Blog

  • Elsa Van Leuven Artist Workshop May 11

    Elsa Van Leuven Artist Workshop May 11

    Elsa Van Leuven is the demonstrator for the next meeting of the Downey Art League and Paramount Traditional Artists Guild, May 11th, 2PM at Progress Park Plaza.   15530 Downey Ave., Paramount, CA, between Somerset and Alondra Blvds.

    Elsa was born in Oklahoma, moving to California in her mid-teens. Her artistic talents first developed along the musical line, majoring in Music at Los Angeles City College, singing with the Hollywood Bowl Chorus and appearing as soloist with the Los Angeles Opera and Downey Symphony Orchestra. She became intensely interested in oil paintings and began her studies with Nona Taylor plus taking workshops under such well-known artists as Joyce Pike, Don Foster, Gilee Barton, Sandy Bergeron, Tom Anderson and Hal Reed.

    Her paintings hang throughout the U.S., Canada, and England, and more locally have hung in Flavia Gallery, Huntington Beach, Virginia’s Gift Shop at Knott’s Berry Farm, Old Town Gallery, Seal Beach and in Solvang and Palm Springs. Also at Lindsey Gallery, S.R. Brennan, Moreton Gallery, Haggenmaker Gallery, Lu Martin Gallery, Anenberg Gallery in various locations here in Calif. More recently she has enjoyed working in an impressionistic style of the Romantic period. These works convey a sense of tranquility and beauty of times past.

    Elsa is now teaching in Adult Education in La Mirada, and is a member of the First Baptist Church of Downey.  Fun fact, she is also a regular contributor to the Downey Patriot’s Letters to the Editor.

  • State of the Art Photos

    State of the Art Photos

    On Sunday, the Downey Arts Coalition put on an intimate art fair featuring local artists and local arts organizations gathering together to talk about what they do and meet each other.   With participation from the Downey Museum of Art, Third Thursday Poetry, Nuvein Foundation, Zzyzx Writers, Friends of the Library, Make Music Downey, OLPH, California Guitar Academy, Downey Music Center, Paramount Traditional Artists Guild and more.  Thanks to the Moravian Church of Downey for hosting the event and everyone for pitching in to set up and tear down.

    “State of the Art” was designed to foster communication and participation among local art groups, as well as get the word out about what others are doing, and that was a stimulating part of the event.  Some interesting collaborations were discussed that will hopefully come to fruition.

    The local arts directory made available at the event will soon be available here online as well.

  • Traditional Artist’s Guild of Paramount meeting May 11, 2013

    TAG holds monthly meetings alternating with the Downey Art League. (No meeting in July and August.)

    Progress Park (meeting room), 15500 Downey Ave., Paramount, CA  90723.  2:00 pm – 4:30 pm.

    Jeanette Larson.   jm.larson@verizon.net

     

  • STATE OF THE ART is Sunday

    STATE OF THE ART is Sunday

    Sunday 11AM to 6PM at 10337 Old River School Road, STATE OF THE ART is an art fair and a chance learn about local arts organizations and the local arts community.

    Exhibit a piece of artwork from the past year, all are welcome, any size and medium.  Drop off is 7:30 to 9:30AM ($3 donation).  There will also be an open mic (no amplified music) taking sign-ups.

    Children’s corner, food trucks, and more.

  • Bill’s Shorts: One Act Comedies May 19

    Bill’s Shorts: One Act Comedies May 19

    Sylvia Blush and Downey Arts Coalition
    present
    Bill’s Shorts: a brief evening of one act comedies

    ONE NIGHT ONLY!
    4 Comedic Plays by Bill Blush
    Including staged readings of:
    The Unhap-Happiest Season of All
    Edith and Gary Forever?
    Large Coffee

    and a FULL Performance of

    A BAD IDEA
    featuring
    Forrest Hartl and Bill Blush
    Dude and Bro, the undynamic duo, stage a highfalutin heist to avenge their egged-on egos.

    DOORS OPEN AT 6:30PM
    SHOWTIME 7:00PM
    RECEPTION 8:15PM

    TICKETS: $5 (cash only)
    GENERAL SEATING

    NO HOST BAR OPEN ALL NIGHT!

    FREE PARKING available in the Krikorian structure and adjacent streets. (The Porto’s structure is limited to 2 hours.)

     

  • “Brecht On Brecht” directed by Alistair Hunter

    “Brecht On Brecht” directed by Alistair Hunter

    BRECHT ON BRECHT” OPENS AT ATWATER PLAYHOUSE ON APRIL 27

    WHAT: “Brecht On Brecht.” A theatrical entertainment.
    WHO: Based on the writings of Bertolt Brecht. Conceived by George Tabori from various translations. Arranged and directed by DAC member Alistair Hunter. Musical director Gayle Bluemel. Presented by The Other Theatre Company. Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
    WHERE: Atwater Playhouse, 3191   Casitas Ave. #100, Los Angeles, CA 90039. FREE parking lot.
    WHEN: Opens Saturday, April 27, 2013. Runs through Sunday, June 9. Dark on May 12, 24, 25, 26. Show times: Fri. & Sat. at 8, Sun. at 2.
    ADMISSION: $25. Students and seniors, $18.
    RESERVATIONS: (323) 960-1054.
    ONLINE TICKETING: www.Plays411.com/brecht

    When the world was silent, Brecht spoke.

    Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) was a staggeringly prolific playwright (54 plays), poet, lyricist, screenwriter, and theatre director. He is popularly identified as a champion of the workers and oppressed people. An enemy of Hitler, he ranked number five on Hitler’s death list, causing him to flee his native Germany first for Scandinavia and later the United States, where he resided in Santa Monica for six years. Although never a member of the Communist Party, he was a Marxist, which brought him to the attention of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). He completed testimony before the Committee one day before his exit from the United States, for which he was roundly criticized by the Left. He attained Austrian citizenship and returned to his native Germany, where he directed the Berliner Ensemble until his death in Berlin at age 58. His extraordinary output, incisive wit, powers of observation of the human condition and political consciousness have influenced makers of theatre, film and pop culture ever since.

    “Brecht On Brecht” is a multimedia revue focusing on the work of the youthful Brecht, featuring poems, songs and excerpts from some of Brecht’s greatest plays, including “Fears and Mysteries of the Third Reich,” “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui,” and “The Threepenny Opera” (from which the pop standard “Mack The Knife” is derived). It is, if you will, a greatest hits collection of the young Brecht. It also includes snippets of his testimony before the HUAC. He is toying with them, even if he ultimately feels compelled to somewhat cooperate with them.

  • Alan Hess Free Lecture on Mid-Century Architecture April 25

    Alan Hess Free Lecture on Mid-Century Architecture April 25

    Alan Hess, an architect and historian will speak this Thursday, April 25 at the Downey City Library as part of “View From the Edge,” a lecture series on modern art.  Hess will speak about “The Long History of Modernism in California,” featuring mid-century architecture, which Downey is known for.

    The lecture series, curated by Roy Anthony Shabla, will take place the fourth Thursday of the month through June, beginning at 6:30PM.

    Learn more about Alan Hess at his website: alanhess.net

    Join the event page: www.facebook.com/events/454818907926488/

  • Calixto Shibaja Painting Demonstration April 23

    Calixto Shibaja Painting Demonstration April 23

    The Downey Art League, Downey’s original fine arts association, presents a painting demonstration by Calixto Shibaja on Tuesday April 23, 7PM at Rio San Gabriel Park in the activity room.

    Originating from San Pedro Tapanatepec Oaxaca, Calixto Sibaja showed great talent for painting and sculpture.

    While in school, he won numerous painting and drawing contests. He also took part in events that required making sculptures out of clay. At the age of 9, he was invited to be part of the creation of a presidential mural for his town, and at age 11, he like most Oaxaca natives, he moved to Mexico City where he continued middle school. His talent earned him various recognitions in his new residence.

    Due to circumstances of life, Calixto had to pursue an alternate career. He became an optometrist with which he was able to help himself continue with his passion for art.

    After some time, Calixto moved to Los Angeles, California, where he became a full time artist. He exhibited in numerous galleries such as Casa de Sausa, the Silver Dollar, Xochitl Gallery, El Tecolote, Raymundo’s Art and Soul Gallery, and Plaza Mexico. He participated in the Contemporary Spanish Market Art festival in New Mexico in which he won first place for the oil on canvas category. He was also able to participate in the International Art Festival in New York, International Latino Film Festival in city hall of Los Angeles California, Art Exhibitions for NASA Laboratories in Pasadena, and Boeing in Long Beach.

    His art offers a colorful interpretation of life in his native land, the sun burnt faces of the field workers, the fresh smiles on children’s faces, families hard work, showing the magic of his culture and ethnic groups from Oaxaca and Mexico. He has so much love for art; he wishes to leave a legacy for humanity. To do so, he invented a new art technique which he calls “Elipsismo”.

    His goal is to be happy with what he has and share it with others through his art, but his biggest longing is to visit poor isolated villages and teach his art in particular to the native children.

    “Over at Oaxaca, we used to entertain ourselves by playing with dirt and clay; we used to watch corn grow. I believe that all that is inherited has to be put out there through art and the colors on the canvas, since we are serene, hardworking, honest, respectful, intelligent people”.

    Nowadays, he has received important recognitions for his art work. Throughout his trajectory, he has been able to achieve an important evolution in his techniques and art work.

  • Bellflower Civic Chorus presents “Thanks For The Memories”, May 17 – 19, 2013

    The Civic Chorus sings favorite Broadway songs and American standards from the 1920’s to 1990.

    William and Jane Bristol Civic Auditorium, 16600 Civic Center Dr., Bellflower, CA  90706

    (562) 866-4664   Alice Brindle, President.

    Tickets are $5.  Free parking.

    Friday, May 17, 2013 at 7:00 PM

    Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 2:30 PM

    Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 2:30 PM

    For advanced tickets, send self-addressed stamped envelope to: P.O. Box 1058, Bellflower, CA  90706

     

  • Third Thursday Night Poetry presents Beth Ruscio – April 18, 2013

    Third Thursday Night Poetry presents Beth Ruscio – April 18, 2013

    BETH RUSCIO comes from actors, writers and vaudevillians, considers herself all three. She was named one of six Newer Poets of L.A. last year by the Los Angeles Poetry Festival, won the Patricia Bibby Scholarship to Idyllwild Summer Poetry in 2006, is published in the “Poetry Goes To The Movies” issue of Speechless with her poem “Strangled Eventually,” along with her essay and tribute to her Dad, “On Acting and the Art of Boxing,” and has read her poems at the Taper Library, the RedCat Theater, Beyond Baroque, the Cobalt Café, Horse of Another Color, and Pacific Resident Theatre..

    Reception at 7:00 pm. First twelve poets to sign up will read at Open Mic beginning at 7:30

    Hot food and soft drink refreshments for $11 donation

    RIVES MANSION  in Downey, CA. 10933 Paramount Blvd (and Third Street)

    Valet parking, too.

    Please enter by driveway on Paramount. Leave Third Street clear

    Third Thursday curated by Lorine Parks    lorineparks@verizon.net