I concede! I don’t really have the time or resources to commit to this blog to do the local arts justice. The fact of the matter is that there is so much good stuff that is going on in Southern California that it would take a big net to collect it all up; not that that is a factor in why this site lays dormant for weeks. Here is the deal. I am not a teenage girl. I have a day job that literally sucks the life and vitality out of my being 1 (footnote: melodrama) and I don’t keep up an adventurous routine of urban exploration that can unearth the local gems. I WANT to but it just isn’t possible right now. Between juggling fatherhood and my responsibilities there remains a couple one liners(i got jokes)…some basic half starts, heaps of the conceptual, maybe some solid ideas that get filed. What is possible is to maintain the process. Build in this direction. Continue the conversation no matter how hushed of starved or disinterested it becomes. Along the route divergent trails will lead to moments of grand enlightenment and wonderful connections. Or not. The point is that to continue this tiny sliver is to hold onto a dream. So this site matters… to me.
So now to the real topic. I have proof that Michael Jackson is still alive. He is in hiding.
Poets & Musicians Perform Live Film Narration
Thursday April 30th
8 p.m.
Seven performers revive the art of benshi – the live narration of silent films – by muting the sound of scenes from feature films and telling their own interpretation. Be prepared for a night of hilarity, experimentation and critique featuring films ranging from John Cassavetes’ Opening Night (1977) to femme fatale filled Kiss Me Deadly (1955) to futuristic Tom Cruise flick Minority Report (2002) and more. Featuring the interpretive talents of Neelanjana Banerjee, Corey Fogel, Jen Hofer, Cat Lamb, Amarnath Ravva, Erika Staiti and Konrad Steiner.
A very worthwhile exhibit is currently running at the Hammer museum. Highly recommend it. Here is a detail swiped from the horses mouth because quite frankly I have been too busy to make a worthwhile contribution to the site and today is no exception. I want to watch Synecdoche, New York and fall into a deeeeep and powerful slumber thereafter (for the night, of course…not interminably). You on the other hand should get yourself prepared to be inspired.
Flight of the Reindeer
“Nine Lives: Visionary Artists from L.A. is the fifth in the Hammer’s biannual invitational exhibition series highlighting work created in greater Los Angeles. Nine Lives features over 125 works, much of it new, by nine artists spanning four generations —Lisa Anne Auerbach, Julie Becker, Llyn Foulkes, Charles Irvin, Hirsch Perlman, Victoria Reynolds, Kaari Upson, Jeffrey Vallance, and Charlie White. The works include video, paintings, drawings, photography, textiles, and two new sculptural installations. As all of the artists live and work in L.A., Nine Lives embodies many of the psychic complexities and paradoxes of the city – it is at once beautiful and frightening, refined and unruly. The reinvention of oneself is central to several of these artists’ practices. These mesmerizing artists create characters and tell stories of fantasy and science fiction, building alternate worlds grounded on their obsessions. Popular culture and mythology are common themes, as are alternative lifestyles, and subcultures. The luxury of space and privacy that Los Angeles affords allows them the freedom to tinker, research, and explore their obsessions which often parallel Hollywood’s dream factory. ”
In life there are many choices. Do I curl up into the fetal position in the face of the difficult one’s? Let’s not get into that… But on the flip side there are those moments when all that is required to repel the darkness is to merely flip on the light switch. So it is within the homestead and so it may be within our consciousness.
On March 13, join Organic Yogart for “Mass-a-Cure”, an evening that will surely stir your soul.
As for the light switch… be physically illuminated by the fire dance of Sirena Serpentina, enlightened by the Dharma Shakti, inspired by the artwork of , Ranmalee Perera and moved by the beats of dj sonic dread.
There will be a wine bar, henna, fuzzy vibes and good times. Then stretch out with Lonne Lioness for a late nite session of meditative yoga set to a woven tapestry of sitar and drums.
If that’s not enough to light the pathways to a clear and expanded consciousness, keep in mind that its all for a very worthwhile cause. Familiarize yourself with the mission of St. Baldricks Foundation.
I know what your thinking… but rather than engage in a discussion about the credibility of the graffiti artist, why not just dive in at least waist deep as Culver City’s Honor Fraser Gallery brings vandalism to the next level. Saturday night visit their group show “I Can’t Feel My Face”. Then on Sunday at Royal/T, also in Culver City, see more Kaws (Brian Donnely). Kaws has been hitting billboard and bus stop advertisements for years, hawking his wares and brand building - standard fare these days. Recently Kanye West had him “vandalize” his “808 and heartbreak” album cover (side note: autotuner be gone please).
Kaws Draws
I come from a tradition of thought that would critique the inclusion of street expression onto a corporate identity (ultimately the end game?) as a snake feeding on its own tail and the billboard below is no doubt a mounted invitation.
To do list: 1. obtain ladder. 2. Subvert the Kanye/Kaws ad. 3. email picture to artcompactor.com. 4. grab tail and prepare to feast
There is a beautiful myth that surrounds poverty. Unfortunately it is only apparent when you have money.
For those of you that follow the daily posts of the site, you may have noticed a lull in activity lately. Recently the Artcompactor has been forced to make some very difficult decisions and as a result I had to lay myself off. Its nothing personal, in fact it is entirely based upon the economics of this institution. In the best interest of the company, I was forced to look at the areas that are the biggest drain on this institution and it turned out it was me.The decision was not made without careful consideration. Not only have I been with Artcompactor since the beginning, but I am the sole contributor. The loss will be felt across all departments and, nondisclosure agreements aside, there is a wealth of information and ideas that will never be reconciled or brought to light as a result of the recent action.
In light of the recent lay-offs, artcompactor has devised a strategy to get the company back into the black by short selling stock, defaulting on a number of loans, embarking upon an aggressive lending scheme targeting returning war verterans whom find themselves in debt and upside down on their mortgage, submitting a request for a bailout, filing taxes twice… possibly a third time with a deceased persons social security number (this requires a small upfront investment) and creating a brand new position for an intern (which I intend to apply for myself - crossing my fingers).
Construction on hold
Check back often for updates on the company’s outlook. Until then… content is not a durable good and is subject to whimsical variation at this phase of obscurity. Also if you feel so inclined, register your email with us. Its simple, spam free and possesses all the power of potential.
Look forward to the upcoming “GIS of the urban landscape - the mapping of urban expression in Greater Los Angeles”
I went on a retreat with some friends when I was younger… a couple girls, a few guys just spending some time together for a little celebration of life. We had rented a cabin with a spectacular view of a lake. We consumed beer (some more than others), things became sloppy, some paired up and disappeared to engage in illicit sexual activity, others argued on the deck just at the edge of darkness. Long story short, the trip ended up a fiasco because some man with a chip on his shoulder hacked most of us up with axes and butcher knives. As I recall, one of the guys arguing was skewered with an archer’s arrow through his eye socket. I lost my favorite swimming trunks on that trip.
The reason I dredge this memory for you is so that this Friday the 13th you do something worthwhile that ignites the soul… rather than spend it being chased in your underwear through a thicket only to escape, find a policeman who obviously doesn’t believe your story, handcuffs you (a serious liability) so he can go to check everything out and ends up impaled with a boat oar.
Good Frequencies on Friday the 13th
Love YogArt: A Night of Making Art
FreeSpirit Yoga, 3910 Atlantic Ave, long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 833-8563 Friday the 13th, 2009 Anno Domini
Organic YogArt’s premier event
8:00pm - 9:00pm
Art Preview & Organic Bar
Featured Artist: Jude Vela Diallo (Public Sketch)
9:00pm - 12:00am
LOVE YOGART…Live Art, Photo Booth, DJ, Henna, Fire Dancing and more
12:00am Valentine’s Day
YOGA LIVE
A midnight yoga class led by Lonne Lioness with DVine 1 on Sitar and DVine Child on Drums
$10 Cover (Buy a piece of art & get $10 off)
*A portion of proceeds will go to IDF SCID Initiative
Sponsored by Steaz Energy, Trader Joe’s and FreeSpirit Yoga
www.OrganicYogArt.com, www.myspace.com/nycpublicsketch and www.thedvine.com
“Bring a date or come single ready to mingle plus get your jingle on. Off the Wall Art Sales all night!”
The Sharpie - utilitarian writing implement or indelible tool destined for museum walls? This is a question that is sure to crawl into the back of the mind after a walk through of the upcoming exhipit (mispelling intentional) at Crewest. There is a long list of participants and there will be live printing by Two Rabbits. DJ Phyz Ed is the beat provider. Much quicker than watching paint dry, the exhibit runs through March 1. Check it out if you are interested in finding some inspiration and have some extra sharpies that you looted from the desk of a recently laid-off coworker, or if you have some that you accidentally took when you were.
Show starts Feb. 7
Crewest Gallery
Store Hours: Tues-Thur: noon-7pm;
Fri-Sat: Noon-8pm;
Sun: Noon-6pm,
By appointment, closed Mondays!
Address:
110 Winston St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 627-8272 phone
(213) 559-0525 fax
Part of why I started doing this website was to connect with interesting events that take place in pet stores. Lo and behold there is one going on. I haven’t been to the Pussy and Pooch Pawhouse and Petbar but that will be old news after the opening of Pukac Safari … and since it coincides with my birthday as well I think I might treat myself to one of those standard poodle haircuts and a bow. Oh and there is the Downtown LA Artwalk too…
These days its tough to break away from all the drama, unless you happen to be a bee, in which case you can visit the Hive and receive a discount at the door, buzz around the creative process and its products, gather some pollen and go make some honey. If you happen to be human and you dress up like a bee you can get the discount too. Regular homo sapien? Prepare to fork out the cash (not really) knowing its worthwhile and nourishing.
