la art news may 2016 section a
DESCRIPTION
Here is the May issue of LA Art News Section A! Read about Fluxus and Lummis Day and other fun and interesting things around the city.TRANSCRIPT
LA ART NEWSLA ART NEWSLA ART NEWSHOW DO YOU CREATE?
NELAart SECOND SATURDAYGALLERY NIGHT MAP ENCLOSED
Section A Volume 4 No. 2 laartnews.com find us on Facebook May 2016
HERE COMES fLuXuS...
“HERE COMES fLuXuS,” at Track 16 in Culver City, not only presents an ambitious survey of works by several of the stars of the Fluxus art movement of the 60s and 70s, it showcases those pieces in the spirit in which they were intended.
Fluxus, a cousin to the Pop Art movement but more radical, was highly indebted to composer John Cage and artist Marcel Duchamp.
The artists featured in this exhibit used ordinary, everyday objects. Their artistry lay in their ability to order or define the objects in new ways. The presentation was usually playful, often tongue-in-cheek. The end result was a re-invention of the ordinary.
Highlights of the Track 16 show include LEEDS, a card game by Robert Filliou--in which the cards are printed on both sides, the players wear blindfolds, and betting is done by spectators--
and display cases full of such pieces as Robert Watts’ “Flux Atlax,” a 24-compartment box containing rocks labeled as “24 parts of the world,” and Geoffrey Hendricks’ “Flux Reliquary,” a seven-compartment box, with such “relics” as what looks to be a snip of electrical wire labeled as a piece of the rope with which Judas Iscariot hung himself. Walls are papered with broadsides and other materials chronicling the Fluxus era.
Fluxus display case at Track 16 Gallery
Fluxus Collective publication
Ben Vautier, Flux Suicide Kit, 1967/69
continued on page 6
LUMMIS DAY 201611th ANUAL CELEBRATION OF NORTHEAST LOS ANGELESMUSIC~DANCE~POETRY~ART~FILM~PUPPETS
The 11th annual Lummis Day festival will take place at four locations in Northeast Los Angeles over the first weekend in June.
The festival presents Northeast L.A.’s colorful and diverse cultural traditions through a variety of artistic styles, shared by a spectrum of age groups.
Lummis Day is made possible by a hard-working, all-volunteer group of Northeast L.A. residents. Admission to all Lummis Day events is free.
LUMMIS DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday June 3, 7-10 p.m.Occidental College, Choi Auditorium “Do you think you know L.A.?: Three films about Los Angeles.” (Presented by the Highland Park Independent Film Festival and Lummis Day.) Screenings of two short films and one acclaimed feature that speak to the Northeast L.A. community: “Once Upon a Time in Chavez Ravine,” directed by Javier Barboza with a narration by Tomas Benitez; “Murals of Aztlán, The Street Painters of East Los Angeles,” directed by James Tartan; and the award-winning “East LA Interchange,”directed by Betsy Kalin. Followed by a discussion with filmmakers.
Saturday June 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Southwest Museum, 234 Museum DriveArt exhibit: “The Spirit, Work and Impact of Highland Park’s Centro de Arte Publico 1977.” Rare work by artists Carlos Almaraz, Frank Romero, John Valadez, Leo Limón, Robert “Tito” Delgado, Barbara Carrasco, Dolores Hernandez Guerrero, Dan Benesche, Richard Duardo and Guillermo Bejarano. Noon reception for the artists hosted by Tomas Benitez and featuring filmmaker/playwright Richard Montoya and music by Willie Herron With Los Illegals.
continued in Section B, on page 20
Lummis Day, The Festival of Northeast Los Angeles
The Andersons will open the show at the Lummis Day’s main stage Sunday, June 5 at Sycamore Grove Park.
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MAY 2016
Music Poetry Art Dance Film
Free!Gratis!
Three days Four locations!Occidental College Friday, June 3 | 7 to 10 pmThe Southwest Museum Saturday, June 4 | 11 am to 4 pm & Sunday, June 5 | 11 am to 4 pm
York Boulevard & Ave 50 Saturday, June 4 | 1 to 6 pmSycamore Grove Park Sunday, June 5 | noon to 7 pm
See our website for this year’s schedule: www.LummisDay.org
Festival of Northeast Los AngelesEl Festival del Noreste Los Angeles
Lummis Day 11th Annual
UPTOWNGAYandLESBIANALLIANCE
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, Florence the dog, Jeremy Kaplan, Larisa Code, Harvey Slater, Kristine Schomaker, Baha Danesh, Leanna Lin, John McIntyre, Jane Szabo
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]
Sales - [email protected]
Where’s Monica?
SO MUCH TO DO!Look throughout this paper and you’ll find so much to do! There’s this art show and that festival...music and art and crafts and food! It must be that time of year. Here at LA Art News we like to keep you informed of what’s going on.
Since the name change at the beginning of the year we’ve been ex-panding our range of both coverage of the city as well as distribution around this great city. Other changes are being worked on which will include some layout changes. Most of the content will be the same but we’ll be adding new contributors and with that, hopefully new fans. It’s always an adventure working on this on going project and I’m so grateful to everyone that participates in it, whether you are a contributor or a reader.
2016 has been a rough year so far for losses of people near and dear to us. I recently lost my mother to a long term illness, she’s in a better place now. And in our community we’ve been saddened by the sudden loss of community leader Pat Griffith. Her spirit will be missed by so many. Add to that the untimely death of yet another artist and mu-sician that touched so many lives, Prince. What this has taught me is to live life to the fullest! Love with all of your heart and live a creative and fullfilling life. Be well!
Thanks,Cathi MilliganPublisher, LA Art News
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ROCKFirst Saturdays
EAGLEHeartWe2016
3-8pm!
Join us at participating small businesses on:Eagle Rock Blvd. & Colorado Blvd.- Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, CA
Shops host their own festivities!For event details:Facebook.com/WeHeartEagleRock#EagleRockShops
ART EXHIBITS AT EAGLE ROCKCITY HALL CURATED BY ERNCSupporting local artists & studentsFor submissions, email:[email protected]
A MONTHLY Experience forthe �ole Family CELEBRATINGTHE ARTS, COMMUNITY & LOCALSMALL BUSINESS
EAGLE ROCK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL (ERNC) ELECTIONS:
ERNC Candidate ForumWEDNESDAY MAY 117pmCenter for the Arts Eagle Rock2225 Colorado Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90041
Eagle ROCK THE VOTESATURDAY MAY 21 (Get Free Pie)10am-2pmEagle Rock City Hall2035 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041ERNC.LA
LOOK FOR THEBALLOONS
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PLAYFUL GIFT SHOP / ART GALLERY
5024 Eagle Rock Blvd,Los Angeles, CA 90041
LeannaLinsWonderland.com323.550.1332
Fluxus emphasized spectator involvement. While artists of most art movements would respond to the viewer comment, “I could have done that” with disdain, the Fluxus artist would probably say, “You should.”
There are over 100 works in the exhibit. Artists include George Maciunas, Yoko Ono, Nam June Paik, George Brecht, Robert Watts, LaMonte Young, Robert Filliou, Ay-O, Daniel Spoerri, Ben Vautier, Allison Knowles, and many others.
HERE COMES fLuXuSThrough May 28Track 163571 Hayden Avenue, Culver Citywww.track16.com Fluxconcert featuring Los Angeles artists and performers: Saturday, May 7, 8 p.m.
HERE COMES fLuXuS...continued from page 1
Robert Filliou, LEEDS-a new card game, 1976
Robert Watts, Flux Atlas, 1973/75 Robert Watts, mid-1960s
Geoffrey Hendricks, Flux Reliquary, 1970/76
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NELAart SECOND SATURDAY GALLERY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS FOR May 14
(Visit NELA Art Gallery Night on Facebook for a last minute, complete list.)
Bob Taylor Properties has planned an exciting evening with great art by Michael Falzone and Elaine Parks, along with live music.
At Cactus Gallery, "Beastly Beings" artists will focus on the powerful yet beautiful connectedness of animals, the outside world and the harsh realities that are the core of human nature. Featured artist is Lena Sayadian, who will be accompanied by a long list of accomplished artists.
Avenue 50 Studio will present:Earthly Delights, organized by the Southern California Women's Caucus for Art, marking the organization's 40th anniversary. The show celebrates the simple pleasures of nature and the joys of artistic expression while delving into the environmental concerns of our day.Dryland Commute, showcasing prints and mixed media by Pavel Acevedo.
The Market is hosting an evening of comedy, music, and drama with No Shame Theatre.Pre-Art Night guided meditation and sound bath with with Electric Sound Bath and Elisa Halma at 5:30.
For fans of science fiction, supervillainy, offbeat heroics and high weirdness: Book Show will present an evening of readings. Kids are wel-come. Grown-ups are permitted. Hosted by Johnnie B. Baker (Budget Press).
At Vintage Tattoo: Book signing for Jonathan Shaw - “Flash Art.”
Vroom Vroom Bitsy Boo will be hosting a musician. Bring the kids.
Matters of Space presents Spanish artist Ana Montiel, whose work embodies different mediums and techniques, from painting to installa-tion, through collage and sculpture.
Urchin Merchant will be partying in celebration of its sixth anniversary.
At Pop-Hop - Dub Lab in the house! The non-profit radio station and creative arts collective has a month long residency at Pop-Hop while they do their Spring pledge drive.
At the York: Andrea Bogdan solo show + KCRW DJ Marion Hodges spinning on the turntables.
Social Studios is hosting an “Inner Beauty” pop up.
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1. Avenue 50 Studio131 No. Avenue 50 323. 258.1435 avenue50studio.org
2. Bike Oven/Flying Pigeon3706 No Figueroa
3. Namaste Highland Park5118 York Blvd.www.namastehighlandpark.com
4. Offbeat6316 York Blvdwww.offbeatbar.com
5. Council District Office #1Gil Cedillo5577 N. Figueroa St.
6. Future Studio5558 N Figueroa St.323 254-4565futurestudiogallery.com
7. Elephant3325 Division St.
8. Meridian5007 1/2 York Blvd.meridianstorela.com
9. Vapegoat5054 York Blvd.323.963.VAPE 10. 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
May 14, 2016 - 7pm - 10pm(Individual Gallery Hours May Vary. CHECK Gallery web sites for individual information. Just because a gallery is listed does not mean it’s open this month)
21. The Market1203 Avenue 50www.themarkethp.com
22. Bob Taylor Properties5526 N. Figueroa St.323-257-1080
23. Cactus Gallery @ Treeline Woodworks3001 N. Coolidge Ave
24. The York Check out their dog friendly patio.5018 York Blvd.
25. Ball Clay Studio4851 York Blvd.ballclaystudio.com
26. Collective Arts Incubator1200 N. Ave 54collectiveartsincubator.com
27. Antenna Studio1617 Colorado Blvd.antennastudioart.com
28. The GreyhoundHighland Park Independant Film Festival570 N. Figueroa St.
29. Urchin5006 1/2 York Blvd.
30. Two TracksPola Lopez, open studio.131 North Avenue 50
31. O & M Leather5048 Eagle Rock Blvdwww.ommleather.com
32. Vapeology3714 N. Figueroa St.323.222.0744
33. Pop-Hop5002 York Blvd.www.thepophop.com
34. Social Studies5028.5 York Blvd.
35. Dotter5027 York Blvd.www.dotterstore.com
36. Leanna Lin’s Wonderland5204 Eagle Rock Blvd.www.leannalinswonderland.com
37. Good Eye Gallery4538 N. Eagle Rock Blvd.www.goodeyegallery.com
38. Highland Cafe5010 York Blvd.323.259.1000
39. CucuArt Gallery4704-06 Eagle Rocl Blvd.323.202.0672
40. Vintage Tattoo Art Parlor5115 York Blvd.
Visit us at NELAart.org
NELAartNortheast Los Angeles Arts Organization, Inc.
41. The U Space2626 N. Figueroa St., suite C
42. The Situation Room2313 Norwalk Ave.
43. Bookshow5503 Figueroa St.www.bookshow.com
44. Vroom Vroom Bitsy Boo5031 B York Blvd.
45. The Slow Down Gallery@ Random Gallery200 N. Ave 64
46. Curve Line1577 Colorado Blvd.
47. The Glass Studio5668 York Blvd.www.theglassstudio.net
48. Rock Rose Gallery4108 N. Figueroa St.323.635.9125
49. All Star Lanes4459 N Eagle Rock Blvd.323.254.2579
50. Pop Secret5119 Eagle Rock Blvd.
51. Apiary Gallery atThe Hive Highland Park5670 York Blvd.www.thehive.la
52. Leader of the Pack5110 York Blvd.www.leaderofthepackvintage.com
53. Short Hand5028 York Blvd.shopshorthand.com
54. Rosie Bunny Bean1309 N. Ave 51rosiebunnybean.com
55. co-Lab Gallery5319 York Blvd.www.co-Lab.com
56. The luxelust life Vintage Furniture6095 York Blvd
57. The Erin Hanson Gallery2732 Gilroy St.erinhanson.com
58. MAN InsuranceAve 50 Satellite1270 N. Ave 50323.256.3151
59. Possession Vintage5119 York Blvd.www.possessionvintage.com
60. The Hunt Vintage5317 York Blvd.www.thehuntvintage.com
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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. Elephant3325 Division 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
May 14, 2016 - 7pm - 10pm(Individual Gallery Hours May Vary. CHECK Gallery web sites for individual information. Just because a gallery is listed does not mean it’s open this month)
21. The Market1203 Avenue 50www.themarkethp.com
22. Bob Taylor Properties5526 N. Figueroa St.323-257-1080
23. Cactus Gallery @ Treeline Woodworks3001 N. Coolidge Ave
24. The York Check out their dog friendly patio.5018 York Blvd.
25. Ball Clay Studio4851 York Blvd.ballclaystudio.com
26. Collective Arts Incubator1200 N. Ave 54collectiveartsincubator.com
27. Antenna Studio1617 Colorado Blvd.antennastudioart.com
28. The GreyhoundHighland Park Independant Film Festival570 N. Figueroa St.
29. Urchin5006 1/2 York Blvd.
30. Two TracksPola Lopez, open studio.131 North Avenue 50
31. O & M Leather5048 Eagle Rock Blvdwww.ommleather.com
32. Vapeology3714 N. Figueroa St.323.222.0744
33. Pop-Hop5002 York Blvd.www.thepophop.com
34. Social Studies5028.5 York Blvd.
35. Dotter5027 York Blvd.www.dotterstore.com
36. Leanna Lin’s Wonderland5204 Eagle Rock Blvd.www.leannalinswonderland.com
37. Good Eye Gallery4538 N. Eagle Rock Blvd.www.goodeyegallery.com
38. Highland Cafe5010 York Blvd.323.259.1000
39. CucuArt Gallery4704-06 Eagle Rocl Blvd.323.202.0672
40. Vintage Tattoo Art Parlor5115 York Blvd.
Visit us at NELAart.org
NELAartNortheast Los Angeles Arts Organization, Inc.
41. The U Space2626 N. Figueroa St., suite C
42. The Situation Room2313 Norwalk Ave.
43. Bookshow5503 Figueroa St.www.bookshow.com
44. Vroom Vroom Bitsy Boo5031 B York Blvd.
45. The Slow Down Gallery@ Random Gallery200 N. Ave 64
46. Curve Line1577 Colorado Blvd.
47. The Glass Studio5668 York Blvd.www.theglassstudio.net
48. Rock Rose Gallery4108 N. Figueroa St.323.635.9125
49. All Star Lanes4459 N Eagle Rock Blvd.323.254.2579
50. Pop Secret5119 Eagle Rock Blvd.
51. Apiary Gallery atThe Hive Highland Park5670 York Blvd.www.thehive.la
52. Leader of the Pack5110 York Blvd.www.leaderofthepackvintage.com
53. Short Hand5028 York Blvd.shopshorthand.com
54. Rosie Bunny Bean1309 N. Ave 51rosiebunnybean.com
55. co-Lab Gallery5319 York Blvd.www.co-Lab.com
56. The luxelust life Vintage Furniture6095 York Blvd
57. The Erin Hanson Gallery2732 Gilroy St.erinhanson.com
58. MAN InsuranceAve 50 Satellite1270 N. Ave 50323.256.3151
59. Possession Vintage5119 York Blvd.www.possessionvintage.com
60. The Hunt Vintage5317 York Blvd.www.thehuntvintage.com
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47 51
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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 APRIL 2016
Denise Bledsoe and Ulla Anobile at Cactus Gallery
Collective Arts Incubator
Andy Ledesma at Align Gallery
Michal “Peanut” Karmi at Vroom Vroom Bitsy-Boo
Raquel Gutierrez at Vapegoat
Andrew Murga at Avenue 50 Studio
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LA ART NEWS SECTION A
323-222-0744
Vapeologyl . a .
Vapeology is an Environmental and Health Conscience Establishment
the art and science of vape
Electronic Cigarettes Since 2012
N. Figueroa St. @ aVe. 37
In our 4th year of successfully helping people quit smoking
Kanger Halo & Evo LiquidsProvari JoytechInnokin
EleafCoastal E-liquids Laboratories
Samsung
Thanks to all that came out for the photo-booth Check out the pictures at Vapeologyla.com in the “gallery”
Providing honest answers & information about electronic cigarettes
In a comfortable adult environment.
Fuzion Flavorz by JoeEliquid France
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
Ana Montiel at Matters of Space
Art Bern 2: Portraits and Art Inspired by Bernie Sanders at Future Studio
Edward E. Solis at Avenue 50 Studio
East-side Collective at Avenue 50 Studio Benjie Escobar at Mi Vida
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MAY 2016
CITY TACKLES BUDGETARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING UPBUT L.A. ISN'T OUT OF THE WOODS
In late April, the Los Angeles City Council began its annual hearings on Mayor Eric Garcetti's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The Council's Budget Committee chair, Paul Krekorian, began days of hearings on April 27 by pointing out that not many years ago, the projected budget deficit as the hearings began was over $1 billion Now, the City has erased 85% of that structural deficit. "We're now in a place where we can look at beginning the process of service restoration," said Krekorian, although he added that there are still several years to go before the City can be considered out of the woods monetarily.Further, while the proposed budget makes huge strides in funding the City's stated commitment to ending homelessness, that has meant that the Mayor's office has had to make some hard choices regarding other projects. The city budget allocates $4.5 billion in unrestricted revenue. The largest share, 71.5% goes to police and fire protection.
The Department of Cultural Affairs derives most of its revenue from a specific source, the City's hotel bed tax, a.k.a. "Transit Occupancy Tax." This means a fluctuating revenue stream for the department. "As part of this year's budget," General Manager Danielle Brazell said in a letter to the Council Budget Committee, "DCA, with support from the Mayor and City Administrative Officer, will create a Reserve Fund for Revenue Fluctuations," to avoid "traumatic disruptions to DCA's core services."The department's budget has increased slowly but steadily over the past several years, from $8.1 million in 2012-13, to $12.4 million in the proposed new budget. Main budget items include administrative support for art centers, communications and technology, Olympic mural restoration, community and cultural festivals, and contract administration. "This is a positive budget for the Department of Cultural Affairs," Brazell told the Council Budget Committee. "…It restores badly needed positions at community art centers, and it bolsters the department's administrative capacity." The department's grants programs reached an estimated 2.99 million people in budget year 2015-16, with free and low-cost programs featuring dance, music, media, visual arts, and literature, plus educational programs, artist residencies, and professional fellowships. The department is projecting that in 2016-17, the number of people reached will jump to 3.25 million. Among additions to the Department of Cultural Affairs budget this year: • There will be two new Citywide Heritage Month Celebrations--LGBT and American Indian. • The restoration of murals created for the 1984 Olympics will be continued and lighting will be added. However, there is no line item in the proposed budget for ongoing conservation of other murals. "DCA has demonstrated increased commitment to partnering with city departments to maximize our impact," Brazell wrote in her letter to the Budget Committee. "These new collaborations include placing an artist in residence in the Department of Transportation, utilizing Recreation and Parks sites for CURRENT: LA Water [the coming arts biennial], and collaborating with the Los Angeles Public Library on The Big Read Program in LA and a special art library card designed by marquee street artist Shepard Fairey."
Other budget items related to the arts and broader cultural issues include:There are several projects related to the Los Angeles River in the budget. One million dollars is proposed toward the construction of a the La Kretz multi-modal bridge, which will allow bicyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians to safely cross between the bikeway and Griffith Park on the west bank and Atwater Village and North Atwater Park on the east bank. Two point three million is proposed for landscaping the Sixth Street Bridge replacement. Sixty million is proposed toward the purchase and basic remediation of the Taylor Yard G2 Parcel in Northeast Los Angeles. The G2 Parcel represents 40-acres of potential green space near the junction of Glassell Park, Cypress Park, Elysian Valley, and Atwater Village. This green space would connect to the Rio de Los Angeles State Park, and someday provide recreation, improved water quality, habitat restoration, and access to a restored river system in an area where no river access currently exists. The proposed budget adds $1.6 million for new library books and other materials, bringing such funding across the system to over $13 million. This will boost per capita material acquisition from the current 2.89 to 3.30. (The national average is 6.49.)Library cards will be issued to all first and sixth graders, which means access to online tutoring. Public computer bandwidth and speed are slated for improvement. Digitization of heavily used historic collections will be sped up. Almost 50 new employee positions are proposed. According to City Librarian John Szabo, the proposed budget represents a significant investment in homeless services, including library programming for shelters, encampments, and low-income housing; education and job resources; computer access for community partners working in libraries to help provide services; and increased security at libraries where there are sizable homeless populations.Graffiti abatement is continued at $1.7 million in the new budget. This includes prevention and abatement on murals. Over $500,000 will go toward 36 existing Clean and Safe Spaces (CLASS) program parks throughout the city. CLASS is designed to help youth build their self-confidence as they explore new opportunities, and the program consists of neighborhood and civic participation, active recreation, field
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trips for cultural and informative purposes and the option to participate in vocational or university based internship programs.The proposed budget includes increased funding to the Department of Recreation and Parks for cleaner park restrooms. (City Councilmember Mike Bonin told the Budget Committee about having to bring in hazmat to clean up what happens when park restrooms aren't cleaned.)The budget also includes a provision for Recreation and Parks to enter into joint use agreements with local schools to provide open space during off-school hours for communities throughout the city that lack access to parks. According to Department of Recreation and Parks General Manager Michael Shull, one of the main goals of the department is a park within one-half mile of every residence. The public school district can help by allowing playgrounds to function like pocket parks. Recreation and Parks has located where the gaps are and has mapped where nearby schools are. The 35th school is about to be added to the program. Shull told the Budget Committee that an addition of 20-25 schools to the program could provide park access for 200,000 city residents. Funds for programs targeting young Angelenos, such as the Girls Play LA program to increase girls' participation in the City’s sports programs, are included in the Recreation and Parks budget. A number of Eagle Rock residents, including representatives of the Neighborhood Council, attended the first day of the council budget hearings, to ask that funding for a local dog park, which they had been under the impression would be in the budget, be added. Councilmember José Huizar wrote to the budget committee requesting $785,000 for the park.Community residents, including Friends of Griffith Park, have expressed considerable support for reinvigoration of the Park Rangers program. According to Shull, rangers in regional parks are not just law enforcement officers, they are also fire fighters, educators, environmentalists, EMTs, and first responders. They work with and deal with homeless populations and address quality of life issues. The coming year will see the summer opening of The Italian American Museum and a new visitor retail center at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, as well as construction for the relocation of Channel 35, the City's television station, to the Merced Theater. El Pueblo raises its own revenue. An additional $1.9 million in funding for the Department of City Planning’s Community Planning Program triples the size of staff dedicated to the program, meaning that the department will be able to update all Community Plans within ten years. However, two positions for Neighborhood Conservation have been lost, at least according to the draft budget. The staff members in these positions were enabling the creation of six Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZs)--Holby-Westwood, Carthay Square, Oxford Square, The El Sereno Berkshire Craftsman District, Sunset Square and Miracle Mile. Residents of these proposed HPOZs have worked for years to create their zones. According to Ken Bernstein, Senior City Planner, there are almost 20,000 properties in 30 city HPOZs. The six new HPOZs collectively would mean a jump of about 20% in the number of properties in such zones."We are in the home stretch of that adoption process," said Bernstein. "…The cut of two positions really would not allow us to move forward either with those adoptions or obviously having staff in place to administer additional HPOZs moving forward."The Los Angeles Conservancy and community members have asked for restoration of the planning positions. Among key elements of Garcetti's budget proposal are such quality of life issues as enhancing and expanding mobility options by supporting a variety of transit options and Metro's accelerated project schedules, and making streets safe for all users by redesigning the most dangerous streets and intersections through the multi-departmental Vision Zero initiative, which seeks to end traffic deaths by 2025. Seleta Reynolds, General Manager of the Department of Transportation, told the Council Budget Committee that, while the immediate goal is to reduce traffic fatalities by 20% in the coming year, the City is currently headed in the wrong direction in this regard and is experiencing increased fatalities. The Department of Transportation and the Los Angeles Police Department have, therefore, put in a joint budget request for funds to bring about what Reynolds termed "a culture change," involving engineering, enforcement, and education. The proposed budget includes about $2 million for capital improvements--in other words, the design of streets--which Reynolds termed a big predictor of frequency and severity of crashes. It also includes funds for updated speed surveys. According to State law, without such surveys, enforcement cannot happen, meaning that drivers can break the law and not get ticketed. The Budget Committee questioned General Manager Shull of the Recreation and Parks Department about the department's high water costs. In 2007-08, 92% of the department's budget went to services. This year, because of high water costs, only 43% of the budget can go to services. Recreation and Parks has made large strides in reducing water usage. According to Shull, in 2004, Los Angeles parks consumed four billion gallons of water. In 2013, that usage was down to 2.5 billion gallons. Now, the figure stands at 1.8 billion gallons. Elysian Park, which currently has one of the oldest water infrastructures in the City, is being converted to recycled water usage. Roosevelt Golf Course and its Griffith Park surroundings will soon be converted as well. However, Shull told the Councilmembers, the department will experience a $5.2 million increase this year. Over five years, the cost is probably going to go from a $9 million bill for water alone, to a $31-32 million bill. (This is due to legal prohibitions against tiered systems, i.e. rate breaks for parks.) Councilmember Bob Blumenfield pointed out that it would take approval by voters to allow a reduced water rate for public parks.
When the City Council Budget Committee finished five days of a marathon meeting, during which it heard from the heads of all city departments, the committee had accumulated a list of over $100 million worth of worthy items they feel strongly about adding into the budget document. The two positions for Historic Preservation Overlay Zone support are tentatively in. Park Rangers tentatively are in for at least a few months. The Eagle Rock Dog Park is in with the understanding that Councilmember Huizar and the Chief Legislative Analyst are going to look for sources for the money. But the reality is that for everything added, something else has to go. On Friday, May 13, the committee will have a go at figuring out how to fund these additional items. A public hearing on the committee's completed proposed budget is tentatively scheduled for May 18 before the full City Council, with a Council vote on May 19. The budget process is not complete until the document is signed by the Mayor.
WE CHOOSE ART JANE SZABO | RECONSTRUCTING SELF
05 – 04 – 2016Written by Baha H. Danesh from WeChooseArt.comFeaturing Jane Szabo
Last week the We Choose Art team visited Los Angeles photographer and multi media artist Jane Szabo at her studio in the Brewery Arts Complex.
When we asked Jane, “Why do you choose art?” She confidently stood up and said, “I can answer that visually” and swiftly dumped a box of women’s nude colored pantyhose in the middle of her studio floor. She stated:“In High School I was in my art class and somewhere within that class I realized that I didn’t want to be stuck in a job where I had to wear pantyhose to make a living and immediately, as a lifestyle choice, I started to train myself to become an artist. So in an essence I chose art because I didn’t want to wear pantyhose as an adult!“ As time went by that’s exactly what she did. Jane received her MFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA during the 1990 ‘s. She went in as a painter and left as an installation artist. Immediately after graduation she started working in the film industry and placed her own fine art career on hold. But 6 years ago, she was once again inspired to start creating and picked up a camera to photograph her artwork. From there she started pushing the boundaries of the traditional self-portrait by finding new ways to express personal
identity. Today, she designs beautiful distinctive dress forms from familiar objects such as discarded newspapers, household coffee filters, antique road maps and even raw dental x-rays. She then sensibly photographs each constructed dress by pairing objects with the dresses, creating a story, and inviting the viewer to contemplate the connections.
Throughout her playful photographs she surveys how women can construct their identities in society by providing cultural and symbolic connotations and at times generating an insight into who the artist is, is not, or wishes to be. Jane States:“It’s important for me to make myself the subject of the art but instantaneously I want the viewer to fill in the missing fragments with their own thoughts and feelings.”Each dress is layer of couture like skin for the viewer to absorb and appreciate. However, Jane doesn’t want people to romanticize the dress forms but to focus on the photograph in its entirety. That’s what makes Jane’s artistic concept different from the average conceptual photographer. She states:“The dress is the least important thing. It’s a vehicle for me to put content on. It becomes a rhythmic repetition and how we wear our identities on our bodies.“ Jane Szabo’s vivid and award-winning photographs have been reviewed in the Los Angeles Times and the Huffington Post.
Her photography has been included in exhibitions at the the Griffin Museum of Photography, Los Angeles Center for Photography, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Yuma Fine Art Center in Arizona and more recently she will be featured in the show “Artist as Subject” located at the Museum of Art & History (MOAH) in Lancaster, CA. For more information on Jane Szabo please visit her website at JaneSzaboPhotography.com.
Images provided by Jane Szabo and Baha Danesh
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MAY 2016
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LA ART NEWS SECTION A
