Saturday, July 27, 2013: Savage City Apocalyptic Art @ Bauhausu Long Beach

Check out this event Saturday, July 27, 2013 at Bauhausu in Long Beach great art, music, fashion, drinks and more!
1950 E 4th Street, Long Beach, Cali
www.bauhausulongbeach.com

United Wilmington Youth Foundation Restoring Historical "El Mercadito Market" Mural

The decaying historical mural that adorns the exterior of El Mercadito "Maravilla" market on L and Hyatt streets in Wilmington is finally getting a restoration by members of the United Wilmington Youth Foundation and community volunteers. 

The current owner "Jorge" has occupied the store for the past 33 years. Around the same time in 1979 the mural was painted by Javier Moreno and Mario Falcon. Moreno passed away four years ago and the whereabouts of Falcon are unknown. However, their significant mural has became a cultural historical landmark loved by the community. A much needed restoration of the mural has been necessarily for years. The mural has suffered damage from the past decades of gang warfare in the area. Graffiti and age on the mural have caused some of the original parts to become distorted and worn down. 

Old photographs of original mural are used in restoration 

(Defaced) Jose Maria Morelos Mexican Revolutionary for Independence 

Emiliano Zapata and images of gang truce for peace

Restoration day 4

History of El Mercadito
The building of El Mercadito has been standing in the same place for 113 years. It has gone through about 4 different owners and renovations. The first business was a small gas station then it was turned into a market. Jorge explains, the first two owners were of American decent. As the community  and demographics started to evolve  the market was centered around the Hispanic community. Inside the market there a carneceia and kitchen where people can buy homemade menudo, pupusas, and other antojitos.

Food and Fresh Meat Counter

Original Refrigerators 60-years-old and Still Going

Although I never lived in area, the neighborhood holds significant memories for me. In the 1970s and into the 1990s my parents and family went to church down the street at Holy Family  Catholic Church or better known as Sagrada Familia. The mural on the market was always something I looked at and never forgot as we drove past on L street on the way to mass.  20 years later its no wonder that mural means so much to the community. The impact of the colorful mural captures the spirit of a by-gone era with its cultural pride and message of peace but will continue to impact the newer generations within. 

Important Dates

• Restoration will continue until June 28, 2013 
• Cupcake and lemonade sale Saturday June, 22 2013 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 
• Youth essay writing contest deadline August 23, 2013 prize $1000 email UWYF for rules on the contest info@uwyf.org
• Revealing and celebration September 7, 2013 more details will be posted

Volunteers and supplies are welcome! please stop by Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m

United Wilmington Youth Foundation is a non-profit organization started in 1992 by Santos Trani in order to empower youth in Wilmington to contribute in the community positively and avoid gangs. The non-profit was  revived last year with a new set of energetic youth and mentors ready to start making changes in the community. Follow them on Facebook here

Revisiting Pelican Bay Art

This post was originally from 2007 when I first started the blog. However, I decided to re-vamp and revisit the old post . The majority of the art work was from inmates who were serving S.H.U time up at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City California.

"This is where the inmate eats, sleeps and exists for 22 1/2 hours a day. He spends the other 1 1/2 hours alone in a small concrete yard." NPR.org

In recent news:
 July of this year Pelican Bay S.H.U and other supporting prisons in California went on a hunger strike in demand of proper living conditions and human rights.  The following photographs consist of three different art shows from 2006-2007. One of the shows was curated by our very own Slanguage Studio Chinatown Gallery in 2006. The artwork was a collection of pieces and items gathered in correspondence by artist Dixi Swift . The other two shows where curated by small galleries in Long Beach and San Pedro by other organizations.  As conditions and regulations have gotten harsher artwork like this has been hard to send home. For a minute Pelican Bay authorities started stamping mail with a big red stamp ruining some of the work. Other times the artwork never reached its destination and was destroyed. I am not sure the status of artwork today; nonetheless, this might be a last of its kind in this condition without authority alterations.


Insider Art Presents "Ballpoint Creations"

Controversial but thought provoking
Artists: Robert Tamayo, Jesus Gonzalez, Raymond Casares and Steve Carotan
Artist connect to their family and friends through Pelican Bay walls 
Long Beach, California 2007

Check out the rest after the jump!

Defiant Chronicles: Saturday, April 30, 2011

Defiant Chronicles is the  documentation of  the rusty and  beautiful concrete layers of the city. The unwanted streets tell us history while the broken structures  breed color into art.

From Museum website:

The Museum of Latin American Art presents “Defiant Chronicles,” the second exhibition organized by MOLAA for its new satellite space called The Collaborative. Co-curated by MOLAA Curator Idurre Alonso and Slanguage Founders Mario Ybarra Jr. and Karla Diaz, the exhibit focuses on representing current strategies for artistic production derived and influenced by urban and street art including graffiti, stencil and stickers. The exhibition is comprised of two multi-media installations by artists aka, Acamonchi from Tijuana, Mexico and Los Angeles-based artist aka, Perl from the graffiti female collective FDS (From the Streets). The invited artists share a similar concern for utilizing artistic tactics of research-based projects, documentation and investigation. The exhibition challenges the traditional approach to street art/graffiti as a practice that is meant to be singled-out from its place and context, exclusive to an insider audience and contradicts the perception of urban art as a male dominated art form that rarely addresses gender issues in its content. May 1 through July 24.

Opening Reception April 30, 2011

7 p.m. - 9 p.m

Show runs till

July 24, 2011

Location:  The Collaborative,

 421 W. Broadway, Long Beach.

Phone: (562) 570-1930

Swapmeet Chronicles will be participating in the show with photographs documenting the forgotten streets of Wilmington and South Central. 

"Dino's"

"Drink and Wash"

"lonely virgin"

Paintography: Featuring Works by Tonan

This Saturday, April 9, 2011, please support WECAN in another notable exhibition featuring many talented artists including my comrade Swoe FDS. This show will feature the unique, morphed photographs of L.A landscapes through the eyes of Swoe. 


Strapped with a point-and-shoot digital camera Swoe does not need any fancy gear to get that right image. Swoe has a keen eye for photography and can manipulate his images into one of a kind creations. 


When I asked Swoe what inspires him to take photos he said, it brings him happiness. However, it is also for the same reason graffiti writers paint spots; because of that relationship that one has with a part of the city. When a writer paints a spot they own that spot for that moment, that part of the city is theirs  when they look back at their painting they feel good. The same things goes for photography you get to document something and share it with everyone to see. 




The images that capture Swoe's attention are mostly buildings and of course people. Buildings can range from skyscrapers to old decrypted buildings. The mere angles dimensions and perspectives of these buildings are an intriguing part of his photos. The majority of his photos, he describes, are taken while driving which makes it that much more exciting. When it comes to shooting images of people he prefers capturing people in their natural state. 


His theory for those that enjoy photography but do not have the means for expensive equipment is that it should never cost much to get creative. Everybody can make  the most out of what they have. It is almost like a  badge of honor when you accomplish  something for nothing...

Legs That Dangle

4th street in full color-Boyle Heights 

                      Ghost Corner

Check out his photographs and the rest of the talented artists in paintography. 

 Here is the info for event.

"Paintography"

The exhibition will open April 9, 2011 during LONG BEACH DOWNTOWN ART WALK and will be a collaboration with AMC Gallery at Phantom Galleries LB. It will exhibit single art pieces by multiple artist and media, and will be surrounding the theme "Paintography." Each artists will adress through their art what is Paintography or what it means to them or how it inspired thier work.

Featured Artists:

Edith Bogarin

Anthony Castro

Jimmy Centeno

Swoe  FDS

Armando Cortes

Gail Forde

Francisco Martinez

Wesley Pacleb

Gloria Sanchez

Emilio Venegas

Publish Post

WECAN (Wilmington Enrichment Community Artist Network) promotes and supports the arts in Wilmington and the greater Los Angeles area through art exhibitions, performances, cultural events, and workshops.Based in the “Heart of the Harbor” we are a collective dedicated to providing and inspiring others to create and engage within the community through art. By creating a platform for engagement, we hope to spark interest in others throughout our area.

WECAN www.facebook.com/wecanart

Art, Music & Culture (A.M.C.) www.efrenluna.webs.com

Phantom Galleries LB www.phantomgalleriesla.org

LONG BEACH DOWNTOWN ART WALK www.lbdaw.org

NOTE: During this exhibition music will be played in the front and back of our gallery simultaneously there is going to be so much going on that day! THIS WILL BE AMC GALLERY'S LAST SHOW AT THIS SPACE!!! SO COME OUT AND SUPPORT!!! 

"Yeah that's my gallery...but just got the news... since gov Brown eliminated RDA funding...that will be my last show as I will be needing to vacate the space the next day...hope to see you! Pass the word! thanks! Lets show them what they are going to miss out, ART, MUSIC & CULTURE!!!" -Efren Luna

The Faces of Skid Row Opening Reception at Crewest Saturday, October 2, 2010

Photo from Salon.com


I always appreciate a good art exhibition that captures a real message about true life and  issues we face in society. This Saturday  Crewest Gallery the presents the " Faces of Skid Row." Living in Los Angeles everybody knows where skid row is located and the history behind it; however, sometimes we forget that many of the people who live on skid row are humans too with difficult life challenges. Weather it is an addiction to drugs a mental disorder or just  a lost soul they can not be forgotten as members of our society. I have volunteered many times at the Union Rescue Mission and seen the need some people go through on a daily basis. From older men to women and children the reality of it is not pretty. The show will feature photographers, artists of many medias. I commend Crewest because it has not forgotten about their neighbors since Crewest is located in the vicinity of skid row. Here is more details vis their website...

All donations will be going to the Midnight mission!

With live spoken word performance by Mike the Poet and beats by DJ Phyz Ed   

About the Exhibit:  

Faces of Skid Row is an exhibition and fundraiser to bring awareness and focus   

on the homeless living in the Skid Row area   

of Downtown Los Angeles. Graffiti artists, photographers, illustrators, sculptors, street artists and fine artists have all come together as one. Bringing you an exhibition full of sincerity, hope, reality, and essence.  Addressing core issues revealed through eye-catching, heartfelt art.    

   

Exhibiting Artists:  

Bob Motown, Branded, Dash, Dave Kawano, Dytch, Else, Enik, Eriberto Oriol, Estevan Oriol, Euth, Ezra, Graham Walzer, Gregg Stone, James Gillette, Juan Balandran, Lalo Alcaraz, Man One, Michael Pizarro, Mike Street, Oscar Magallanes, Philip Lumbang, Preston Craig, Shing Yin Khor, Sims, Smear, Thomas the Messenger, Two Rabbits, Mas, Ruthie Pie  

Featured Artist:  Mason Brown  

Curated by:  Luna George  

Additionally, a donation jar will be located inside Crewest all month long and 10% of all art sales for the month of October will be donated to The Midnight Mission.    

When: Opening Reception Saturday, October 2, 2010 and show runs until October 31, 2010


Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 


Where: Crewest Gallery 
110 Winston St. Los Angeles, Ca 90013


Check their website for more details on the show and related events 
Crewest Gallery

The Long Beach Experiment Art and Music Wed, Aug 25, 2010

Support my girl Opia this Wednesday in Long Beach for, " The Long Beach Experiment, Art and Music Show." There will be over 20 NFIA artists, music, poetry readings, performance art and much more!






When: Wednesday, August 25th
Time: 8 p.m. to 1a.m.
Where: The Cellar
201 E. Broadway
Long Beach Ca, 90802

San Pedro Artwalk Events: Thursday, August, 5th 2010

Last months soft opening at  Tree-house Galley and Boutique was a hit so come back and chill again for San Pedro art walk this Thursday, August 5, 2010. There will be plenty of new art and bumping music. We also welcome Mas Rudas an all women art collective from San Antonio, Texas. Mas Rudas is doing a residency at Slanguage this week with an opening show on Saturday. Read more about them on the Slanguage Blog

Tree house Gallery and Boutique 

341 W. 7th street San Pedro, CA 90731

Starting around 7 p.m.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also on the same day famed street photographer Estevan Oriol will be signing his copies of his new book " LA Women"  down the street @

SHOP THREE FIFTY SEVEN
357West 7th street
San Pedro , CA 90731

 7:30 to 9:30

Book Review on LA Graffiti Girls read here 

Flier from Tits brand  Blog

Check this and over a dozen other shops and art galleries opening up for Thursday's art walk.

See ya there!

Peace,

DJ

Brace Your Self Sticker Art Show Saturday, July, 17th 2010

All you sticker fans come down and check out this all sticker exhibition presented by Sticky Rick!
This year there will large format stickers being displayed with a theme. Here is the what " Brace Your Self" stands for by Sticky Rick.

“BRACE YOURSELF!” speaks to the condition of our world both locally and globally through the eyes of the artist.  Economists, scientist, and environmentalists have given their warnings about the economy, jobs, healthcare, environment, etc.  As responsible individuals we feel it’s important to address what is going in around us and PEEL back the layers of Disinformation we are being fed by the media to understand the realities of the condition we are in as a people. 

Saturday, July, 17 2010
6:00 p.m. to 11 p.m

Self Help Graphics & Art
3802 Cesar E. Chavez Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90063 

Bring stickers to trade and put up!

First Thursday's San Pedro Art walk and Tree house Gallery Opening Reception

Please join  participating Slanguage artists and lots more at the  Tree House Galley/Boutique soft opening reception this Thursday, July 1, 2010 at the San Pedro Art walk.  Enjoy the art and cracken music by: Selecta Ghetto, Ricky Madame X, Def, BIB.

7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

341 W. 7th st

San Pedro, Ca 90731

Free drinks and appetizers

San Pedro Art walk has been going on for at least five years. It is a nice way to get to see some of the art scene in San Pedro. I personally have gotten over going to the LA Art walk just because it is so hectic now that you hardly get to see any art, so this is a good alternative on a smaller scale. There are over a dozen different galleries you can visit and they are located between Pacific and Centre Streets on 6th and 7th Street. Here are last months photos from different galleries.

 

They matched!

I love deviled eggs!

Julia Strickler is the artist in the next few photos her work really stood out for me because she really has that graffiti influence to her work.

Disney Artist also has  her gallery open for show.

San Pedro Art walk is held every first Thursday of the month starting from 7 p.m. on out. There is plenty to look at, bars and music. Don't miss out this Thursday, July ,1 2010. For more information on the galleries opening this Thursday check here. 

First Thursday Face book

Peace,

DJ