Cidne Hart and Ruth DeNicola at MorYork Gallery

Two Highland Park artists, who are friends and neighbors, are collaborating on this month’s exhibit, “Peripheral Vision,” at York Boulevard’s MorYork Gallery.

Cidne Hart and Ruth DeNicola are well known in the local arts community. This is their third collaborative show.

The collaboration began with Cidne trudging uphill to Ruth’s house—a delightful space filled with art and found materials. The two found that they shared a love of figurative art, and especially of faces.

Cidne is a photographer and digital artist, whose collage work has been widely exhibited. For the current show, Cidne has focused on the creation of books.

“I am always experimenting and learning new processes,” says Cidne. “I realized that books could be vehicles to do a lot of artwork and corral it.”

After teaching herself bookbinding over the past year and examining the ways in which her career working with printing companies has impacted her art, Cidne has created a show in which a large volume of work will be on display in book format. Additionally, each book will be accompanied by an art piece mounted on the wall behind it.

Two books that Cidne are very proud of are fat volumes of locally-based work. One documents Ruth’s house. The other is documentation of MorYork Gallery itself. Each contains over 100 pages.

Other books on exhibit contain interesting photographs that Cidne took of railroad workers in Madison, Wisconsin in 1980 and a book of collages made for a Day of the Dead show about the war in Afghanistan in 2002.

Other books feature experimentation with process including image transfer and lamination of pages torn out of fashion magazines.

Ruth’s works, meanwhile, are assemblages. The MorYork show is by far her largest show to date, with close to 70 pieces of varying sizes on exhibit. The pieces represent about two and a half years worth of work.

The materials Ruth, a local resident since the age of six, turns into art come from many places. Initially, her parents’ garage was a major source. There were forays to the Rose Bowl. Then friends began to give her things.

“The ones that spoke to me, I made art out of,” Ruth says.

The influence of Ruth’s work on Cidne’s work is clear; Ruth’s pieces are often subject matter for Cidne’s, and Ruth’s assemblage work has expanded Cidne’s sense of collage.

The influence of Cidne’s work on Ruth’s may not be as obvious. However, while Cidne has been working on her art books, Ruth has found herself incorporating writing into her work for the first time.

“Cidne says we collaborate in ways I don’t understand,” says Ruth.

Ruth refers to Cidne’s presence in her life as “a surprise and a gift.”

The MorYork show has a bittersweet tinge to it in a couple of regards. It will be Ruth’s last large-scale show. While she retains the soul of an artist, and may still do some small pieces, arthritis has taken a toll on her ability to use a drill and to lift large pieces.

Ruth is grateful to have the opportunity to do one last grand exhibit in MorYork. “I really had a lot of art still in me,” she says.

And this will be the last show at MorYork Gallery itself.

MorYork is a cavernous space. It is primarily the private studio of assemblage artist Clare Graham. It is a fantasy world overflowing with art made from Scrabble tiles, yard sticks, puzzle pieces, rosaries, tin can lids, pop tops, doll parts—an indescribable world that has to experienced, not described.

And a great many art lovers have experienced it over the past six years. Clare, one of the co-founders of the popular NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night, and his partner Bob Breen have graciously opened their doors monthly for exhibits by local artists.

Many venues have come and gone over the past six years. Gallery Night continues, as new venues have located to Highland Park and to Northeast L.A. in general. MorYork is one of the few remaining original venues, but Clare and Bob have found it to be time—after Cidne and Ruth’s show—to close the doors.

Assemblage has, over perhaps the past decade, become something of a Northeast Los Angeles art form, with Ruth, Cidne, Clare and other local artists drawing on the rich materials found it the attics and garages of Los Angeles’ oldest suburbs and along the Arroyo Seco and Los Angeles River.

“I’m so lucky I ended up here,” says Ruth.

“Peripheral Vision”
Cidne Hart and Ruth DeNicola
MorYork Gallery
4959 York Boulevard (at Avenue 50)
Artists’ Reception: Saturday, December 10, 2011
7 to 10 p.m., as part of NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night (see NELAart.com for a map of participating venues)
Open at other times by appointment. (Ruth: 323-258-5446. Cidne: 323-258-6873 or ourfinca@aol.com.)

NELAart Gallery Night~November 12

NELAart Gallery Night Happenings
NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night

The Second Saturday of every month, Northeast Los Angeles art galleries stay open late for NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night. The event is a celebration of the thriving NELA contemporary arts community and of NELA’s history as L.A.’s original arts community. Visit nelaart.com to download a gallery map.

Where to see art Saturday, November 12
including:
NELAart’s Second Saturday Galleries
Stores and Coffee Houses showing local artists
Special Events
And other once-in-a-lifetime opportunities
(7 to 10 p.m. unless otherwise indicated)

Avenue 50 Studio
131 North Avenue 50
“Luna Moods -- Myths and Stories about the Moon,” with poetic stories curated by Suzanne Lummis. Featured artists: David Botello, Pamela Burgess, Martin Charlot, Yu Cotton-Well, Raoul De la Sota, Kathi Flood, Gwen Freeman, Frank Gutierrez, Peter Hess, Heriberto Luna, Beth Peterson, Bobby Rojas, Marianne Sadowski.
In the Annex: “Forest for the Trees,” a site-specific fiber installation project co-sponsored by Yarn Bombing Los Angeles & the Arroyo Arts Collective, featuring Edith Abeyta; Leslie Brown; Katelyn Dorroh; Beth Elliott; Jacque Lene Engel; Carmela Gomes; Heather Hoggan; Amy Caterina Hill; Lisa Jong; Julie Kornblum; Arzu Arda Kosar; Justine Leong; Tyler Mitzner; Lauri Mraz; Racquel “Rocky” Ormsby; David Orozco; Adrianna Rianna; Ann Storc; Kacy Treadway; Jane Wang; Jessica Wards; Tracy Williams and Darlyn Susan Yee.

Bike Oven
3706 North Figueroa
Art show by Bike Oven artist Alex. Spoke’n Art ride at 6:30. Downtown Train Blues Band at the Bike Oven and surprise performances at the Bike Oven and Flying Pigeon. Music starts at 10. Rain cancels the bike ride, but not the bands.

Bonnie Lambert
4022 N. Figueroa Street
“The Night Comes.” Solo exhibit. This introduction of Bonnie Lambert's work is a debut of works produced, some with the unique subtleties of the evening light. With intense color and expressive brush work, Bonnie is able to capture the night in a quiet and poetic way. Her confident brush work challenges you to view the nightscape, beyond the ordinary first look and see the common American suburb as a rich romantic setting of dreams and dreamers.

Cactus Gallery
5434 Eagle Rock Boulevard
"Too Cool For School," a new body of painted and sculptural works by artist Douglas Alvarez. Explores Alvarez’ experience in the Public School system and growing up in Los Angeles through the humor of popular iconography. Addressing the beauty of urban sprawl with its strip malls, nature and the role humans play visibly or invisibly in this environment.
In the adjacent gallery space: Percussion Art.

Cafe de Leche
5000 York Boulevard

Culture Reference (at The York)
5018 York Boulevard
“Mascaras.” New works by Oscar Magallanes.

Curve Line Space
1577 Colorado Boulevard
New Drawings by Kenturah Davis. eu·phe·mism n. The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term/expression for one considered controversial, harsh, blunt, or offensive: [Greek euphmismos, from euphmizein, to use auspicious words]. In a new series of drawings, Davis continues to explore the ideas of self-identification and socialization through portraiture. These works specifically look at the use of euphemisms as a rhetorical device to convey layers of meaning about ourselves. In layering the text to make the drawings they exist as a metaphor for the ways we construct our own identities and perceive one another through language.

Future Studio
5558 North Figueroa
Arroyo Arts Collective Discovery Tour Preview Show.

The Glass Studio
5052 York Boulevard
Mri Scott ElBey. Glass Art Solo Show.

José Vera Gallery
2012 Colorado Boulevard
"City To A Fault, Los Angeles and Environs.” The exhibition features the work of five of Southern California's most noteworthy Plein Air painters: Oscar Arroyo, Jose De Juan, John Kilduff, Alex Schaefer, and William Wray. "En plein air" is a French expression meaning "in the open air,” and is often used to describe the act of painting out of doors, directly from nature. California Plein Air painting gained popularity in the Bay area and Southern California in the early 20th century. "City To A Fault, Los Angeles and Environs" offers the viewer over 40 unique Plein Air perspectives of Los Angeles' urban atmosphere, that are as varied as the artists themselves.
In José Vera's Gallery X-43...”Visit the Moment 25 Years of Art Time” featuring the work of Kostas Lekakis, an expressionist artist working in paintings, woodcuts, etchings, monotypes and jewelry. 6-9 p.m.

Kristi Engle Gallery
5002 York Boulevard
Jocelyn Foye: “Rock n Roll, Rock n Roll, Rock n Roll.“ Using different mediums from clay to sand, Foye has recorded the movements of Greco-Roman wrestlers, cheerleaders, roller derby girls, ballet dancers and sumo wrestlers in an attempt to create a static, aesthetic interpretation of those movements. Foye will be using this opportunity to expand on her earlier processes and practices by including performance, 2-dimensional work as well as audience participation. For this particular exhibition, Foye will be using the world of competitive Air Guitar as her "palette." Fatima Hoang and Janice Gomez, both respected contemporary artists as well as champion Air Guitarists, have been working in collaboration with Foye allowing her to introduce both stages of her process into the gallery simultaneously.

Leanna Lin’s Wonderland
5024 Eagle Rock Boulevard
Vintage jewelry trunk show this weekend! Bringing out all stock Sat (11 a.m.-10 p.m.) + Sun (12-5 p.m.).
2nd Annual Artist Sisters Show. The talented CJ Metzger & Miss Mindy are taking over the main gallery wall showcasing their latest works and fanciful goodies for the season! NELAart Gallery Night preview, 6-10 p.m. Official opening, November 19, 6-10 p.m. Free Box of Stories with $100 or more purchase.

Matters of Space
5005 York Boulevard
The printmaking of Dana McClure. “…I’m interested in finding the space between abstraction and representation. My work aims to create tension between the two rather than polarizing each.”
Matters of Space also will be exhibiting one of Jane Parrott’s exquisite light sculptures.

Mi Vida Boutique
5159 York Boulevard
Dia de los Muertos celebration. “Altarwalk.” Sidewalk Altar Exhibit presented by Artists: Social Machine Productions, Abel Salas, Eric Valdez, Art Junky's Collective. Guest Artist: El Ponk featuring in store altar, paper mache statues, hand painted accessories and more. Jewelry Trunk Show featuring Ilaments by Lisa Rocha. All new Muertos inspired pieces. Muertos Face Painting by Artists: Jimmy Garcia & Valerie Pasarat Hernandez.

MorYork Gallery
4959 York Boulevard
Iva Hladis: “Origins Extinct.” The "Origins Extinct" series was selected by the LACMA Arts Council for their 2011-2012 Special Projects sponsorship. “As I took my found objects and started assembling the first pieces for ‘Origins Extinct’ I was faced with the question of how to tie the opposing elements together and convey the frail ecological state our world is now faced with. Keeping with the Japanese motif, I chose the ancient writing style of Kanji for its history and for its powerful symbolism. My intention is to reflect the simplicity and balance much needed in everyday life and pay respect to the Japanese way of living in the world rather than just living on the world.” 6-10 p.m.

New Puppy
2808 Elm Street, Unit 1
Closing for “Crash Canvas,” an art show featuring five of Los Angeles most active live painters. John Park, Michael Pukac, Christina Angelina, Mimi Yoon and Stephen Williams.

New Stone Age Mosaics
1754 Colorado Boulevard
Mary Clark-Camargo started doing mosaics in 2000. She is known for her large-scale sculptural pieces. Using a vast assortment of exotic glass, tile, semi-precious stone and other "found" objects she intertwines intricate patterns that are at once abstract and organic in nature.

An Orange Door
3188 Verdugo Road
"Antebellum." Stephanie Stein.

Outpost for Contemporary Art
1268 North Avenue 50

Platform
5027 York Boulevard
A multi-purpose concept space offering an art gallery, retail environment and trend library. “Fårö.” Photographs by Martin Rusch.

She Rides the Lion
133 North Avenue 50
The print-making studio of Sonia Romero.

Urchin
5006 York Boulevard
A vintage clothing store with works by young local artists on the walls.

Verbre Studio and Gallery
4540 Eagle Rock Boulevard

La Vida Loca Galeria
5050 York Boulevard
NELA artist, Oscar Magallanes, with Heuristic: LA. New limited edition serigraph prints by artist Oscar Magallanes. All prints hand printed at Self Help Graphics. 6-10 p.m.

White Raven Studios and Gallery
3423 Verdugo Road
Student work and a live painting demonstration by artist Brianna Lee.

York Studios
5029 York Boulevard

2 Tracks Art Studio
135 North Avenue 50

Northeast Carnival

Today is the last day of the second annual Northeast Carnival. Eagle Rock Boulevard, all the way from Avenue 33 to Verdugo Road. 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Proceeds support the youth programs of the LAPD Northeast Division.

From LAFD

Traffic Collision
Southbound 110 Freeway at York Boulevard
Highland Park
Friday, August 26, 2011
TIME: 5:27 PM
INCIDENT # 0964


HIGHLAND PARK - Despite the Friday evening, rush-hour traffic, LAFD resources swiftly responded to what was first termed a "traffic collision" on the freeway. After having received multiple calls, dispatchers quickly upgraded the incident to a "physical rescue." However, the first arriving units encountered something much worse.

After one car apparently stalled on the southbound side of the Pasadena Freeway near York Boulevard, a sport utility vehicle, having not enough time to react to the disabled vehicle, violently rammed into its rear-end, causing the stalled auto to burst into flames. There were two passengers on-board the fully engulfed vehicle and despite the extreme efforts by nearly 40 LAFD Firefighters and Paramedics on-scene, one of the passengers succumbed to injuries and sadly, was pronounced deceased.

Resources from the South Pasadena Fire Department joined with the LAFD on the freeway incident and helped treat and transport four other patients, including the driver of the burnt-out vehicle. All were taken via rescue-ambulance in fair condition to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. At least one patient sustained minor burns, in a clear attempt to assist the poor soul that perished in the vehicle fire.
This fatality collision is currently under active investigation.

Re-thinking North Figueroa Street

About 30 residents of the neighborhoods along the North Figueroa corridor gathered at the Flying Pigeon LA bike shop Friday evening to brainstorm ways to use the implementation of the Los Angeles Bicycle Plan to benefit the busy street.

The Los Angeles Bike Plan was passed by the City Council a few months ago after years of effort on the part of bike activists. But its implementation—and what it will mean for Northeast L.A. residents—is still rather up in the air.

The plan calls for a bikeway the length of the corridor, passing among the communities of Cypress Park, Mount Washington, Montecito Heights, Highland Park, Garvanza and Eagle Rock with connectivity to the Los Angeles River and the Arroyo Seco.

Flying Pigeon proprietor Josef Bray-Ali encouraged participants to see the implementation of the plan in the coming months as a time to “re-think North Figueroa Street.”

“Is a stripe of paint for a bikeway enough for us, or would we like to see better crossing points for pedestrians, faster bus service, quiet streets with less crashes, and a healthier street for business?”, Bray-Ali wrote in his public invitation to the discussion.

City Transportation Department ideas for the 70-foot wide street are pretty basic. A lane of traffic can be removed to allow for a designated bike lane. Or parking can be removed on one side of the street.

The diverse crowd that gathered at the Flying Pigeon was looking to be a lot more creative, not only in regard to where bike traffic can go, but also in regard to how implementation of the plan can support the health of the business community, economic development, safe routes to schools, traffic slowing, noise reduction, public safety, bus access and bright and vibrant streets and sidewalks. The Figueroa corridor was seen, not as a high-speed way to get across and out of Northeast L.A., but rather as the spine of a butterfly, with day-to-day life in residential communities going on in the wings.

Bray-Ali pointed out that there is currently a lack of awareness on the part of local merchants and the public of the fact that a great many of the patrons of local businesses are arriving by foot, bicycle and public transportation. Meanwhile, the planning focus for many years now has been on fast movement of cars. In essence, the group is looking to return the historic street to local merchants and residents.

North Figueroa is high up on the list of corridors targeted for implementation of the bike plan. The local residents who gathered at the Flying Pigeon mean to be ready to bring creative solutions to local problems in Los Angeles’ historic suburbs.

For information on further meetings: info@flyingpigeon-la.com

Jim Bowden, 1921-2011

Jim Bowden, who established Occidental Garage on York Boulevard and ran it from 1947 until 1994, has passed away.
Bowden was born in 1921. While a student at Franklin High School, he became fascinated with building and racing high-speed roadsters. After high school, he served in World War II, landing at Normandy the day after D-Day and spending nine months in a POW camp in Germany, before returning to Northeast Los Angeles and opening his popular business. He was profiled in “Rod & Custom” Magazine in its May issue.
Bowden died July 28 in Hesperia where he and his wife spent their retirement. In addition to his wife Florence, he is survived by two daughters and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Still Go-Go-ing After All These Years

The Go-Go's at the Greek Theatre,
Los Angeles, August 17, 2011


by Eddie Rivera

Was it really that long ago? Gina Schock telling me she's leaving our band to join the Go-Gos?

"Gina, The Go-Go's can't play," I said.

"I can," she answered. That she can.

And, oh so many years, and gold records, and magazine covers, and world tours and honors later, there they were on stage in their hometown. The Go-Go's at the Greek Theatre on a summer night in L.A. You wanna go, just hearing those words.

Morphed into a pop rock and roll band after emerging from the LA punk scene in 1978, the band has held up surprisingly well, as they aptly demonstrated to the sellout crowd. It was almost easy to forget just how many hits they had, sprinkling them through a happy, high-powered set that was as elegant in its simplicity, as it was rich in spirit. A simple rock band stage setup and some pretty cool songs make for a splendid evening.

Charlotte Caffey showed off her versatility on the piano throughout the show, adding a new level of sonic texture. As usual, Gina and her rock-solid drumming held things firmly in place, even as the band sputtered through one or two false starts.

Bassist Jane Weidlin was lively and perky, as though this was a brand new show and brand new band. Singer Belinda Carlisle was svelte and glamorous as she sang gleefully in her woefully thin and often flat voice (I could hear a flat note from out in the parking lot during "Vacation," the set's opener.) But it's rock and roll. No one goes to see the Go-Go's for their virtuosity. It's the joy and spirit of the music they've been making now into their fifth decade.

They've still got the beat.

New Political Districts for Northeast LA

The California Redistricting Commission just voted to approve new maps for Congressional, State Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization districts.

What are the impacts on Northeast Los Angeles? Who will our representatives be? What forces will shape NELA’s political identity in the coming ten years?
See the Arroyo Seco Journal’s reports on redistricting from a NELA perspective:

http://arroyosecojournal.blogspot.com/2011/07/asj-guide-to-redistricting-in-northeast.html

http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=90491

The final vote on the Congressional maps was Democrats: 5 yes, Republicans: 3 yes and 2 no, Decline to State: 4 yes. The final vote on each of the State maps was Democrats: 5 yes, Republicans: 4 yes and 1 no, Decline to State: 4 yes. The maps are now being delivered to the Secretary of State.
The question now is how many law suits there will be and by whom. The most vocal dissatisfaction is coming from Republicans, and the State Republican Party has filed public records requests for items such as emails from commissioners and the firm hired to draw the maps based on commissioner direction.
The conservative dissatisfaction with the process represents quite a change from previous decades, when the primary litigants have sought greater enfranchisement of Latino voters.
MALDEF (The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund) has been evaluating the mapping, and should be making an announcement as to its response shortly.
The Redistricting Commission itself will continue to meet, partially to respond to any litigation and partially to evaluate the process of the past few months.
A particular item on the commissioners’ agenda for the coming months will be of interest to Northeast Los Angeles voters. Central Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Mountains region are the only two geographic areas singled out for specific study. The commissioners will be discussing the impact of map configurations on and among minority groups in those areas. More broadly, the commissioners will be taking a state-wide look at applications of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on the multi-racial dynamics of California.

NELAart Gallery Night Happenings

NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night
The Second Saturday of every month, Northeast Los Angeles art galleries stay open late for NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night. The event is a celebration of the thriving NELA contemporary arts community and of NELA’s history as L.A.’s original arts community. Visit nelaart.com to download a gallery map.

Where to see art Saturday, August 13
including:
NELAart’s Second Saturday Galleries
Stores and Coffee Houses showing local artists
Special Events
And other once-in-a-lifetime opportunities
(7 to 10 p.m. unless otherwise indicated)

Avenue 50 Studio
131 North Avenue 50
“Ganas 2020,” an exhibition of stencil and collage on canvas and rubyliths by artist Ernesto Yerena. The exhibition is based on a story written by Yerena detailing a fictional revolutionary movement, GANAS, fighting for reform, empowerment and dignity.
“Fortress of Solitude/Flux Ultralux,” new work by Ismael de Anda III, fusing imagery from de Anda's journeys throughout the Southwestern United States, Northern Mexico, and his recent travels in Japan. De Anda draws on a re-constructed memory of visiting the "strategy room" from the Quinta Luz Museum, the former home and headquarters of Pancho Villa. His composite landscape of memories also re-mixes childhood experiences, Asian textile designs, and interpretive inspiration from Japanese Obon, a time when spirits of the past are supposed to revisit households.

Bike Oven
3706 North Figueroa
The Spoke(n) Art Ride is a once-a-month bicycle tour of art galleries, parks both public and private, and anywhere the creative human spirit expresses itself in North East Los Angeles. Meet at around 6pm. The ride leaves at 6:30 p.m.

Cactus Gallery
5434 Eagle Rock Boulevard
The Reel Rasquache Art & Film Festival's first independently produced art exhibition. The exhibit displays the work of eight prominent Angeleno artists. Featured artist is NELA muralist, teacher and mentor Margaret Garcia. Also: Abel Alejandre, Lili Bernard, Joe Bravo, Pablo Cristi, Yolanda Gonzalez, CiCi Segura Gonzalez and Patricia Krebs. The RRAFF was established in 2004 to provide a showcase for independent U.S.Latina/o filmmakers from across the country.
In the adjacent gallery space: Percussion Art.

Cafe de Leche
5000 York Boulevard
A coffee shop with monthly exhibits by local artists on the walls. This month: Rock Posters by NOVA. A DIY lo-fi legend and all-around decent human--if you're familiar with the Midwestern music scene, then you may already know his work. After printing stints in Lawrence Kansas, San Francisco and the bowels of downtown LA, he's printing in 90042 & sharing a handpicked collection from the last 15 years. Don't miss it!

Cuculapraline-Frenchic
4704 Eagle Rock Boulevard
We are celebrating Jim Morrison and his Poetry. Ricardo Acuna will read An American Prayer and David Strother will play Violin. Everybody is welcome, drinks and food offered, 10% off Cuculapraline-Frenchic goodies. 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Curve Line Space
1577 Colorado Boulevard
Constructions in Time, Drawings by Philip Vaughan. “Although the drawings in this show are abstract in appearance, their provenance is complex. I see this work as a kind on ongoing research project. To me drawing has always been about looking and seeing and then recording. My work has over the years focused on a kind of search for a hidden harmony or pattern in things around me. Most of the time these are patterns that I will only glimpse tangentially. Often they only become apparent during the process of drawing itself. The action of drawing is the key that opens certain windows for me.”

Future Studio
5558 North Figueroa
Carolyn Potter: Nudibranchs and Other Creatures (Crochet, Polymer Clay & Gourd Sculptures... and more small and large art stuff) "Nudibranchs/sea slugs have taken over my life. These bizarre, colorful sea creatures that live on reefs in the ocean are my obsession. I have used sea slugs to inspire my students to make polymer clay sculptures. My sister brought back a book on the reefs of Indonesia after diving in Borneo. I was in love. Page after page of flatworms and nudibranchs. What color. What form. What fun."

The Glass Studio
5052 York Boulevard
New glass art will be debuted.

Kristi Engle Gallery
5002 York Boulevard
Last chance to see: “Wicked Little Critters,” curated by Anne Hars, bringing together the work of 12 artists who address the human/animal relationship. Non-human critters in art, be they wild, house-pets, zoo residents, farm animals, or fable characters reflect ethical attitudes of privilege over our dominion. Stephanie Allespach, Krista Chael, Erin Cosgrove. Leeza Doreian, Chris Doyle, Matt Driggs, Dana Hoey, Mitsuko Ikeno, Ian Patrick, Hirsch Perlman, Christopher Reiger, Holly Topping. With special contributions by the Main Street Museum and the Seabiscuit Foundation Prints from the Endangered Species Print Project available for purchase with all profits donated to animal conservation organizations.

Leanna Lin’s Wonderland
5024 Eagle Rock Boulevard
Come & Celebrate as Leanna Lin's Wonderland turns 1 year old! Crowded Teeth + Friends present Wonderland ... a fun-filled land of happiness! Artists: Allison Revilla, Alyssa Nassner, Axel Honey, Bei Badgirl, Crowded Teeth, Deth P. Sun, Erica Sirotich, Erin Paisley, Fomato, Helena Garcia, J. Fuchs, Jessica Lopez, Julie West, Kali Meadows, Ming Ong, Miss Kika, Sachiho Hino Lee, Stevie Raya. DJ EV-1 from BWOMP. Also: Don Chow Tacos (Chinese Mexican fusion truck), Lake Street Creamery (gourmet ice cream truck), Lovely Jubilee (event stylist), Maile's Fine Pastries, Mugshots photo booth, Steven Lam photography, Crowded Teeth goodie bags to the first 25 people to arrive, Leanna Lin's Wonderland goodie bags to the first 25 people to spend $10 or more. 6-10 p.m.
.
M2 Gallery
4501 Eagle Rock Boulevard

Matters of Space
5005 York Boulevard
The paintings of Angela Deane. “Transitioning from being a walker in NY to being a cyclist in Gainesville, my understanding of space, scale, and speed has changed. I am now inspired by architecture, where my artwork drew previously from strangers and brief encounters, the tug of familiarity of the human form. In specific, my latest body of work draws from abandoned buildings that I see as I pass in a bicycle or car…The palate of neon and whitewash speaks of the imagined lives I bring to these now decrepit structures.”

Mi Vida Boutique
5159 York Boulevard
Guest Artist: Phyme. Live body painting.
Little Sweeties Mobile Sweet Cart Launch.

Monte Vista Projects
5442 Monte Vista Street
The Closing Reception for Heretics Television Workshop will be a lot of fun! There will be a screening of all the footage we've culled together so far that's fit to be seen---hopefully including some animation by Penelope Gazin and certainly including footage of the scene we shot at the Opening of the show. Live music from The Vatican Underground, performing songs from Heretics Lost. Check out the wall of drunken sailors, with puppet arms and mouths that move. Life-like! Bizarre! 6-10 p.m.
Check out the Heretics Television Workshop in the Arroyo Seco Journal’s current issue. http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=90491

MorYork Gallery
4959 York Boulevard
Ted Meyer: “Scarred for Life.” Mono-prints and documentation of surgical scars. Ever since he was a small child with a serious illness, Ted Meyer has mixed art and medical images as a way to understand his experiences. Through his art he highlights the emotional impact of pain and healing on everyday people—patients, families and medical personnel. “Scarred for Life” is a multi-faceted project that includes printing on paper from the subject’s body, interviewing the participants about their experiences, and photographing the process.
"Free Spirit #8... the revolution will not be motorized!" photo collection by Langdon. A fixed gear bicycle photo exhibition.
Plant Food For People will be set up behind MorYork.

New Stone Age Mosaics
1754 Colorado Boulevard
Grand Re-opening at a new location! Mary Clark-Camargo started doing mosaics in 2000. She is known for her large-scale sculptural pieces. Using a vast assortment of exotic glass, tile, semi-precious stone and other "found" objects she intertwines intricate patterns that are at once abstract and organic in nature.

Outpost for Contemporary Art
1268 North Avenue 50
Public Conversation with political activist Carlos Montes & artist/activist Amitis Motevalli as they talk about being raided by the FBI, activism, art and how we can be activists as well. This event is in-conjunction with Andrea Bowers and Olga Koumoundouros' project "Transformer Display for Community Fundraising: Version 2." 4 p.m.
T-shirt Revival Night is a silk-screening event that features a new artist every month. Bring a favorite old T-Shirt that needs a little sprucing up or any other item you'd like to have the artist print on. Each print is only $6, or buy two for $10. This month: CamLab is a collaboration between Jemima Wyman and Anna Mayer begun at CalArts in 2005. All the graphics CamLab will screenprint for the T-Shirt Revival come from the duo's notes and drawings that they generate together as part of their working process. 7-10 p.m.
Ongoing is Stephanie Allespach's window piece, Sometimes, which will be presented in the window through September.

Platform
5027 York Boulevard
A multi-purpose concept space offering an art gallery, retail environment and trend library. Sophia Male's beautiful work. Sophia creates abstract worlds of colors and forms exploring the beauty and complexity of life.
Food from dosa truck.

Public Fiction
749 Avenue 50
Randy Randall, David Scott Stone, Bachsung, The Softest Handshake.

She Rides the Lion
133 North Avenue 50
The print-making studio of Sonia Romero.

Urchin
5006_ York Boulevard
A vintage clothing store with works by young local artists on the walls.

La Vida Loca galeria
5050 York Boulevard

The York
5018 York Boulevard
After Party!
OLLIN will be playing The York in support of NELAart gallery night. No cover, 11pm-ish.

2 Tracks Art Studio
135 North Avenue 50
Nico Avina and Alfonso Aceves

Van de Kamps Controversy Spurs State Audit of College District

State Controller John Chiang has released an audit of the Los Angeles Community College District's (LACCD’s) bond construction program. The audit questions more than $140 million in district spending, which is part of $214 million in state bond money received by the district from three bond measures approved by voters between 2001 and 2008.
According to Chiang’s office, “LACCD could not produce complete and timely records, spent funds outside voter-approved guidelines, ignored its own procurement rules, failed to plan effectively, and provided poor oversight of bond funding.”
The Controller’s audit has its roots in an investigation of the controversial Van de Kamps project on the border of Glassell Park and Atwater Village.
Many Northeast Los Angeles residents voted for and campaigned for passage of state bonds based on the promise of a college campus at the former bakery site on Fletcher Drive just off of San Fernando Road.
After spending approximately $86 million in district bond, state and federal funds to develop a satellite campus at the Van de Kamps site, Los Angeles City College determined that it had insufficient operating funds for the site and returned it to LACCD. LACCD is leasing most of the site to a charter school under a five year contract.
The Van de Kamps campus ultimately was not included in the audit, because related documents are the subject of pending litigation brought by local activists who have fought since 1999 to save the 1930 Dutch Revival style bakery building from demolition and to see it returned to a productive use. However, the controversy spurred further investigation by the Controller.
“The [Controller’s Office] initially conducted a survey of LACCD’s use of State funding in its bond construction program that was prompted by concerns over the district’s use of $3 million in seed money to start a satellite campus at the former Van de Kamp bakery site,” according to the Executive Summary of the audit. “As a result of the survey, which revealed that approximately $214 million in State funds have been involved in the various bond construction program projects, the [Controller] decided to proceed with an audit to ensure proper accountability of project funds.”
Bond measures carry specific lists of projects on which the money may be spent. The funds are intended for construction, repair, improvements, expansion and upgrade of facilities.
Although the Van de Kamps campus is not included, many of the findings of Chiang’s audit echo contentions that the local “Van de Kamps Coalition” has been making for some time.
The auditors found many LACCD expenditures throughout the district outside of what bonds were designated for. These violations include the construction of buildings that are not on the approved projects lists, the diversion of bond-funded buildings to unapproved uses, completion of projects not completed under previous bond authorizations and construction of buildings without accounting for operating costs. $28.3 million was spent on projects that were canceled before completion, but LACCD could not readily provide Chiang’s office with a list or accounting of canceled projects, had to develop these records during the course of the audit and changed the definition of cancelled project mid-audit.
Further, Chiang’s office contends that the project list for Measure J, the third and largest bond authorization in the Los Angeles Community College District's $5.7-billion construction program, which was approved by voters in 2008, “was intentionally crafted in such as way that virtually any expenditures could be construed to be on the list.”
Measure J, although passed by voters, was a subject of ire among supporters of another Northeast Los Angeles iconic structure, the Southwest Museum, when the measure’s project list was found to include “upgrade the Southwest Museum facility” as part of its laundry list. The discovery was the first that local supporters of the Southwest Museum’s retention in the Northeast area as a fully functioning museum had heard anything about a potential college presence on the museum campus.
The project list also contained the nebulous phrase, “identify opportunities to work with public and private entities on common projects that serve students and generate revenues for the district.” The inclusion of that phrase at the end of a long list of potential projects is now being used by LACCD to support its contention that the leasing out of the Van de Kamps campus is legal under the bond measure.
“The intention seems to be a way to circumvent control and avoid accountability,” Jeffrey V. Brownfield, Chief of the Division of Audits for the Controller’s Office, said of the Measure J project list in a letter to LACCD Chancellor Daniel J. LaVista.
The audit also identified district-wide costs that were inappropriately charged to the bond funds, including $2 million for copying and binding; $1.5 million for public relations, tours and special events and $1.5 million for photography.
Meanwhile, the head bond oversight citizens committee, which is required to issue annual reports, failed to issue any report for seven years. The latest report was found to be virtually meaningless by Chiang’s office. It noted little more than the fact that the committee members had met.
An Inspector General position was filled by an outside consulting firm formed just before the district went out to bid on the contract. That firm, at the time of its interview, had no clients, no employees and no office space. The consulting firm was selected from among 11 applicants, at a cost of $250,000 more annually than what an experienced auditing firm proposed.
Nine months after the hiring of the outside firm, Policy Masters, Inc., founded by a former Director of Policies for the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Controller’s office could find evidence of only one completed “financial review”—of the Van de Kamps project.
“The report bore little resemblance, if any,” wrote Brownfield in his letter to LaVista, “to an audit by an independent entity.”
“Please be advised,” wrote Brownfield, “that, under the .School Bond Waste Prevention Action section of the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bond Act of 2000, any citizen who has paid an ad valorem tax on real property within the community college district can pursue legal action against any officer of the district for failure to use bond proceeds in accordance with legal requirements…”
The audit covered the period of July, 2001 through December, 2010. It makes special note of the fact that, despite the Van de Kamps debacle, LACCD is continuing with an aggressive expansion program “without empirical data to demonstrate that LACCD has a viable source of revenues to operate the expanded facilities.”
LACCD says that it expects to return the Van de Kamps complex to Los Angeles City College in 2014.
The district also says, in its response to the audit, “…due to the current State-wide fiscal crisis, it is necessary for the District, in its budget planning processes, to reacess the building program and the resources available to cover the anticipated increases in M&O [maintenance and operation] costs.”
"Local voters raised their property taxes for a major investment in workforce development and higher education," said Chiang. "Shoddy fiscal management and sub-par oversight of a project of this magnitude will undermine the public's trust and threaten billions of public dollars."

City Sued Over Autry-Southwest Merger

The City of Los Angeles is being sued over its willingness to allow the Autry National Center to absorb the Southwest Museum. A suit has been filed by the Highland Park Heritage Trust and by the Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance.

The two Northeast Los Angeles organizations allege that the Los Angeles City Council, in allowing a Recreation and Parks Board decision permitting the Autry to remodel in Griffith Park, ignored city zoning law and state environmental law.

The absorption of the Southwest by the Autry was presented to area residents in 2003 as a merger that would result in both the Autry Museum in Griffith Park and the Southwest Museum in Mount Washington continuing to exist under one umbrella. However, the Autry closed the Southwest and is planning on remodeling in Griffith Park to present part of the Southwest collection there.

The community groups bringing the suit contend that city zoning law, specifically the Northeast Los Angeles Community Plan, in essence, enshrines the Southwest, the City’s oldest museum, as a central cultural and geographic component of Northeast L.A. and requires the City to take impacts on the 104-year old Southwest Museum and its 97-year old Mount Washington campus into account in any land use decision.

However, at a City Council meeting on the subject of the Autry remodel, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, who represents the Griffith Park area on the council, declared that the Southwest Museum no longer exists.

The lawsuit takes the Autry to task for burying the Southwest Museum name and for moving a land use from Mount Washington to Griffith Park--where new Autry gallery and garden components will bear names and descriptions strikingly similar to those of the Southwest Museum. The contention is that the move is a violation of the City Plan and a violation of the 2003 merger agreement. The lawsuit blames the City of Los Angeles for approving the actions.

The Highland Park Heritage Trust and the Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance also contend that State environmental law needs to be taken into account.

The California Environmental Quality Act mandates that all negative impacts of any significant action must be fully explored and disclosed before the action is taken--a step the organizations believe the City skipped over in granting the Autry permission to remodel on the land it leases from the City in Griffith Park.

On the table before the City is the issue of conversion of space within the existing footprint of the Griffith Park structure into gallery space and an educational garden area. The Autry contends that this is the sum total of what it has planned for the site.

The lawsuit points out, however, that “Autry’s construction drawings submitted to the Recreation and Parks Department staff in May 2010 showed Autry’s total construction project will convert tens of thousands of square feet of non-public space (collections storage and back office space in the Autry Museum’s Griffith Park basement) into expanded new public use spaces (exhibition galleries, special event areas for rental income, new restrooms, etc.).”

The bringers of the suit say that proposed new uses would bring corresponding increases in visitors, traffic and parking needs, all of which mandate a thorough review of impacts on Griffith Park and on its surrounding communities.

The case is being handled for the local organizations by the law firm of Otten & Joyce. This is the firm that won a court decision in the well-known Lopez Canyon Landfill case that found the City of Los Angeles to be in violation of its own laws in authorizing a truck driving school on land that had been dedicated as passive open space.

“Autry broke into pieces its proposal to expand the Southwest Museum land use in its Griffith Park building,” said Brigid Joyce of Otten & Joyce. “Then Autry claimed the City had ‘no discretion’ but to approve the move and no requirement to review environmental impacts.”

When the matter of the Autry remodel went before the City Council in June, only Councilmembers Ed Reyes and José Huizar, who represent the neighborhoods around the Southwest Museum, supported the contention that environmental review was required.

“This is a classic real estate developer ploy to piecemeal a project to evade environmental review,” said Joyce, “and the City went along with a wink.”

The Highland Park Heritage Trust is a nonprofit organization with a 29-year history of advocating for the heritage and historic preservation of communities along the Arroyo Seco in Northeast Los Angeles. The Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance is a nonprofit residents’ association with a membership of nearly 700 residents of Mount Washington.

Three City Council Members--Reyes, Huizar and Paul Koretz--voted to send the Autry remodel back to the Recreation and Parks Board as opposed to giving it the okay.

“Mr. Huizar, Mr. Reyes and Mr. Koretz at least took the vote for integrity,” said Nicole Possert of the Highland Park Heritage Trust at the time.

But the three councilmembers were outnumbered by their colleagues who voted to let the Autry move ahead.

The suit will take an estimated nine months to reach a hearing in the local Superior Court.

NELA's Pending Congressional Districts

The new Congressional districts, as tentatively approved this morning by the Redistricting Commission. Click on an image for a better view.
Thank you, Statewide Database, University of California, Berkeley.

The ASJ Guide to Redistricting in Northeast Los Angeles

The Arroyo Seco Guide to Redistricting
http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=90491

The major story that emerges regarding political redistricting in Northeast Los Angeles may not lie as much in who represents what area (not to imply that’s not important), as it does in how the process reflects the changing nature of our communities in the early 21st century. Latino representation remains important. But we are also seeing a dramatic local increase in Asian American influence, and mapping to join Asian American communities together in large measure drove what out new districts look like. Further, Armenian Americans and Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgendered residents have arrived as recognized local communities of interest.
As important as the number of communities of interest is the fact that those communities have not, as many observers expected, treated one another as competitors. Rather, there have been serious efforts to map and work together—a trend that may craft the coming 10 years of political life.

There will be fewer politicians representing Northeast L.A, according to maps set to be approved this morning by the voter-approved Redistricting Commission.
At the State level, almost all of NELA will be within one Senate and Assembly District. The exception is Atwater Village, which is split.
At the Federal level, things changed considerably at the last moment as commissioners struggled with Voter Rights Act compliance.
Most of NELA will be within one district—with some important exceptions:
• Atwater Village and Elysian Valley are on a peninsula that extends down into the NELA district, but will not be not be part of it.
• The line runs down San Fernando Road. El Rio de Los Angeles Park will be in a different district from its Cypress Park and Glassell Park users.
• And the Los Angeles River will be separated from much of Northeast L.A. This applies only at the Federal level, but comes at a time when Washington is putting new resources into river revitalization (see the news brief in the current Arroyo Seco Journal.)
The Northeast L.A. congressional district won’t go as far south as reported in our guide. At the last minute, a turn west was made at Boyle Heights/East L.A. to take in Downtown through Pico Union.

It isn’t over. The final vote on the mapping will take place in mid-August. This will be followed by legal challenges—potentially quite a barrage of them.
The full guide to who’s coming, who’s leaving and what it all means is online in the Arroyo Seco Journal. http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=90491

More from the Arroyo Seco Journal

Visit Our Photo Albums!:
Check out the photo albums on the Arroyo Seco Journal’s coffee table. Just cut and paste the links below.

Magu
A photo tribute to Magu (Gilbert Lujan), 1940-2011
http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=89964

LA Loves Leo Limón
Studio for Southern California History, 977 North Hill Street, Chinatown, through July
http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=89986

Eagle Rock Independence Day
Eagle Rock celebrates the nation's 235th birthday and its own 100th birthday with a major party in Eagle Rock Park
http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=90179

The Glassell Park Community Garden
A former gang headquarters is now a place for residents to gather and grow food.
http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=90043

Lummis Day
Lummis Day, 2011 at Heritage Square Museum
http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=90153

Butterfly Release
On June 12, the Women's Twentieth Century Club celebrated Eagle Rock's 100th birthday with the release of dozens of butterflies.
http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=90172

And this is what it looked like....

Untitled from Eddie Rivera on Vimeo.

Tomorrow: Galco's Soda Tasting Supports Southwest Museum

One Northeast Los Angeles icon is stepping up in support of another. Tomorrow, Galco’s Soda Pop Stop will be hosting a “Summer Soda Tasting" in support of efforts to save the Southwest Museum.
The tasting will be hosted by Galco’s proprietor John Nese and will feature a variety of specialty sodas from several domestic and international companies. Representatives of the companies will be on hand.
Proceeds will go to the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition.
A highlight of the event will be an appearance by humorist and California pop culture expert Charles Phoenix, who will be mixing “poptails,”-- The Galco," "The Southwest" and "The Highland Park,”--family friendly cocktails with candy garnishes.
There will also be music from popular local bands "Artichoke," and the "Greger Walnum Blues Band," plus a special appearance by 13-year old Highland Park vocalist Genesee Hall. A silent auction will feature Mount Washington artist Lauri Mraz' work, "Southwest Museum, Empty," a realistic depiction of the museum knit from hand-spun yarn. Nearby restaurants El Arco Iris and Italiano's will donate a portion of profits to the cause when tasting attendees have dinner on the boulevard after the event.
The Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition brings together some 70+ community, residents and preservation organizations with the goal of keeping the Southwest Museum, Los Angeles oldest museum, open and fully functioning at its historic Mount Washington site.
While the benefit promises to be great fun, Nicole Possert of the Coalition says that it will also serve to open people’s hearts and minds to the possibility that Los Angeles’ first museum could be shuttered forever.
The benefit will take place Sunday, July 24, 5-8 p.m., at Galco’s Soda Pop Stop, 5702 York Boulevard, Highland Park. Advance tickets are $12 and can be purchased at Galco’s or online at www.friendsofthesouthwestmuseum.com. Tickets at the event will be $15 cash.
In addition to hosting the event, Nese has volunteered to donate all proceeds from store soda and candy sales that evening to the coalition, so this is a great time to stock the soda cellar and prepare for upcoming events or gifts.
“John Nese has been a big supporter,” says Possert. “Galco’s is coming through again—not only for us in Northeast Los Angeles, but for the whole city.”

Photographs: John Nese of Galco's Soda Pop Stop (photo: Martha Benedict)/Lauri Mraz’ yarn work, "Southwest Museum, Empty"(photo: Margaret Arnold)

New Police Station for Northeast L.A.

The Los Angeles City Council today approved a new police station for the LAPD Northeast Division. The new station will be located on the site of the current station on San Fernando Road in Glassell Park.

Construction of the new facility will cost $29.45 million of which $28.45 million will come from Proposition Q bond money. Proposition Q was approved by voters in 2002 to fund the building and renovation of public safety facilities.

The Police Department acquired the current station building in the early 1980s. It has never been adequate. It wasn’t designed for police purposes. It was supposed to be temporary, and was never intended to serve for 30 years. It does not have sufficient parking for the officers. It has potential health issues. Trace amounts of chemicals, apparently from the building’s previous use as a photo processing facility, have been found. And on top of everything else, the building smells bad.

“It is time for us to do well for our police officers, as well as for the residents of Northeast L.A.,” said Council President Eric Garcetti, who represents the district where the station is located.

Garcetti attributed the existence of bond money for construction in Northeast Los Angeles to the fact that the fund has been well managed. Previous projects have come in on time and under budget.

Ramon Soto, representing the City Administrative Officer, told the Council that the plan is to build a 45,000 square-foot facility on the western side of the existing property. The current station will continue to serve until the new facility is ready for operation.

Normally, a new police facility would include a transport facility and a parking structure, but those additions would drive costs up considerably. According to Soto, the LAPD has indicated a willingness to wait until funds can be located for those additions.

After the new building is finished and occupied, the old building can be torn down, and that space can be paved to create some new room for parking.

It will be the responsibility of the City’s Building and Safety Department to see that a full environmental assessment is done on the site.

Groundbreaking is expected to take place next summer.

NELAart Gallery Night~July 9

NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night
The Second Saturday of every month, Northeast Los Angeles art galleries stay open late for NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night. The event is a celebration of the thriving NELA contemporary arts community and of NELA’s history as L.A.’s original arts community. Visit nelaart.com to download a gallery map.

Where to see art Saturday, July 9
including:
NELAart’s Second Saturday Galleries
Stores and Coffee Houses showing local artists
Special Events
And other once-in-a-lifetime opportunities
(7 to 10 p.m. unless otherwise indicated)

Avenue 50 Studio
131 North Avenue 50
“Glass Gourd Mosaic.” Howard Swerdloff, artist and owner of Howeeduzzit Gallery, curates a sort of Bazaar of fine art glass, gourds and mosaic encompassing an orgy of styles. Leigh Adams, Pat Boyd, Angela Briggs, Judy & Larry Cunningham, Cathy Garcia, Tenny Lim, Luz Mack, Dawn Mendelson, Carole Choucair Oueijan, David Van Noppen, Howard Swerdloff, Zoe Topsfield, Stephen Woodruff.
In the annex: “Reheated.” The Tortilla paintings of Joe Bravo. "I use the Tortilla as a Canvas because it is an integral part of the Hispanic Culture and my heritage. For the subject matter of my tortilla paintings, I use imagery that is representative of Latinos, conveying their hopes, art, beliefs and history.
As the tortilla has given us life, I give it new life by using it as an art medium."

Bike Oven
3706 North Figueroa
The Spoke(n) Art Ride is a once-a-month bicycle tour of art galleries, parks both public and private, and anywhere the creative human spirit expresses itself in North East Los Angeles. Meet at around 6pm. The ride leaves at 6:30 p.m. David Roy, Photography. Reception at 10 p.m.

Cactus
5434 Eagle Rock Boulevard
“Treasures of the Sea.” An ocean themed group show. More than 30 artists featuring acrylic and oil paintings on canvas and wood, mixed media works, drawings, watercolors, assemblage and even dolls.
Cactus welcomes Craig Casey of Percussion Art to the Cactus family. Craig will now be working out of the space adjacent to Cactus Gallery.

Cafe de Leche
5000 York Boulevard
A coffee shop with monthly exhibits by local artists on the walls.

Cuculapraline-Frenchic
4704 Eagle Rock Boulevard
An evening of poetry, wine, music and art. Ricardo Acuna reading poetry with David Strother playing violin just behind. 8 p,m, in front of the store.

Curve Line Space
1577 Colorado Boulevard
Vertical Viewpoints - Drawings by Christine Weir

Future Studio
5558 North Figueroa
“Name the Car, Name the Palm” Thos. K. Meyer Photographs. “I have been collecting palm trees for more than 30 years. Driving around Los Angeles, I am always watching for palm plantings. I am also interested in all the neat lookin’ cars parked on the streets of L.A. Therefore, when I see a hot car parked in front of a palm tree, I gotta stop and make a pic.”

The Glass Studio
5052 York Boulevard
Mosaics by Kay K Robinson. A fabulous large piece by Larr Cunningham and lovely work by Leigh Adams. 6-11 p. m. Bull Kogi truck will be right in front.

José Vera Fine Art & Antiques
2012 Colorado Boulevard
Destiny - An Exhibition of Distinctive Mixed Media Photography by Ben Mahler
And in Jose Vera's Gallery X-43: Eternal Hollywood. An exhibition of gelatin silver prints by Alan Kroeber. 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Kristi Engle Gallery
5002 York Boulevard
“Wicked Little Critters,” curated by Anne Hars, brings together the work of 12 artists who address the human/animal relationship. Non-human critters in art, be they wild, house-pets, zoo residents, farm animals, or fable characters reflect ethical attitudes of privilege over our dominion. Stephanie Allespach, Krista Chael, Erin Cosgrove. Leeza Doreian, Chris Doyle, Matt Driggs, Dana Hoey, Mitsuko Ikeno, Ian Patrick, Hirsch Perlman, Christopher Reiger, Holly Topping. With special contributions by the Main Street Museum and the Seabiscuit Foundation Prints from the Endangered Species Print Project will also be available for purchase with all profits donated to animal conservation organizations.

Leanna Lin’s Wonderland
5024 Eagle Rock Boulevard
2VIE. Silent art auction to cover Vee Vitanza’s medical bills from brain tumor surgery. You can bid on art, jewelry, and raffle prizes while supporting a good cause. 6-9 p.m.

M2 Gallery
4501 Eagle Rock Boulevard

Matters of Space
5005 York Boulevard
The sculpture of Kelly Johnston. This new series of wall mounted wood art utilizes the wood burning tool, wood stains and paint to create a structured but surreal environment within a simple piece of wood.

Mi Vida Boutique
5159 York Boulevard
Kalli Arte

MorYork Gallery
4959 York Boulevard
Gordon Bowen: “Xenotropi.” “Using maintenance-free, castings from recycled metal along with found raw materials, I create creatures that bring new life to otherwise forgotten memories… In the world of my work, things are manufactured to look natural and even something as organic as grass is made of steel and wool.” 6-9 p.m.

New Puppy
2808 Elm Street
In collaboration with the Associates of Brand Library & Art Center, Robert Brown: Glass and Serigraphs. Prints and Studio Glass from a Local Master. Robert W. Brown was a prolific visual artist with a vast range of talents: a print maker, studio glass artist, professor of art at Glendale Community College, ceramicist, figure artist; there are few art forms he didn't delve into and he was generally a master technician at each. After a remarkable career, Brown passed away at age 92 in 2009.

One Day
2113 San Fernando Road

An Orange Door
3188 Verdugo Road
Antonio Mendoza: "Infinity Scares The Shit Out of Me, So Why Don't We Sleep Together."

Outpost for Contemporary Art
1268 North Avenue 50
T-shirt Revival Night is a silk-screening event that features a new artist every month. Bring a favorite old T-Shirt that needs a little sprucing up or any other item you'd like to have the artist print on. Each print is only $6, or buy two for $10. This month: Mario Correa's drag racing images.
Ongoing is Stephanie Allespach's window piece, Sometimes, which will be presented in the window through September.

Platform
5027 York Boulevard
A multi-purpose concept space offering an art gallery, retail environment and trend library. This month's featured artist: a solo show by Aimée Rhodes Cook. Aimée creates abstract, gestural watercolors inspired by images of her children sleeping. 6:30-10:30 p.m.

She Rides the Lion
133 North Avenue 50
The print-making studio of Sonia Romero.

Sprout Creative Arts
5917 North Figueroa

Urchin
5006_ York Boulevard
A vintage clothing store with works by young local artists on the walls.

La Vida Loca galeria
5050 York Boulevard
“Degrees of Separation: The Heart” Unique and original art work from Martin Bustamonte. 6 p.m. on.

2 Tracks Art Studio
135 North Avenue 50
The studio of Pola Lopez and Heriberto Luna.

1215 Projects
1215 Cypress Avenue
Magnus Stark: Pinocchio’s Paradox and Other Camera-less Creations. What happens when one embarks on an alchemical journey that breaks down the definition of what contemporary photography is supposed to be?

NELAart Gallery Night~~June, 2011

LT Mustardseed

Walt Hall at Cactus Gallery

Walt Hall at Cactus Gallery

Sand Oner at Mi Vida

Sand Oner at Mi Vida

Lucas Murgida at Platform

Kate Hoffman at Matters of Space

Beth Bachenheimer at MorYork

Clare Graham at MorYork

Seeing Thingz (outside MorYork)

Eamon Ore-Giron at Outpost for Contemporary Art

The Glass Studio

The Glass Studio

Sinan Leong Revell, Los Desaparecedos @ Avenue 50 Studio

Simone Gad, Kathy Fisher, Judith Amdur @ Avenue 50 Studio

Adriana Rincon and Angela Maria Ortiz S. at Avenue 50 Studio

Heriberto Luna at 2 Tracks

Sinan Leong Revell, Los Desaparecedos @ Avenue 50 Studio

OO: M.A. Fists, Bayestch Ghaffary: Vote Here, Yvonne Beatty: Civil Libertarian at Avenue 50 Studio

T+A Friendly at Leanna Lin's Wonderland

Toros Tngrian and Linda Johnstone Allen

A bus stop on York Boulevard

Felicis Montes: Todos Somos Flor at Avenue 50 Studio

Summer Nights in Atwater Village

Enjoy “Summer Nights on the Boulevard” in Atwater Village tomorrow evening, June 30, from 5-10 p.m., and again on July 28 and August 25.
Businesses along Glendale Boulevard will be staying open late, and special entertainment, food, drink and art will be offered in a pedestrian-oriented environment.
Among the special events this Thursday:
• Dancers from Heartbeat House will be performing on the bump out in front of Kaldi Coffee.
• Atwater Village Farm will be hosting a “Pickle Pop Up” featuring local vendors of jams, jellies, pickles and honey. DJ Al G will be spinning evening sounds.
• Revo Cafe will host live music on its patio starting at 6:30 p.m. This month’s featured bands are Small Animals, Still Spark and Seán Kangataran.
• Grain will be cranking up the stereo and offering an assortment of hors d’oeuvres, confections and bubbly refreshments.
• Hugo’s Tacos will be the site of an “Ice Creme Social.”
• From 7-9 p.m., Woof Dog Boutique is hosting a “Dog Beer Fest.” (Yes, you read correctly.) There will be beer for the canines, wine for the humans and 20% off one regular-priced item.
• From 5-7 p.m., it’s “Family Fun Time” at NILA (down by the bridge). There’ll be face painting, games, family fun and more.
• At The Little Knittery, Kerry Regan will be doing a knitting machine demo all evening. Stop by and see her beautiful creations.
• Indulge your sweet tooth at Sweets for the Soul or relax with Summer Spumantes at 55 Degree Wine.
• A local artist showcase will be hosted by Hypnotiq Solutions and Santosha Space.
Summer Nights on the Boulevard is presented by the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council with support from the Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce.