viewfromaloft

Final Days for Public to Comment on Mural Ordinance Draft

Street artist Esteban Irwin completes his L.A. Freewall at 7th and Mateo in the downtown Los Angeles Arts District. Curated by JetSetGraffiti I Photo by Ed Fuentes

 

The list of the remaining Mural Ordinance Draft meetings include informal comunity groups and structured panels in a gallery or academic setting. On Monday, it was confirmed the final panel will be held in the Arts District and feature street artists Shepard Fairey and Saber. The deadline to comment on the mural ordinance is Wednesday, February 8th.

 

 

Thursday, January 26 Bringing Into Conversation: Restoring Memory in the Public Sphere Mural Art panel presentation with Norma Montoya, Carlos Callejos, Joseph "Nuke" Montalvo, Tanner Blackman, Lisbeth Espinosa. Moderated by Jimmy Centeno. Vincent Price Art Museum East Los Angeles College / 1301 Cesar E Chavez (Monterey Park) Thursday, January 26 / 5pm to 7pm Vincent Price Art Museum is located at the southeast corner of the campus, at Cesar E Chavez Ave and Collegian Ave

Monday, January 30 Reading and Discussion of the New Mural Ordinance for Los Angeles With Tanner Blackman. Hosted by the East Side Riders and UPPA Monday, January 30 / 6:30pm to 8:30pm Watts Labor Community Action Center / 109 S. Central (Watts) 

 

 Tuesday, January 31st Mural Ordinance Update: Introduction by Dr Manuel Aguilar-Moreno, Art History Professor CSULA. With Tanner Blackman, City Of Los Angeles; Isabel Rojas-Williams, Executive Director Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles; Muralists Frank Romero and Ismael Cazarez;  Adam “Codak” Smith, Street Artist; and David Diaz, Director of Urban Planning CSULA. Tuesday, January 31 / 6:10 pm / California State University, Los Angeles  5151 State University Drive / Room FA223, Art Building

 

Saturday February 4th

Q & A @ Lab Art's first of the Conversation series: "Legal Walls: With Tanner Blackman, LA City Planning Department; Jonthan Paul, Street Artist; Lydia Emily Archibald, Street Artist and Activist; Daniel Lahoda, LA Freewalls Project and LALA Gallery Owner

Saturday, February 4th / 7 to 9pm

LAB ART / 217 S. La Brea Ave (Mid-City)

Monday, February 6th

Reading and Discussion of the New Mural Ordinance

With Tanner Blackman. Hosted by Tia Chucha and UPPA.

Monday, February 6th / 6pm to 9pm 

Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural and Bookstore / 13197-A Gladstone Ave (Sylmar)

 

Tuesday, February 7th 

LA Mural Ordinance Community Discussion:

With Shepard Fairey and Saber; Tanner Blackman, Daniel Lahoda, Offices of District 9 and District 14.

Tuesday February 7th / 7 pm

LALA Gallery / 1335 Willow Street (Arts District)
 
Enter on Santa Fe, next to Villain’s Tavern

All that mural-talk made 2011 an interesting year

I joined the year-end editorial crowd with a list of Los Angeles mural stories, which is now posted at KCET's Departures. Some of the stories are ongoing and not going away soon, which should make 2012 just as interesting a year.

There have been a number of people thanking me for covering the state of the art, but thanks should also go to KCET's Juan Devis and Zach Behrens for giving mural coverage a bright green light.

A Year-End List:  [view]

Previous mural posts at KCET Departures: [view]

LAist has their take on the list: [view]

LA Weekly goes the street art angle: [view]

From December 8, a visit to KCRW and Which Way LA? to talk about  "Reviving LA's Iconic Mural Movement"  [listen]

Pictured: Tanner Blackman, City Planner and Mural Ordinance Code Breaker, in the Arts District October 2011

Neighborhood Buzz About Café Metropol Closing At End of Year

Viewfromaloft is breaking radio silence to pass on the news that there is buzz about Café Metropol is closing its doors at the end of the year.

A quick call this AM confirms Dec. 30 is the last day for the coffee bistro, according to a staffer.

The Arts District mainstay, a stylish Euro-esque bistro that brought civilization to the neighborhood since 1998, may reopen as a self-serve cafe. No time is set for that.

Photo by Monk Turner

Waiting to beat the heat at SummerTramp

The dedicated braved the National Weather Service excessive heat warnings so they can join the afternoon frolic on small waterslides and astroturf in the parking lot of Tony's. Photographer Scott Ezzell catches the line outside the Arts District bar for SummerTramp. Below is a snappy Summertramp video from May 2011.

 

Blogroll Add: Escondite Opens. République Announced.

 . .  or TheEs Condite, as it is spelled on their Facebook page.  The revamped space once known as 410 Boyd, the long time oasis for artists, is taking on a new attitude. It is being branded as a return to downtown grit, not an escape from it. The pub, located on the edge of Little Tokyo, is now proudly for "true downtowners."  They write "That's why we're in skid row. The douche factor will be too scared." It's a hideout, they say. A brunch menu will debut next weekend. The Escondite is located at  410 Boyd street, and open seven days a week from 11am until 2am. Free parking after 6pm

Other Arts District Food And Drink blogroll notes:

LA Times reports on République restaurant and Factory Baking Co., opening in the Factory Place Arts Complex. "Walter Manzke to open République in downtown Arts District" [view]

NOLA takes over East Third Steakhouse

Pizzanista! morphs from Toddy G's pizza

Street Art: English in the Art District (now completed)

Photo: Qathryn Brehm via Downtown Art Walk

The Arts District continues to get street art cred.  This time by Ron English, who brands his own Revisionist Modernism work POPaganda. You will find the revisit of pop imagery, already thematically used by English, on the repainted wall of the warehouse that was once home to downtown's version of popaganda, Crazy Gideons.

Photo via LA Freewalls Tweetpic

Aug. 18: The mural by Ron English, via LA Freewalls Project, is completed. The official title is ""Big Yang and The Yangbangers."

Art Walk Talk at KCET

Photo / Ed Fuentes

The July Art Walk accident spurned a lot of reaction. Now the city has a several city agencies working together to make Art Walk safer.  My recent post at KCET: [City Creates Downtown Art Walk Task Force]

Where Does A Downtown Cop Eat?

Captain Blake Chow taking lunch orders at Pete's Cafe during Tip-A-Cop 2009, a LAPD sponsored fundraiser for Special Olympics. Chow was assigned as Commander in late 2009 and currently assists in overseeing LAPD's Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau. His duties include handling major public events around Downtown, and putting out fires during riotous post-Laker championship celebrations.  Photo: Ed Fuentes

TIPS FROM COPS: They grow up so fast. A daughter of one of my many cousins will be in L.A. for a final stage of testing for and with the Los Angeles Police Department.  Since moms are always moms, I was asked what a potential recruit can see or eat at a planned diversion to Olvera Street.

It is not uncommon for L.A.'s birth place to be the go-to destination for those not familar with Downtown. Yet it had me wondering where cops working in the city dine?  After all, they rely on knowing the streets.  A quick note was sent to LAPD Commander Blake Chow asking if he can tip me on some of his favorite places. His first response: “Healthy or not-so-healthy?”

Either; after all, you are the commander.

Beer Tap Dance Continues: Brewery Owner Speaks Out.

With street art behind him, Michael Bowe works the taps during Bloomfest.

Michael Bowe, Angel City Brewing President and brewer-in-residence, responds to the night artists retrieved works from a street art exhibition in his raw gallery space. There was an agreement that the show was extended, according to Bowe. He writes he was wronged in what he calls "a sordid and sorry affair." Also, Bowe is not pleased he is now considered "The Man." His lengthy comment can be seen at the orginal post: [Street Art BrewHaHa]

Art Walk Board To Hold Fundraiser For Vasquez Family

A fundraiser for the family of Marcello Vasquez is in the early development stages, says Downtown L.A. Art Walk Boardmember Qathryn Brehm. Included in the plan will be a call for artists to donate works to sell, with proceeds going to the Vasquez family. When more details come in, I will pass the word along.

If anyone is interested to donate art, leave me an email.

As for the ongoing arguments and debates about the June accident, my Op-ed will be coming soon enough.

Somehow, sending news of a probable fundraiser seemed more important than me spouting off.