of geography, rich arts history, ethnic diversity, and cultural activism.

The festival can trace its roots to a fateful dog walk.

Eliot and Jain Sekuler have been Northeast L.A. residents since 1988. One day while walking their dogs, the Sekulers began discussing the diversity of residents on their street. They discussed how they and their neighbors might gather and become acquainted with one another’s cultures.

Such a gathering would not only be fun and educational, it would also enhance a sense of place. Someone might tag the wall of a stranger, but probably wouldn’t do the same thing to a friend. It was time for everybody to get acquainted.

The idea of a festival began to gel. Charles Lummis was an early advocate for multiculturalism. And he certainly knew how to throw a party. By the time the dog walk was over, the festival even had a name.

Lummis Day 2011 Eliot brought years of experience in public relations marketing for the entertainment industry, including event planning, to the table.

He was also very involved in local community issues. Jain brought a degree in theatre and experience in off-stage aspects of theatrical production. She also brought the organized sensibilities of a script supervisor, and in her words, “I know how to throw a party.”

Neighborhood Councils came on board as initial event funders.

The first Lummis Day festival was one afternoon long in one location.

The event began to grow pretty much immediately. By year three, it was time to establish The Lummis Day Community Foundation to provide oversight. The foundation is committed to keeping festival events free.

This June, the Lummis Day Fesitival will take place over three days at six locations. There are also related events through the year. In addition to the Foundation board, a cadre of volunteers make the festival happen, including local high school students, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), scouts, and members of community organizations.

Lummis Day 2017 will feature the Selah Gospel Choir, a non-denominational, all-inclusive, 45-voice choir; Adaaewe, a female African American drum and voice group; hard rock with Teen Judge; live painting by renowned muralist Wayne Alaniz Healy; plus historic architecture; fish, birds, and bugs; and what Jain Sekuler promises will be the best dance stage ever.

At a time when concepts such as inclusiveness, cultural diversity, and artistic expression are under siege, the Sekulers point out that the concept of Lummis Day cannot be seen as simply apple pie.

“The meaning of Lummis Day is a battle cry this year,” says Eliot Sekuler. “It is an act of cultural resistance.”

The something-for-everybody nature of Lummis Day programming means that different visitors will take away different experiences. But the thread that runs through the whole event remains the same as it was 12 years ago. Lummis Day is true to its place.

Lummis Day 2017 June 2, 3, 4 Sycamore Grove Park, Occidental College, Historic Security Trust and Savings Bank Building, Avenue 50 at York Boulevard, Southwest Museum, Lummis Home Complete listings, schedules, and logistics are available at www.lummisday.org (Interested in helping as a volunteer? Please sign up on the web site or email lummisdayweb@gmail.com)

Mayor Eric Garcetti sits in on keyboard with Little Faith at Lummis Day

LA ART NEWS SECTION A

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