la art news july 2016 issue section a
DESCRIPTION
Section A of the July issue of LA Art News. Happy Summer!!TRANSCRIPT
LA ART NEWSLA ART NEWSLA ART NEWSARTS AND CULTURE IN THE NORTHEAST OF LOS ANGELES
SECTION A VOLUME 4 NO. 4 LAARTNEWS.COM FIND US ON FACEBOOK JULY 2016
J.T. BURKE, “THE DIVINE”GALLERY 825
J.T. Burke’s art depicts the view when the elevator door first opens into Paradise. His works combine a collector’s joy--in this case lots shiny costume jewelry and some brass figurines--with advanced skills in digital photography. The results can be standard sized, but often they go way beyond. At Fabrik Expo in January, Burke custom-wrapped an entire Bentley Continental GT. For the 2015 L.A. Art Show, he created a confessional booth crossed with a circus tent. His Palm Springs Fine Art Show piece towered 18-feet into the air. Burke’s current show, “The Divine,” at Gallery 825, takes up an entire room, floor-to ceiling. Individual items photographed for Burke’s projects are often familiar, rather like having inherited
Grandma’s jewelry box. Collectively, they seem to create their own light source and depict frenetic activity. But the configuration of Burke’s pieces are anything but random. The collected bits of bling are fashioned into larger assemblages, which in turn are assembled into full narratives. The resultant photographic murals speak to humanity’s need for a lasting place in the cosmos. They draw on Catholicism, world religions and Paradise mythologies (with a vintage fashion sense and a Glam Rock sex appeal). There is no orthodox religious understanding, but rather a reflection on the need for a myth of life beyond this life and a depiction of what ultimate bliss just may look like.Upon entering “The Divine” at Gallery 825, the viewer begins a tour through, as the artist tells it, “a brief history of mankind on earth and the bliss that follows the rise of the internet and the end of shamanism.”Burke lives with his wife, artist Lorraine Triolo, in a large studio in South Pasadena, which is open to the public on local art nights.
J.T. Burke, “The Divine”Los Angeles Art Association/Gallery 825825 N. La Cienega Boulevard, West HollywoodThrough July 22www.laaa.org
J.T. Burke, “The Divine” (detail), Gallery 825
MOSES @ 90WILLIAM TURNER GALLERY
Legendary Los Angeles painter Ed Moses still paints daily at the age of 90. A sampling of his newest pieces has been added to the already vast retrospective of his work at the William Turner Gallery in Santa Monica. The exhibition is actually large enough to take up two venues, continuing in the former Santa Monica Museum of Art building a few steps away.Moses has been an influential figure in the Los Angeles art scene since what many consider to be its inception at Ferus Gallery. He became part of the “Cool School,” centered around the gallery
in the late 1950s, while he was still a grad student at U.C.L.A. But, despite his fame, Moses’ abstract works tend to defy any easy categorization. The gallery statement quotes the artist as saying, “The point is not to be in control, but to be in tune.”That philosophy has taken Moses in a number of directions in the course of more than 60 years--a fact made obvious by the scope of the William Turner show. The addition of new, previously unseen works is made all the more interesting by the fact that some of the new works are presented as abstract self-portraits, characterized at once by exuberance, reflecting the speed at which Moses is known to work, coupled with craquelure and restrained use of metallic elements that seem to release inner light and reflect the artist’s Buddhist sensibilities. “Moses @ 90” is an exceeding rare opportunity to witness the evolution of one of California’s most noted artist’s work over many decades.
Angled Craquelures, 2012-2013, mixed media on canvas, Angled Mirror Panels, Craquelure Panels, 2012-2013, mixed media on canvas, Craquelure Panels, 2012-2014, mixed media on canvas, Untitled (Mirrors with Rocks), 2015,
Horse Crib, 2016, acrylic on plywood, 79” x 144”
continued on page 2
continued on page 2
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Moses @ 90Phase Two / New Works Through July 30William Turner Gallery2525 Michigan Avenue, Gallery E-1Bergamot Station, Santa Monicawww.williamturnergallery.com
continued from page 1
Fly In, 2015-16, wood, copper rails and paint, 84” x 63”
Bronco, 2002, acrylic on panel, 78” x 132”Slide Allure, 2014, mixed media on canvas, 72” x 180”
Toys for Tots, 2014-16, paint, wood, metal rails, 78” x 71.25”
Screen, 2014, mixed mediaFly Away, 2015-16, wood, copper, rails and paint, 96” x 66”
J.T. Burke, “The Divine” (detail), Gallery 825
MORE JT BURKE continued from page 1
JULY 2016
Oh-Out #2, 2016, acrylic on canvas in wood frame, 55” x 39.5” Who-Ba, 2015, wood, copper rails and paint, 72” x 48”Untitled (GRE-HEAD #2), 1999-2015, paint, wood, metal rails,
60” x 63.5”
STAFFPublisher/ Creative Director Cathi MilliganManaging Editor Margaret Arnold
Contributors: Margaret Arnold, Cornelius Peter, Brian Mallman, Amy Inouye, Stuart Rapeport, Cathi Milligan, Jennifer Hitchcock, Florence the dog, Jeremy Kaplan, Harvey Slater, Kristine Schomaker, Baha Danesh, Leanna Lin, Linda Kay
LA Art News is published monthly at the beginning of each month. LA Art News is available free of charge. No person may, without prior written permission from LA Art News, take more than one copy of each monthly issue. Additional copies of the current issue are available for $1, payable in advance, at LA Art News office. Only authorized LA Art News distributors may distribute the LA Art News.
Copyright No news stories, illustrations, editorial matter or advertisements herein can be reproduced without written consent of copyright owner.
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Where’s Monica?
SUMMER CONTINUES... IT’S WARM OUTIt’s time for festivals and warm nights and music and art all around town. Every weekend there are so many opportunities to see great art...we’ll try to list some good places in this issue.
A couple of places I know I will return to are the Pasadena Museum of California Art and the Hammer. I love love love the Claire Falkenstein show at PMCA. I left the museum so inspired to create. At the Hammer there’s Made in LA, their 3rd biennial, which I only saw part of. What I saw I loved, especially Kenzi Shiokava’s work. He’s a 78 years old local Brazilian Japanese artist, graduate of Chouinard, and I just love his art. Go check out this show.
And then there’s music all over town...the opportunities to see fabulous music at great venues is part of what makes Los Angeles so good. Go to the pier...or LACMA...or the Annenberg...Pasadena...the Hollywood Bowl. So much good stuff. Let’s have some fun this summer!
Thanks,Cathi MilliganPublisher, LA Art News
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LA ART NEWS SECTION A
Some of the work of Kenzi Shiokava at Made in LA at
the Hammer.
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JULY 2016
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LA ART NEWS SECTION A
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JULY 2016
WE HEART EAGLE ROCK FIRST SATURDAYS: A MONTHLY EXPERIENCE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY CELEBRATING THE ARTS, COMMUNITY & LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS.
Eagle Rock is a Los Angeles neighborhood with a small town feel. The first Saturday of every month, local small businesses along Eagle Rock and Colorado Boulevards welcome the public with a wide variety of special events and sales from 3-8 p.m.
Highlights for Saturday, July 2:Events and times will vary per location. Look for the balloons!
The Green BeanJoin The Green Bean on its back patio from 3-5 p.m. for a Flash Trade Day! Bring 1 Grocery size Bag & Trade your gently used kids stuff for store credit. No appointment necessary.(See site for Trade details). Then get relaxed from 4-8 p.m. with the Holistic Practitioners of The Wellness Coalition--offering special priced Seichim Reiki, Sound Therapy, Cranial Sacral, Ear Coning, Chakra Clearing. Kids welcome!5060 Eagle Rock Boulevardwww.thegreenbeangoods.com
Craft Beer Eagle RockCraft Beer Eagle Rock will be showcasing art work by Local Artist, Joe Snipes. Joe Snipes is a Pasadena native graphic designer, illustrator, and photographer. His artistic philosophy is beauty through simplicity, 1353 Colorado Boulevardwww.craftbeercellar.com/eaglerock
CoWineCoStarting at 6 p.m., join Colorado Wine Company at their pairing event with SolArc Brewing & Vagabond Cheese. SolArc founders and Highland Park locals Saul & Archie will be in store showing off a wide array of their novel & tasty beers. Vagabond will have a curated cheese selection to pair with the beers.2305 Colorado Bloulevardwww.facebook.com/cowineco
O & M LeatherJoin O & M Leather from 5-8 p.m. for Donna Casey Aira’s opening reception. Donna’s exquisite watercolors will be on display at O & M Leather for the entire month of July.5048 Eagle Rock Boulevardwww.ommleather.com
WONDERLAND SUMMER SPECTACULAR
Leanna Lin’s Wonderland is turning 6 this summer, and Leanna and her team are cel-ebrating by gathering more than 25 of their favorite artists together for a Wonderland Summer Spectacular! 10% of the art sales from the show run will be donated to Northeast LA’s DSTL Arts, a nonprofit arts mentorship organization that teaches, inspires, and hires creative, at-risk youth ages 16-21 years old.Opening night visitors will enjoy birthday treats from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Auntie Apple, drinks from The Owl’s Brew, and an Ilene Squires Photography Pop-Up (6-8 p.m.) The first 20 people to spend $50 or more will get a limited edition exclusive Naoshi Sunae totebag.
Wonderland Summer SpectacularSaturday, July 9 (in conjunction with NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night6-9 p.m.5024 Eagle Rock Boulevard, Eagle Rock Jerrod Maruyama
Donna Casey Aira
Kukubee
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LA ART NEWS SECTION A
NELAart SECOND SATURDAY GALLERY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS FOR July 11, 2016Check NELA Art Gallery Night on Facebook for last minute updates.
Align Gallery Eza B. Los Angeles-based born in Iloilo,Philippines, her work is deeply influenced by family,community & a reflection of her ever growing passion and rediscovery of cultural roots.Also, new works by artists and co-owners Loushana Roybal-Rose and Selamawit Mekonen. Resident Dj Jeremy Roberts. (6-10 p.m.)
Avenue 50 Studio Main Gallery presents: Ceramic Sculptures by Tony Natsoulas. Large scale, humorous, figurative ceramic sculptures.The Annex presents: “Our Home Grains,” a photographic essay by Jaydee Dizon. (7-10 p.m.)
Bike Oven Spoke (N) Art Ride Meet at the Bike Oven for a fun, slow-paced bicycle tour of art galleries. Blinkie lights recommended. (Roll at 6:30)
Book Show and Madame Pamita’s Parlour of Wonders “My Paradox.” Sex open mic featuring Ana Bernal + Art by The Naughty Unicorn. (7-10 p.m.)
Cactus Gallery “Dualities: Animals Surviving Shared Moments.” Solo exhibit by Joshua Coffy. The predator and prey relationship. All works were created with the intent of exposing that all beings are fighting to survive in the same instance. (6-9 p.m.)
co-LAb Tiger Tiger, “Faceless.” A photography solo exhibit. (7-10 p.m.)
Collective Arts Incubator Tar+Feather’s 2nd annual Public Shaming community arts event. Music: Young Jesus, Spurs, Kera of Kera and the Lesbians, Wam Dingus. Visual art: Kool Skull, Colin Ambulance, Thoz Meddlin Kidz, The Blue Truth. Proceeds to NextStep, a non-profit that provides the opportunity for life-long health and recovery for people living with paralysis. (4-10 p.m. $5 donation)
Leader of the Pack Abstract works by Debra Arvizu. Color and texture are achieved through a collection of different and unconventional tools; each layer is applied with a tool or knife, and the finished painting is determined on its own. Her paintings are unique with a fresh perspective. (7-10 p.m.)
Leanna Lin’s Wonderland “Wonderland Summer Spectacular.” 6th anniversary celebration with some of Leanna Lin’s Wonderland’s favorite artists. 10% of proceeds will be donated to DSTL Arts, a nonprofit arts mentorship organization that teaches, inspires, and hires creative, at-risk youth ages 16-21 years old. (6-9 p.m.)
Mi Vida New art works by Anna Alvarado. DJ Spinorita. (7-11 p.m.)
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JULY 2016
1. Avenue 50 Studio131 No. Avenue 50 323. 258.1435 avenue50studio.org
2. Bike Oven/Flying Pigeon3706 No Figueroa
3. Namaste Highland Park5118 York Blvd.www.namastehighlandpark.com
4. Offbeat6316 York Blvdwww.offbeatbar.com
5. Council District Office #1Gil Cedillo5577 N. Figueroa St.
6. Future Studio5558 N Figueroa St.323 254-4565futurestudiogallery.com
7. Elephant3325 Division St.
8. Meridian5007 1/2 York Blvd.meridianstorela.com
9. Vapegoat5054 York Blvd.323.963.VAPE 10. ETA5630 N. Figueroa St.
11. Shopclass 5215 York Blvd.323.258.2500shopclassla.com
12. Matters of Space5005 York Blvdwww.mattersifspace.com323.743.3267
13. Mi Vida5159 York Blvd.
14. deb33213321 Pasadena Ave.
15. Antigua Coffee House3400 N. Figueroa St.www.antiguacoffeehouse.com
16. Align Gallery5045 York Blvd.www.aligngallery.com
17. New Stone Age Mosaics1754 Colorado Blvd.
18. Panorama Press House4700 York Blvd.www.thepanoramapress.com
19. Evil or Sacred Tattoos4524 Eagle Rock Blvd.
20. Toros Pottery4962 Eagle Rock Blvd 323.344.8330torospottery.com
July 9, 2016 - 7pm - 10pm(Individual Gallery Hours May Vary. CHECK Gallery web sites for individual information. Just because a gallery is listed does not mean it’s open this month)
21. The Market1203 Avenue 50www.themarkethp.com
22. Bob Taylor Properties5526 N. Figueroa St.323-257-1080
23. Cactus Gallery @ Treeline Woodworks3001 N. Coolidge Ave
24. The York Check out their dog friendly patio.5018 York Blvd.
25. Ball Clay Studio4851 York Blvd.ballclaystudio.com
26. Collective Arts Incubator1200 N. Ave 54collectiveartsincubator.com
27. Antenna Studio1617 Colorado Blvd.antennastudioart.com
28. The GreyhoundHighland Park Independant Film Festival570 N. Figueroa St.
29. Urchin5006 1/2 York Blvd.
30. Two TracksPola Lopez, open studio.131 North Avenue 50
31. O & M Leather5048 Eagle Rock Blvdwww.ommleather.com
32. Vapeology3714 N. Figueroa St.323.222.0744
33. Pop-Hop5002 York Blvd.www.thepophop.com
34. Social Studies5028.5 York Blvd.
35. Dotter5027 York Blvd.www.dotterstore.com
36. Leanna Lin’s Wonderland5204 Eagle Rock Blvd.www.leannalinswonderland.com
37. Good Eye Gallery4538 N. Eagle Rock Blvd.www.goodeyegallery.com
38. Highland Cafe5010 York Blvd.323.259.1000
39. CucuArt Gallery4704-06 Eagle Rocl Blvd.323.202.0672
40. Vintage Tattoo Art Parlor5115 York Blvd.
Visit us at NELAart.org
NELAartNortheast Los Angeles Arts Organization, Inc.
41. The U Space2626 N. Figueroa St., suite C
42. The Situation Room2313 Norwalk Ave.
43. Bookshow5503 Figueroa St.www.bookshow.com
44. Vroom Vroom Bitsy Boo5031 B York Blvd.
45. The Slow Down Gallery@ Random Gallery200 N. Ave 64
46. Curve Line1577 Colorado Blvd.
47. The Glass Studio5668 York Blvd.www.theglassstudio.net
48. Rock Rose Gallery4108 N. Figueroa St.323.635.9125
49. All Star Lanes4459 N Eagle Rock Blvd.323.254.2579
50. Pop Secret5119 Eagle Rock Blvd.
51. Apiary Gallery atThe Hive Highland Park5670 York Blvd.www.thehive.la
52. Leader of the Pack5110 York Blvd.www.leaderofthepackvintage.com
53. Short Hand5028 York Blvd.shopshorthand.com
54. Rosie Bunny Bean1309 N. Ave 51rosiebunnybean.com
55. co-Lab Gallery5319 York Blvd.www.co-Lab.com
56. The luxelust life Vintage Furniture6095 York Blvd
57. The Erin Hanson Gallery2732 Gilroy St.erinhanson.com
58. MAN InsuranceAve 50 Satellite1270 N. Ave 50323.256.3151
59. Possession Vintage5119 York Blvd.www.possessionvintage.com
60. Civil Coffee5639 N. Figueroa St.
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On the Second Saturday of every month galleries, businesses, and artists in Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, Cypress Park, Elysian Valley, and Lincoln Heightsopen their doors a little later in the evening and welcome visitors. Use this map for locations of art and eateries, grab someone you love, get some dinner, and enjoy some art. Friend NELA Art Gallery Night on Facebook for the updated last minute list.
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LA ART NEWS SECTION A
1. Avenue 50 Studio131 No. Avenue 50 323. 258.1435 avenue50studio.org
2. Bike Oven/Flying Pigeon3706 No Figueroa
3. Namaste Highland Park5118 York Blvd.www.namastehighlandpark.com
4. Offbeat6316 York Blvdwww.offbeatbar.com
5. Council District Office #1Gil Cedillo5577 N. Figueroa St.
6. Future Studio5558 N Figueroa St.323 254-4565futurestudiogallery.com
7. Elephant3325 Division St.
8. Meridian5007 1/2 York Blvd.meridianstorela.com
9. Vapegoat5054 York Blvd.323.963.VAPE 10. ETA5630 N. Figueroa St.
11. Shopclass 5215 York Blvd.323.258.2500shopclassla.com
12. Matters of Space5005 York Blvdwww.mattersifspace.com323.743.3267
13. Mi Vida5159 York Blvd.
14. deb33213321 Pasadena Ave.
15. Antigua Coffee House3400 N. Figueroa St.www.antiguacoffeehouse.com
16. Align Gallery5045 York Blvd.www.aligngallery.com
17. New Stone Age Mosaics1754 Colorado Blvd.
18. Panorama Press House4700 York Blvd.www.thepanoramapress.com
19. Evil or Sacred Tattoos4524 Eagle Rock Blvd.
20. Toros Pottery4962 Eagle Rock Blvd 323.344.8330torospottery.com
July 9, 2016 - 7pm - 10pm(Individual Gallery Hours May Vary. CHECK Gallery web sites for individual information. Just because a gallery is listed does not mean it’s open this month)
21. The Market1203 Avenue 50www.themarkethp.com
22. Bob Taylor Properties5526 N. Figueroa St.323-257-1080
23. Cactus Gallery @ Treeline Woodworks3001 N. Coolidge Ave
24. The York Check out their dog friendly patio.5018 York Blvd.
25. Ball Clay Studio4851 York Blvd.ballclaystudio.com
26. Collective Arts Incubator1200 N. Ave 54collectiveartsincubator.com
27. Antenna Studio1617 Colorado Blvd.antennastudioart.com
28. The GreyhoundHighland Park Independant Film Festival570 N. Figueroa St.
29. Urchin5006 1/2 York Blvd.
30. Two TracksPola Lopez, open studio.131 North Avenue 50
31. O & M Leather5048 Eagle Rock Blvdwww.ommleather.com
32. Vapeology3714 N. Figueroa St.323.222.0744
33. Pop-Hop5002 York Blvd.www.thepophop.com
34. Social Studies5028.5 York Blvd.
35. Dotter5027 York Blvd.www.dotterstore.com
36. Leanna Lin’s Wonderland5204 Eagle Rock Blvd.www.leannalinswonderland.com
37. Good Eye Gallery4538 N. Eagle Rock Blvd.www.goodeyegallery.com
38. Highland Cafe5010 York Blvd.323.259.1000
39. CucuArt Gallery4704-06 Eagle Rocl Blvd.323.202.0672
40. Vintage Tattoo Art Parlor5115 York Blvd.
Visit us at NELAart.org
NELAartNortheast Los Angeles Arts Organization, Inc.
41. The U Space2626 N. Figueroa St., suite C
42. The Situation Room2313 Norwalk Ave.
43. Bookshow5503 Figueroa St.www.bookshow.com
44. Vroom Vroom Bitsy Boo5031 B York Blvd.
45. The Slow Down Gallery@ Random Gallery200 N. Ave 64
46. Curve Line1577 Colorado Blvd.
47. The Glass Studio5668 York Blvd.www.theglassstudio.net
48. Rock Rose Gallery4108 N. Figueroa St.323.635.9125
49. All Star Lanes4459 N Eagle Rock Blvd.323.254.2579
50. Pop Secret5119 Eagle Rock Blvd.
51. Apiary Gallery atThe Hive Highland Park5670 York Blvd.www.thehive.la
52. Leader of the Pack5110 York Blvd.www.leaderofthepackvintage.com
53. Short Hand5028 York Blvd.shopshorthand.com
54. Rosie Bunny Bean1309 N. Ave 51rosiebunnybean.com
55. co-Lab Gallery5319 York Blvd.www.co-Lab.com
56. The luxelust life Vintage Furniture6095 York Blvd
57. The Erin Hanson Gallery2732 Gilroy St.erinhanson.com
58. MAN InsuranceAve 50 Satellite1270 N. Ave 50323.256.3151
59. Possession Vintage5119 York Blvd.www.possessionvintage.com
60. Civil Coffee5639 N. Figueroa St.
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On the Second Saturday of every month galleries, businesses, and artists in Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, Cypress Park, Elysian Valley, and Lincoln Heightsopen their doors a little later in the evening and welcome visitors. Use this map for locations of art and eateries, grab someone you love, get some dinner, and enjoy some art. Friend NELA Art Gallery Night on Facebook for the updated last minute list.
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JULY 2016
NELAART SECOND SATURDAY JUNE 2016
Sarah Hage at Cactus Gallery
Nancy Minzuno Elliott at Avenue 50 Studio
Rasa Jadzeviciene at Cactus Gallery
Lalo Alcaraz at Avenue 50 Studio
Jos Sances at Avenue 50 Studio
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LA ART NEWS SECTION A
Katrin Assmann at The MarketBlacklight paintings by Adam Vilanueva
at Avenue 50 Studio
Jorge Bernal at the Avenue 50 Studio Satellite Gallery
Todd Westover at Cafe de LecheNgene Mwara at The York
Leader of the Pack Vintage
C. Nolan Fansler at Namaste Memuco at ETA
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JULY 2016
GOVERNMENT NOTES
June was filled with budget activity on the Federal, State and City levels, as government bodies prepared to enter a new fiscal year.
In Washington, D.C., Congress is looking at minor increases in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). At a committee level, the House is looking at an increase of $2 million, bringing total funding to almost $150 million. In the Senate, an increase of $500,000 is being looked at, which would bring the total to $148.4 million.
Americans for the Arts is reporting two significant changes in federal thinking regarding the arts. The House proposal specifically mentions support for STEAM education, integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math.
Also, at a committee level, House members are supporting the display of arts in government buildings, saying, "The Committee recognizes the impor-tance of the arts in local communities including the display of art in public spaces including interested local postal facilities with the consent of, and at no expense to, the U.S. Postal Service."
There is good news for the arts out of Sacramento this year. Governor Jerry Brown has signed a state budget including a funding increase for arts pro-gramming to be administered via the California Arts Council.
The total arts allocation for the coming fiscal year is about $21.1 million. This includes a $6.8 million one-time increase for the Arts Council, which in turn means funding for community arts organizations, plus a $4 million ongoing allocation for arts in correctional facilities. The new funding is coupled with last year's permanent increase of $7.1 million. California also receives $1.1 million from the National Endowment for the Arts and $2.5 million from Arts License Plates and voluntary state tax return contributions for arts in schools.
California's commitment to the arts has come a long way from a decade of $1 million budgets following a 2003 96% funding cut. However, the State still ranks 46th of 50 in per capita arts spending, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has signed the City Budget for the coming fiscal year. The budget includes $24,888 to hold citywide Heritage Month events at City Hall, honoring the City's Native American and Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender communities.
The City's Department of Cultural Affairs derives most of its revenue from a specific source, the City's hotel bed tax, a.k.a. "Transit Occupancy Tax." This means a fluctuating revenue stream for the department. As part of this year's budget, the City will create a Reserve Fund for Revenue Fluctuations to avoid disruptions to the department's core services.
The department's budget has increased slowly but steadily over the past several years, from $8.1 million in 2012-13, to $12.4 million in the new budget. Main budget items include administrative support for art centers, communications and technology, Olympic mural restoration, community and cultural festivals, and contract administration.
INTRUDE
For a few days in early June, Downtown L.A. hosted seven large glowing rabbits by Australian artist Amanda Parer. Rabbits were introduced into Australia by European settlers in 1777, and they had a catastrophic impact on the native environment. Parer’s installation, “Intrude,” was designed to “invite the viewer to engage with the urban landscape in new ways, encouraging participants to get up close and enjoy while considering every species’ larger-than-life impact on their surroundings.”
LA ART NEWS SECTION A
SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS BRINGS ARTS, SPORTS AND SAFETY TO YOUTHU.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL & L.A. MAYOR VISIT HIGHLAND PARK SITE
United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti were in Highland Park June 29 to help kick off year nine of Summer Night Lights.
Summer Night Lights is a 32-site summer evening program of sports, arts, recreational activities and food for young people. Hundreds of neighborhood residents attend Summer Night Lights in each of the participating parks, on Wednesday through Saturday nights.
Garcetti started the program in Glassell Park when he was the Councilmember there. In 2007, 16-year old Melissa Paul was walking with her boyfriend when she was shot and killed. At this year’s kick-off event, Garcetti said that it hit him at the time that there was a park with a rec center just a block and a half from where Paul was murdered, but it was closed. He realized that the dark park could have been a safe space offering art, education, and athletic programs.
The Mayor recounted that when his office started the first such program in Glassell Park, a young man came up to him at a public event and asked to speak. The young man introduced himself to the crowd as a tagger. Then he went on to say that before that day, no one had ever given him a canvas. “I was a tagger. Now I am an artist,” Garcetti quoted the young man as saying.
Summer Night Lights has grown from one, to eight, to 16, to 32 parks.
Summer Night Lights programs are multi-dimensional. They offer activities such as cooking, silk screening, dance, painting and bike repair to area youth. Basketball, soccer and softball courts and fields are open, and professionals offer clinics. There is always food, and education about healthy eating is part of the programming. HIV and STD testing and health education are available. Local police officers and young people get to know one another. And Summer Night Lights has also become a jobs program for youth with 352 young people hired to lead programming. The programming is held in the evening, from 7-11 p.m., after most recreational programming is typically closed. Summer Night Lights is supported by The City of Los Angeles and by a variety of private partners including Disney, Kaiser Permanente, The Dodgers, Sony, Weingart, LA84 (the profit from the Olympic Games), and, new this year, the Lakers Foundation. Hungry Hog & Starvin’ Steer caterers has provided over 400,000 meals.
According to Garcetti, even at times that crime has gone up in the City, it has remained the same or even gone down in areas around Summer Night Lights parks. The Mayor added that the LAPD was originally opposed to Summer Night Lights, fearing that it would open the door to increased violence and shootings. Now, says Garcetti, the police are some of the programs’ most ardent supporters. Attorney General Lynch told the gathering in Highland Park that she is in L.A. as part of a tour of sites where communities have been making change.
Lynch stressed that change only happens where there is a strong community--where people care enough to come out, ask questions, and get young people involved.
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Summer Night Lights basketball in Highland Park
James Worthy, representing the Lakers Foundation; U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch; L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti; and L.A. Police Chief Charlie Beck kick off Summer Night Lights at
the Highland Park Recreation Center.
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JULY 2016
WE CHOOSE ART GREGORY SIFF | PORTRAIT OF AN AMERICAN ICE CREAM MANFeaturing Artist Gregory SiffWritten by Baha Danesh from WeChooseArt.comLocated at 4 AM Gallery – Los Angeles, Arts District Gregory Siff ’s newest solo exhibition, “Portrait of an American Ice Cream Man,” communicates his most vivid childhood memories which include his journey of moving to Los Angeles as an adult and celebrating the people and places that have impacted his adventures.
His work is fearless and intuitive. A vivid theme of man vs. nature can be found within his abstract illustrations. His artwork encompasses the duality of light and dark which allows the viewer to feel whimsical yet nostalgic. At times, his paintings can take you back to being a kid, while simultaneously haunting you with murky shadows and images of a dark future.
Siff was born in Brooklyn, New York, but was soon drawn to Los Angeles’s plentiful artistic opportunities and warmer weather. His artwork combines clippings from canvases made in his DTLA studio with journal entries from his recent travels that create a quilt of personal memories.
With his remaining high from his incredible solo show, Gregory Siff took a moment and sat down with We Choose Art to discuss his background, his process, and what “Portrait of an American Ice Cream Man” means to him. What’s your inspiration behind the Portrait Of An American Ice Cream Man? The idea that the heart of a child still lives inside you and you cannot ignore that. Forever Ice Cream will make you feel good. How do you begin your artistic process before you start painting? I like to check in with myself and see where I’m at. If it’s fire or chill, if I’m happy or angry. It all adds comment that is real and gives the painting its overall tone even after it has been fine tuned and worked. I Love putting music on as loud as can be and repeating the same song many times or nothing at all. Silence. How has you your practice changed over time?
3 hours a day became 18 hours a day during show time. My practice has always been, put the hours in so you can find the real parts of what it means to be human and how to say it in paint.
Name something in your studio that you love and why?
I love my floors. It used to be a concrete trucking yard and party favor warehouse. So all my paint and ink stains blend into the concrete and meld with the shape of the rock but absorb and it’s a fine abstract of the hours that go into the person painting. Sometimes I’ll find some pearls or a diamond pin that has been left over from the party people. I like to think that it’s cool that the party never ended and whatever is being created here is adding enjoyment and laughter to other people’s lives. Art is made and then it is sent into the world to DO something. Feel that.
Professionally, what’s your goal within the art world?
To share my work in new forums, parks, museums, mail art, anything that can help the world be a little more in love with itself. We only get a moment here.
And finally, what makes you want to choose art?
I didn’t choose art. It chose me. HARD.
Portrait of an American Ice Cream Man was presented by 4AM Gallery and Mercedes Benz.For more info visit www.gregorysiff.com or join the conversation with Gregory Siff on Instagram (@GregorySiff ), Snapchat (@GregorySiff ), Twitter (@GregorySiff ), Facebook via hashtags #GregorySiff #PortraitofanAmericanIceCreamMan. Photos by Baha Danesh.
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LA ART NEWS SECTION A
HIGHLAND PARK TIME CAPSULE
The Highland Park Time Capsule was lowered into the ground outside the local Senior Center on Saturday, June 25. It will be opened in 25 years. The time capsule is full of information on and evidence of the Highland Park of 2016--including art, newspapers, flyers, photos, buttons, chachkies and much more. The artifacts were contributed by community organizations and businesses and were collected by local resident Monica Alcaraz. “I was surprised and delighted by people’s response to the idea,” says Alcaraz. “I had to go out and buy a bigger box.”The Highland Park Time Capsule is sponsored by Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar and the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council. The entire community is invited to the opening of the time capsule on June 25, 2041.
A Lummis Day program packaged for inclusion in the Time Capsule
City Councilmember José Huizar and Highland Park community members prepare
to bury the Highland Park Time Capsule
The contents of the Highland Park Time Capsule will next be seen in 25 years.
A final inventory before the Highland Park Time Capsule is buried
Simón Huizar has volunteered to remember where the key is.
