viewfromaloft

Random Shot: Art Walk

It's quiet on the western front. Photographer Sterling Davis writes that at 4th and Spring, LAPD mounted units are keeping crowds well under control.

And don't forget the fundraiser for Marcello Vasquez at The Mezz.

"Just got my box of 499 buttons for today's benefit show for Marcello." writes Erica Friend, who nabbed the first one.  The artist is organizing the "Marcello Vasquez Artist's Relief Fund."

It is being held at The Mezz Bar, located on the second floor of the The Alexandria Hotel (5th and Spring).

The fundraiser will sell works donated by over 30 artists. It starts at 6pm during tonight's Art Walk.

Last Art Walk Talk

Performance art and dance turns a crowd on a sidewalk into a captive audience at the July 2010 Downtown Art Walk. Photo: Ed Fuentes I viewfromaloft

With the city task force making changes in time for August Art Walk, there has been a lot of cross talk. Much of it showing how art walk is divided by Historic Core locals wishing it was about art, and those who come for the party and food trucks.

Residents in the core may be thinking back to the good old days when the biggest controversy were protests improvised by LA CAN.

It was such a simpler time back then.

So while some try and convince you purpose of art walk is the party, and continue to rattle their sabers and ice shakers over the relocation of food trucks, have some links on the topic of tonight's new rules.

A KCET recap.

Safety is a priority. [LAT]

As the dusts settles. [blogdowntown]

He misses the point. It's about crowd control. [LA Weekly]

More talk about closing streets, again. [Streestblog]

CEO of the Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association is not happy at all. [BH Courier]

Art Walk Add: 'Across the Wall'

 

"Across the Wall" courtesy Downtown Art Walk

IF WALLS COULD TALK: The 50th Anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall is commemorated with an installation of 16 Soviet portraits dating from 1949 to 1988. They will on display on Main, between 4th and 5th, from August 13 through September 1 and can be previewed during the August Downtown Art Walk beginning at 5pm. Entitled "Across the Wall," the exhibition is an offering from The Wende Museum, founded in 2002 to preserve artifacts and histories from the Cold War front in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

[Art Walk Preview]

 

 

Art Walk Add: Task Force In Action. City Hall releases statement.

Art Walk Talk: A release from City Hall taps into the current buzz as covered in Art Walk Preview.  It states that the August Art Walk will be the first month LAFD and the County Health Department will "no longer issue any permits for vending between 3rd and 7th street and Spring and Main, areas identified to be overly congested by art walk activities."

The two agencies, part of the Art Walk task force, are working to "expedite permits" with interested vendors in the areas outside the zone, designed to shift Art Walk's growth outside the four-block area in Downtown's Historic Core and Gallery Row.

“Art Walk is an organic event that has grown in attendance and popularity alongside the revitalization of our urban downtown," said Councilwoman Jan Perry in the Wednesday morning statement.  "Our number one priority is to support public safety efforts and ensure that Art Walk continues as a sustainable, positive event for the entire Los Angeles community."

“Art Walk is a fantastic event that draws thousands downtown and we want to ensure that it remains active and viable,” says Councilmember José Huizar.  “We’re hopeful that the safety changes we’re implementing for tomorrow’s Art Walk will allow us to reduce large crowds drawn to non-art related activities.”

In the Historic Core, Spring street divides Perry's 9th District and Huizar's 14th District.

The statement also says the city will continue police presence to handle previous turn restrictions on Main for northbound traffic at 3rd and 4th, and on Spring from southbound traffic at 4^th St. and 6th St.

Inspectors from different departments will keep sidewalks clear of DJ equipment, craft vendors and carts, plus monitor permitted food / craft lots. The city is prepared to shut down unpermitted lots.

 

Art Walk Preview for 8.11.11: Candles Lit, Food Trucks Moved, Galleries Go On

Memorial for Baby Marcello on Spring St, July 21 2011.

As can be expected, it is not the usual Art Walk Preview this month. After the jump, you will find information on a fundraiser for baby Marcello, learn about the first shot across the Spring Street bow from the task force, and a list of some of the exhibitions you can find during Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk on August 11, 2011.

Top Ten Things To Wake Up to on Monday, August 8.

A Day in California from Ryan Killackey on Vimeo.

 

Top Ten Things you may be waking up to after a long Downtown Weekend hangover.

10: You are  in a tilt-shift world.

Patient tilt-shift photographers share their work, and in the Vimeo comments share their technique.

9: Had a strange vision of goats eating grass on a downtown knoll.

You did, and downtowners love them.

8: You saw GAP dressing their outfit in American Apparel

San Francisco-based GAP becomes Downtown L.A. hipster for GAP 1969 Jeans.

7:Realizing you were lucky not to be on this street corner.

There was a hit and run at 7th and Hill.

6: Finding out a-not-rave at not-a -cornfield was not a good time for everyone.

Hard Summer music festival nets a dozen arrests. LAFD reports 31 people needed emergency medical services.

5: You find out what happened to some old street cars. They sleep with the fishes.

And you thought the tale of a transportation system allegedly whacked by special interests was just a plot line for a toon.

4: Find out there will be have to cancel your plans to have lunch today at a French cafe located on Main and Spring.

3: The downtown greenspace you have been asking for is vunerable to neglect.

Spring Street Park and caretakers of the lawn at LAPD headquarters may want to think about hiring goats to solve landscape labor issues.

2: Reminding yourself your upcoming weekend starts early. It's time for Art Walk.

1: And you wake up to find out Frank McCourt is still with the Dodgers.

Son of "The Pope of Broadway," Francesco Quinn, dies in Mailbu

From 2008: Francesco Quinn with muralist Eloy Torrez at the base of "The Pope of Broadway." Photo: Ed Fuentes

Francesco Quinn, the son of Anthony Quinn, died Friday, reportedly collapsing while running in the street near his home in Malibu with his son Max. Early reports say it may have been a heart attack.

Known as an actor, Quinn also stepped in as an mural preservationist assisting Eloy Torrez bring awareness, and in time restore, the fading mural that features his father at 242 S. Broadway.

Quinn was 48. 

LAT / THR

Angelique Cafe to Close Sunday, Aug 7 + Update

Photo nabbed from Yelp

Last call for brunch, downtowners. There will be no more "Je ne sais quoi" at 840 Spring. A phone call to Angelique Cafe confirms the rumor floating around Saturday morning. The French bistro-like eatery will close tomorrow, Sunday Aug. 6.

UPDATE SEPT 7:  Casey Lane revealed plans to use the former Angelique Cafe as a new "gastropub" by New Year's Eve, reports EaterLA.  Planned aesthetics inspired by Old Hollywood, and former Seven Grand mixologist John Colthrap will reside.

Talking murals at SCI-Arc with heads of state.

QUICK NOTE: A previous KCET post on murals used a Camelot analogy. Little did I know the first meeting would actually be held at a roundtable.