la art news january 2016 section a
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Here is the first issue of LA Art News. This is replacing NELAart News and means greater coverage of art and culture in this fine city. How do you create?TRANSCRIPT
LA ART NEWSLA ART NEWSLA ART NEWSHOW DO YOU CREATE?
NELAart SECOND SATURDAYGALLERY NIGHT MAP ENCLOSED
Section A Volume 3 No.9 laartnews.com find us on Facebook January 2016
HANGING ONThis piece was written by local artist Carol Colin for the Teatro Arroyo/Arroyo Arts Collective Arts Posada in December, and was presented at the historic city-owned bank building at North Figueroa and Avenue 56. Highland Park has been home to artists for over a hundred years, and they have helped build the neighborhood we love. California Impressionists lived here, hiked the Arroyo and the hills, setting up easels to paint. One of them, William Lees Judson, led the University of Southern California Fine Arts Department, housed for a time at his home on Avenue 66. Judson founded a stained glass studio which is still operating today, still run by his descendants. Musician Jackson Browne’s grandfather, Clyde Browne, had a dream of an artist’s colony on Arroyo Glen, off Figueroa across from our library. He built the stone Abbey San Encino there as its first building, and ran a print studio for years. Other artists and writers did join him for a time. The Abbey still belongs to the Browne family. Writer Charles Lummis built his home on Avenue 43 by hand, where he raised a family, did his work, maintained a lively salon, and founded the Southwest Museum. The Highland Park Ebell Club is a women’s service and cultural organization that has been active since 1904. The clubhouse on Avenue 57 is the setting for concerts, lectures, theatrical performances, community meetings and social events. The Club awards scholarships to deserving local students every spring.
In 1977 Carlos Almaraz, Guillermo Bejarano and Richard Duardo founded the Centro de Arte Publico on Avenue 56 and Figueroa. John Valadez, a painter
and muralist, was involved; his art depicted the lives of urban Chicano youth. Barbara Carrasco, Dolores Cruz and Judithe Hernandez worked at the studio,
developing the Chicana perspective. The work of muralists such as John Zender and Chaz Bojorquez was responsible for the contemporary visual character of the
neighborhood. In the early 1980’s, Dutch immigrant Hendrik Stooker moved to Highland Park. Hendrik was an early member of the Highland Park Heritage
Trust. He helped create the largest Historic Preservation Overlay Zone in Los Angeles. Hendrik ran a private art gallery on Figueroa, Alpha Contemporary
Exhibits, for three years before joining the Art Department at Occidental College in 1987. In 1989 he co-founded the Arroyo Arts Collective with fellow continued on page 3
Signs made by Carol Colin, Teatro Arroyo/Arroyo Arts Collective Posada de Arte
ART INSTALLATION CREATES VISION FOR EAGLE ROCK“WHAT DO I CARE?, PART 2” AT CURVE LINE SPACE
A public-participatory art installation that will help shape the future of Eagle Rock is taking form at Curve Line Space on Colorado Boulevard.“What Do I Care?, Part 2” is taking place under the guidance of noted local artist Rebecca Niederlander. The experience begins with visitors using text and drawing to express their wishes and visions for Eagle Rock. The participants then fold their papers into various-sized origami boxes. As more and more boxes are made, they can be moved around the gallery space and assembled into structures.Expressions so far have included practical visions for a better community--infill artistic businesses along Eagle Rock Boulevard, a safe way to block left turns into and out of Trader Joe’s. They have also included some more fanciful wishes--a castle for a princess, turning the middle of the boulevard into a trampoline so people can bounce to their
destinations. Clearly, Niederlander takes a nonjudgmental view toward urban planning.Niederlander’s art projects are typically multi-generational affairs. “What Do I Care?, Part 2” is open to all participants, regardless of age. During the course of the project, groups from local schools will be visiting to record their visions. One result of this artistic and multi-generational approach is that wants and needs emerge that do not get expressed in community meetings or forums. This is already happening with “What Do I Care?, Part 2.” Participants have written of the need for a senior center in Eagle Rock and have lamented the dry nature of Eagle Rock High
continued on page 2photo: Rebecca Niederlander
Rebecca Niederlander and “What Do I Care?” participants create a vision for Eagle Rock at Curve Line Space
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JANUARY 2016
Vinyasa Flow| Power Lunch | Candlelight Flow | PrenatalKids Yoga | Yoga Sculpt | Mixed Level Flow
Yoga Studio | Art Gallery | Tea Shop
5118 York Blvd | Los Angeles | CA | 90042
www.namastehighlandpark.com
Namaste Highland Park
WYATT MILLS EXPLORES WHAT IT IS TO BE NORMAL“THE ONLY NORMAL PEOPLE ARE THE ONES YOU DON’T KNOW.”
Painter and collage artist Wyatt Mills brings his newest body of work to Chinatown’s Project Gallery this month. His solo exhibit, “Normal,” confronts standard ideologies and concepts surrounding what it is to be normal in our society. Inner turmoil, meanwhile, gets put on public display.Mills is based at the Brewery Art Complex. He showed his work extensively in New York before relocating to Los Angeles, where he has had solo shows at Prohibition Gallery and ESSNTL Gallery, designed a mural for The Container Yard, and participated in group exhibitions.When asked by Baha Danesh of online publication “We Choose Art” why he chooses art, Mills replied, “A homeless man will bellow in anger at a frightened pedestrian, or a child will fall on his face while his mother watches in utter fear and helplessness. Another man is on the bench reading about a war in a faraway country, accompanied by someone reading about some ludicrous thing Paris Hilton did on Friday night. Instances such as these attract and direct me. They happen, and then the world moves on. I try to remember what angles and subtleties I saw in the corner of my eye that completed the interaction or experience. What interests me is the intensity of the interaction, and how I can use that tension to bring a multidimensional authenticity into characters that I portray.”
Project Gallery, 961 Chung King RoadReception: Saturday, January 9, 7-10 p.m.projectgallery.comidoesart.com
School, asking for public art. “As non-voters, youth are often overlooked as innovators,” says Niederlander, “but their visions are critical. Since they are not yet hardened by life’s rough road, minors can envision possibilities without many of the practical concerns of reality.”Opportunities for participation in “What Do I Care?, Part 2” will continue through January. Niederlander is photographing all of the texts and drawings. At the end of the project, full sets will be presented to Councilmember José Huizar and to local organizations such as The Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, Take Back the Boulevard, and The Eagle Rock Association (TERA).
“What Do I Care?, Part 2”Curve Line Space, 1577 Colorado BoulevardThrough JanuaryStaff will be on hand all Thursdays in January, 2:45-4:45 p.m., as well as Wednesdays beginning January 13.
photo: Rebecca Niederlander
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Wyatt Mills, I Seem To Have Forgotten The Recipe. (Image taken in the artist’s studio during the Brewery Art Walk)
Wyatt Mills, Panopticon. (Image courtesy of Project Gallery)
STAFFPublisher Cathi MilliganCreative Director Cathi Milligan Managing Editor Margaret ArnoldAdvertising Sales Cathi Milligan
Contributors: Margaret Arnold, Cornelius Peter, Brian Mallman, Amy Inouye, Stuart Rapeport, Cathi Milligan, Jennifer Hitchcock, Traci Green, Jeremy Kaplan, Larisa Code, Harvey Slater, Kristine Schomaker, Dani Dodge, Alfredo Madrid, Desiree Cormier, Lance Barresi
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.
How to reach usLA Art News 5668 York Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90042323-387-9705
Calendar [email protected]
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Where’s Monica?
A NEW DAY...A NEW YEAR... A NEW NAMEI mentioned it was happening last month and here it is. Introducing LA Art News. We’re growing our coverage and our reach. More people will learn about Northeast Los Angeles and more NELA folks will learn about what cool arts and culture happenings are taking place across this fine city. Our Second Saturday Gallery Night is one of the best art nights, but there are others...Pomona, San Pedro, Downtown, and many of the artists we like to talk about show around these areas as well.
We have new contributors, and gratefully we have our regulars too. We want to bring you information about art all over this fine city. Opportunities, events, shows, fairs...this is the creative capital of the world afterall.
Thanks,Cathi MilliganPublisher, LA Art News
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neighborhood activists Matt Marchand and Diane Alexander. He organized the first members’ studio tour, now in its 21st year, and always championed young
artists. We have lost both Hendrik and Diane, but the Collective is a soulful organization that continues to create a variety of local art programs and has recently
joined forces with the Teatro Arroyo. For the past ten years, galleries throughout N.E. Los Angeles have opened the second Saturday of every month, welcoming
crowds of locals and art tourists. In November, 61 galleries participated, showcasing the work of probably hundreds of artists, and bringing patrons to local
restaurants and other businesses. These activities bring life to our streets and help the local economy.
Wherever artists can afford to settle, they tend to value local history and the traditions of the people who preceded them in the neighborhood, but at the same time,
they are inventing the future. The arts help communities thrive, which gradually attracts new residents and businesses. Inevitably, rents increase. Over the decades,
as an artist, I found myself priced out of four neighborhoods. Long-time renters in Northeast Los Angeles are facing that situation now. When I moved here
25 years ago, my husband and I joined with three other artists as “tenants in common” to buy our own small building. Recently, I was pleased when two couples
went together to buy a duplex near us. It takes luck, good will and perseverance to make this work, but I encourage renters to investigate the viable alternative of
communal home ownership. Pool your money and resources and buy into Highland Park. I urge realtors and city officials to think creatively; do whatever you can
to help the people who built this community be part of its future.
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THE POWER OF ART TO AFFECT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
Twenty-three artists, working in a variety of media, lend their artistic voices to raising environmental awareness in “Art Makes Change-2.0 Extended,” on view through January 9 at EarthWE Gallery in Santa Monica.The show is an edited and highly curated version of the massive exhibit that took place as the centerpiece of the Vision LA Climate Action Arts Festival. All of the works presented focus on the environmental themes of Earth, Water, Awareness and Recycle. The exhibited pieces individually and collectively demonstrate the vast role of art in promoting environmental justice.
EarthWE Gallery, Bergamot Station, Building D5, 2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa MonicaCurated by Dale YoungmanThrough January 9. Closing reception, Saturday, January 9, 3-7 p.m.EarthWe.com
Kate Carvellas, Jen Moore, Michael Hayden
Wini Brewer
Miguel Osuna
Bronze by Stuart Kushner, “Art Makes Change,” EarthWE GallerySean Sobczak
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NELAART SECOND SATURDAY GALLERY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTSSaturday, January 9, 7-10 p.m.
Spoke (N) Art Ride: Meet at the Bike Oven for a fun, slow-paced bicycle tour of art galleries. Blinkie lights recommended. Gather at 6. Roll at 6:30.
Bob Taylor Properties will show selections from its amazing and eclectic collection. Also: wearable art by Marilynn Pardee, handmade jewelry by Lilian Mercado, limited edition tees printed w/ vintage LA punk club graphics. Live music w/ Carlos Guitarlos.
Rock Rose Gallery presents "Los Angeles on my Mind," featuring recent paintings of Jane M. McCabe. (5-8 p.m.)
At co-LAb: "Undertones," a subtly neon exhibit with 15 artists.
At The Market: Live music with Edith Crash, Pauline Lay, Electric Sound Bath, DJ Matt Rodriguez of KXLU. Video art projections by The Current Sea. Ghost Noise Zine Release show. $5. (6-9 p.m.)
Elephant presents "A Similar Effect," a one-person show with Caroline Clerc. Formed while on an artist residency in Norway, photographs taken from walks are reconstructed to create a new artificial, yet familiar, landscape.
The Haggus Society in collaboration with Julie Montenegro State Farm presents the work of Georgia Taylor. A semi-abstract artist living in the colorful Sonoran Desert, Taylor simplifies impressions of her surrounding environment into large canvas paintings. (6-9 p.m.)
Mi Vida brings you a classic evening of Chicano Art and Pin Up stilo featuring Chicano artist Julian Mendoza and Mexica pinup Lisa Love.
Book Show will host EAT Art Open Mic beginning at 8 p.m. Show off your sickest poem, zine, short story, spoken word--whatever your form of storytelling.
The York will showcase the fine art and illustration of Brandon Francis.
Note:Avenue 50 Studio, Cactus and Future Studio are on much needed R+R this month. Will return in February.
MARK YOUR NEW CALENDARNELAart Second Saturday Gallery Nights in 2016
January 9February 13March 12April 9May 14June 11July 9August 13September 10October 8November 12December 10
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JANUARY 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. Slow Culture5906 N Figueroa St.
8. Meridian5007 1/2 York Blvd.meridianstorela.com
9. Vapegoat5054 York Blvd.323.963.VAPE 10. Bearded Beagle5926 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
January 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. Keystone Art Gallery2558 N. San Fernando Rd.
23. Cactus Gallery @ Treeline Woodworks3001 N. Coolidge Ave
24. The York 5018 York Blvd.
25. Ball Clay Studio4851 York Blvd.ballclaystudio.com
26. Handcraft and Hart Hair4733 Eagle Rock Blvd.handcraftandhart.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.
41. The U Space2626 N. Figueroa St., suite C
Visit us at NELAart.org
NELAartNortheast Los Angeles Arts Organization, Inc.
42. Eklectomania6152 York Blvd.facebook.com/EklectoMania
43. State Farm Insurance(Haggus Society)5683 York Blvd.
44. The New SeedAve 34 & Verdugo
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. Bookshow5503 Figueroa St.www.bookshow.com
53. Arroyo General5028 York Blvd.
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. Bob Taylor Properties5526 N. Figueroa St.323-257-1080
58. MAN InsuranceAve 50 Satellite1270 N. Ave 50323.256.3151
59. Possession Vintage5119 York Blvd.www.possessionvintage.com
60. The Hunt Vintage5317 York Blvd.www.thehuntvintage.com
61. The Erin Hanson Gallery2732 Gilroy St.erinhanson.com
62. Elephant3325 Division St.
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Second Saturday Gallery Night map is sponsored by
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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. Slow Culture5906 N Figueroa St.
8. Meridian5007 1/2 York Blvd.meridianstorela.com
9. Vapegoat5054 York Blvd.323.963.VAPE 10. Bearded Beagle5926 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
January 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. Keystone Art Gallery2558 N. San Fernando Rd.
23. Cactus Gallery @ Treeline Woodworks3001 N. Coolidge Ave
24. The York 5018 York Blvd.
25. Ball Clay Studio4851 York Blvd.ballclaystudio.com
26. Handcraft and Hart Hair4733 Eagle Rock Blvd.handcraftandhart.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.
41. The U Space2626 N. Figueroa St., suite C
Visit us at NELAart.org
NELAartNortheast Los Angeles Arts Organization, Inc.
42. Eklectomania6152 York Blvd.facebook.com/EklectoMania
43. State Farm Insurance(Haggus Society)5683 York Blvd.
44. The New SeedAve 34 & Verdugo
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. Bookshow5503 Figueroa St.www.bookshow.com
53. Arroyo General5028 York Blvd.
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. Bob Taylor Properties5526 N. Figueroa St.323-257-1080
58. MAN InsuranceAve 50 Satellite1270 N. Ave 50323.256.3151
59. Possession Vintage5119 York Blvd.www.possessionvintage.com
60. The Hunt Vintage5317 York Blvd.www.thehuntvintage.com
61. The Erin Hanson Gallery2732 Gilroy St.erinhanson.com
62. Elephant3325 Division St.
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Second Saturday Gallery Night map is sponsored by
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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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NELAART SECOND SATURDAY DECEMBER 2015
“Local Color,” a testament to Margaret Garcia’s Highland Park painting workshops, at Avenue 50 Studio (Raoul De la Sota, board member; Margaret Garcia; Sybil Venegas, curator; Kathy Gallegos, Director)
Kevin Hass, Joe Bravo, Walt Hall, Avenue 50 Studio’s Holiday 8x8 Silent Art Auction
Fundraiser
Omar Wysong at VapegoatLoushana Rose at Align Gallery
Maricela Aviña, Luis Genaro Garcia, Rich Castor, Mel Dominguez, “Virgen Vida,” at Mi Vida
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Artist Todd Westover’s unveiling of his freshly-painted utility box at York Boulevard and Avenue 57
Miriam Jackson, Highland Park Arts Collective, El Huarache Azteca
“Virgen Vida,” at Mi Vida
Selamawit Mekonen at Align Gallery
Robert Lowden and Raoul De la Sota, “Wishes and Dreams,” Avenue 50 Studio
“Local Color,” a testament to Margaret Garcia’s Highland Park painting workshops, at Avenue 50 Studio
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JANUARY 2016
GOVERNMENT NOTES
“A thriving arts community makes for a world class city…That’s the beauty of art. It helps explain who we are as a city, who we are as a culture. “--Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell on the Council’s okay of an initial $1.65 million in Arts Development Fees generated by new construction. From Americans for the Arts’ Arts Action Fund:In a much needed burst of legislative activity before the New Year, Congress unveiled a bipartisan omnibus appropriations and tax plan that will have a direct and positive impact on nonprofit arts organizations and arts education programs.$147,949,000 for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) – an increase of $1,929,000. This is despite the fact that earlier this year both the House and Senate proposed to keep funding flat for the NEA. Congress specifically supported the NEA’s expanded work with military servicemembers and the arts…The popular “Our Town” grants, at risk of being entirely eliminated, are retained in the present bill.$27 million for the Arts In Education program – an increase of $2 million. In recent years this program was actually proposed for termination, so an increase in funding is especially welcomed.Permanent extension of the IRA Rollover – This is a huge boon for nonprofit cultural organizations that survive in part because of this form of tax-deductible giving. Up until now Congress has passed one-year extensions of the IRA Rollover, but now it will be fully integrated into the tax code.
Northeast Los Angeles State Assembly Member Jimmy Gomez’ holiday celebration and toy drive at Grifols Inc. of El Sereno
HIGHLAND PARK TREE LIGHTING
The Second Annual Highland Park Tree Lighting, presented by Councilmember José Huizar, The Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, and the Garvanza Improvement Association. December 14 at the Highland Park Senior Citizen Center. Including a special appearance by Santa Claus and holiday songs with the guests of the NELA Homeless Coalition Winter Shelter.
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LINDA SUE PRICE – WE CHOOSE ART NEON ARTIST WRITTEN BY: DESIREE CORMIER SFROM WECHOOSEART.COM Linda Sue Price is an abstract neon artist based in southern California. She creates neon pieces of art that differ from her peers in appearance because she loves to break the 2-dimensional plane. Unlike your typical neon signs that have their tubes bent into shapes, whilst staying flatly placed on a surface, Price creates artwork that breaks convention and brings tubes of neon directly outward. This gives her pieces a complete 3-dimensionality and in turn, as she put it, “No one has ever called what I make signs.” And if working in neon wasn’t already cool enough, Price is about as versatile of an artist as they come. With a background in painting, graphics, television, video editing and now a master at neon art, it seems there isn’t anything she can’t do. Price’s background in television has helped her transition to neon art. She states: “There are similarities in the luminosity of “After Effects” especially when you’re creating motion graphics. Just like I do in my art you can create layers and add motion. There were a lot of commonalities in video production which included wiring equipment together and spending tedious hours focusing on new exciting projects in the studio.” Not everything has stayed consistent and similar (and thankfully so) in her leap from television and graphics to the neon world though. Price discusses some of those differences, especially in the men she’s had to deal with throughout her career, and shows us how she has always been a fiercely creative woman in a man’s world: We Choose Art: How many years total, including painting and television, have you been in the art world?
Price: Since I was about 22-23. That’s when I started art school and finished studying journalism. I went to work for a city government television studio and ran their production team. This was around the time “After Effects” had just come out and since I was the only person that had studied graphics I knew how to manufacture graphics…and in those days you had to do it by hand…and so it all just kind of evolved. We Choose Art: How did you get into the neon art? What inspired you to do neon stuff? Price: I’ve always like neon. I purchased a piece of neon art 25 years ago and I wanted another piece. I had been searching all over, and I couldn’t find anything that was exactly what I wanted. A few years later I realized the Museum of Neon Art was offering a class, so I took it. And although my background is in painting and motion graphics and watercolor, I took the 8 week class and right away I knew THIS IS IT! This is what I wanted to do. We Choose Art: Is it hard being a female in the art world? Price: Working in television and production gave me the opportunity to work with men. It was always an EFFORT! When I met Michael, my neon teacher, mentor, and studio mate, it was easy and it felt right! I
told him what I wanted to do. I took a pipe cleaner and wrapped it around a pencil, I sprung it, and I said, ‘This is what I want to do,’ and he said, ‘You’re going to have to learn how to bend.’ And I immediately said ‘OK!’ Because he was so welcoming I didn’t really want to go out and find another space. It was perfect and effortless. As a female you’re going to get discriminated against, you’re going to run into sexism, and you just kind of have to bear it and persevere. Since Michael was so welcoming I really didn’t feel like going back into that environment. He’s a great instructor! Probably one of the best teachers I’ve had in my life. We Choose Art: So it seems like perseverance is a continuing theme, you mentioned it in respects to the tv and film industry, in persevering through the sexism and in reference to something like working on a tedious neon piece for months or a year, is that something that you feel you’ve LEARNED over time… Price: YES! We Choose Art: …or is it just naturally part of your personality? Price: No, it’s something that I’ve learned. When I first came to work here, Michael was working on solving a problem for a custom piece he was creating, and I was just watching how he didn’t get irritated, he didn’t get pissed off, he just kept working at it, and so just kind of witnessing that… You know? Like doing animation you spend 15 hours on 20 seconds, so I kind of built that sense of “it takes time.” The last and final question for Price was “Why do you choose art?” I choose art because I enjoy the art making process. I like learning how to make things, discovering new tools and media. I choose art because the projects I do are my way of sharing things I’ve learned about how we humans make sense of the world and maybe others will find my perspectives helpful in some small way. I want to have an interesting life. Choosing art helps me achieve that.
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LA ART NEWS SECTION A
Alfredo Madrid at Lummis Day
THE GOOD OL’ MEMORIESBY ALFREDO MADRID
Let’s sail out,on a blue summer day
To the placewhere all the merchants play
We’ll pound on their doors
And hope the demonic plague returns
A moment of tumultAnd all is chaotic.
We’ll see the Earthreduced to carnage and pain
We’ll sail out, on a blue summer day,
Hoping to find peacein a distorted sort of way.
Alfredo Madrid presented this poem at the Southwest Museum as part of the 10th Annual Lummis Day Festival of Northeast Los Angeles. Alfredo Madrid is a Los Angeles based writer with passionate interests in street, artistic and cultural knowledge. Educated at Cal State University Northridge (CSUN), he earned a B.A. in Magazine Journalism and also has a background in the theatre. Aside from his intellectual pursuits, he is also an avid skateboarder and thoroughly enjoys taking long solitary walks. He relishes keeping up with historical literature and is a devoted bibliophile. Poetry at Lummis Day was produced and hosted by Linda Kaye as part of a tribute to the late iconic artist Richard Duardo. The event was made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and was presented in conjunction with the Arroyo Arts Collective.
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