Arts & Culture

Remembering Greek Orthodox History in the Fashion District

By Eric Richardson — May 30, 2008

Greek Orthodox Square

Historic Site signage recently went up in front of the former site of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, at 1216 San Julian street. The church was built in 1912, and stood until 1952. Today the site is a parking lot, tucked between buildings in the Fashion District. The week the Times ran a story talking about the Greek community’...


Much Debate on How to Define and Save L.A.'s Murals

By Ed Fuentes — May 29, 2008
1 Comment

_IGP4456

|Photo Gallery| What defines a mural? Yesterday four motions passed through the city council’s Planning and Land Use committee. They attempt to put a pause to current enforcement efforts seen as detrimental to muralism while defining new rules for what is and isn’t allowed. The four proposed motions call for murals to be clearly defined as fine art. They also place...


01 Gallery Opens on Olive

By Ed Fuentes — May 26, 2008
1 Comment

Staff of Zero One

|Photo Gallery| 01 (Zero One) Gallery officially opened its new location at 609 South Olive Street on Saturday evening with an opening reception for “Marco Polo,” a series of works by Steve Olson and guest curated by Lilli Muller. The reception introduced the long space that leads into a clever balcony suitable for DJs. A mixed crowd of locals and out of downtowners filled...


Meeting "Moy Moy"

By Ed Fuentes — May 22, 2008
3 Comments

Meeting

At the Sunday afternoon unveiling of Leo Politi Square at Echo Park and Sunset Blvd, a crowd of Politi fans and family crowded together on a hot sidewalk to watch 100 doves fly, children recite from Politi, and a sign marking the intersection Leo Politi Square be presented by the artists son, Paul Politi, and Councilmember Ed Reyes. The children’s book...


"Vex" Influence Maps Downtown

By Ed Fuentes — May 20, 2008
3 Comments

Rock Map

The Claremont Museum of Art includes this map as part of the exhibition for ‘Vexing: Female Voices From East L.A. Punk,’ co-curated by Pilar Thompkins. As you can see, Downtown’s Arts District and Chinatown are well represented in the history and the legacy of East L.A. female punk rock musicians from the 70s and early 80s. The show is named after...


A Visual Spin Around the May Art Walk

By Dave Bullock — May 13, 2008
2 Comments

Thoms

|Photo Gallery| Downtown residents and non-residents alike come out in droves every month for the Downtown Art Walk. This month was no exception, and continued a two-month trend of record attendance. As the weather warmed up, art enthusiasts continued to be drawn to the Historic Core. After three months of my own shows, it was nice to be able to get out and take some photos...


Art Walk Preview for May, 2008

By Ed Fuentes — May 07, 2008
8 Comments

Life as a poet

The spoken word of Downtown Poets joins the visual display of art, video and comedy. It’s Downtown Art Walk for May, 2008, and the streets are ready for you. Reminders are the same: Art Walk DASH is free, refrain from taking alcohol out of the galleries, and don’t be afraid to buy art.


Main Street Hosts Prankster

By Ed Fuentes — May 06, 2008

Alan Abel

Before we start loading up on Downtown Art Walk Previews, I wanted to note Old Bank DVD’s Saturday night screening of the documentary “Abel Raises Cain” being held Saturday night at Farmers and Merchants Bank building. Filmmakers Jenny Abel and Jeff Hockett (along with special guests) will take Q&A and then be followed by a bonus screening of the Alan and...


Overlooking the Arts District

By Ed Fuentes — May 05, 2008
4 Comments

muralist at work

|Photo Gallery| Late Friday afternoon and later into the evening, graffiti artist Thomas Burns painted this street style Mona Lisa on Rose between Traction and East 3rd – the far west end of Joel Bloom Square. Burns was hired by a production company filming a soft drink commercial over the weekend. Producers Mike Tarzian and Art Director Mike Hersey hope the owners of the building...


'Spring on Spring' Continues at the NEW LATC

By Ed Fuentes — May 03, 2008
5 Comments

LATC

Andrew Shafer is the new director of the Los Angeles Theatre Initiative at the NEW LATC, the reborn Los Angeles Theatre Center. He has his sights set on bringing Artistic Director Jose Luis Valenzuela a city-wide audience, but with a particular focus on those from Downtown. “I believe passionately in building a strong community for Downtown L.A.” says the third...