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GlennFest Film Festival Brings Free Movies Sept 26-Oct 8

GlennFest Film Festival will return to Downey once again in late September. The special interest films range from a labor documentary to award-winning Japanese anime.
The first screening, on Sept. 26, will be a special morning screening for kids and young adults with special needs. Opening night is Sept. 30 with Glassland, and the festival closes Oct. 8 with Butterflies of Bill Baker. The Krikorian Theatre, The Epic Lounge, and the Downey Civic Theatre will all host screenings. To reserve a seat for a screening, please visit the GlennFest RSVP page.
Glenn Stephens, the founder, decided to bring hard-to-access independent films to Downey. He recognized that residents in the area should have access to this type of cinema, and the growing Downey Arts movement proved the interest would be met. This year marks the fourth year of GlennFest.
A full schedule with films, locations, and dates/times can be found in the above image. For additional information, please visit the GlennFest website, GlennFest Facbeook, or GlennFest Twitter.

September 5, 2015
Poetry Matters welcomes back Judith Pacht – Sept 17

This edition of POETRY MATTERS – Thursday September 17th at STAY GALLERY – will welcome the return of poet Judith Pacht. Judith first featured at Poetry Matters four years ago when the event was held in its original location at Mari’s Wine Bar.

Lyrical and public, personal and political, Judith’s poetry moves from daily reflections to incisive examinations of herself and the people around here. A piece of gym equipment “touches your hard-to-reach center / subdues the imbalance that rises / from your belly some days.” Her sketches of life can be chilling. “We assemble lives, listen to the high wind scrub the sky, / hear low rumblers circle black around / Dead calm. The center swollen. Knuckles on a rag.”

Her 2010 collection Summer Hunger (Tebot Bach) won the 2011 PEN Southwest Book Award for poetry. Earlier poetry collections include User’s Guide (Finishing Line Press), St. Louis Suite (Finishing Line Press), and Falcon (Conflux Press). A two-time Pushcart nominee, her work includes poems published in Cider Press Review, Phoebe, Ploughshares and Runes as well as in numerous anthologies. She lives in Los Angeles

Poetry Matters is held at Stay Gallery, located at 11140 Downey Ave in Downey. The doors will open at 7 p.m., with the open mike beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Curated by Lorine Parks.

September 4, 2015
Downey Master Chorale 3rd season rehearsals start Sept 8th

CALLING ALL SINGERS!

For the sheer joy of singing; a place to grow; to feel the “high” of the choral experience; to learn the great masterworks; to become a better musician; to have way more fun working harder… Barely 2 years old, the Downey Master Chorale plans an exciting and
challenging season encompassing 450 years of great music.

Rehearsals begin September 8. For info call/text (310) 941-3042 or email info@downeymasterchorale.org.

Also see website: http://www.downeymasterchorale.org

September 3, 2015
Elsa Van Leuven to Demonstrate for Paramount TAG Sept 12

One of Downey’s long-time artists and teachers, Elsa Van Leuven, will demonstrate for the Paramount Traditional Artists Guild on September 12th. The public is welcome. The demonstration begins at 2PM at Progress Park Plaza in Paramount, at 15530 Downey Ave.

Elsa Van Leuven

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 California. 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.

The Downey Arts Coalition is proud to have presented her work as part of our art shows at the Downey Civic Theater.

August 27, 2015
CALL TO ARTISTS: Dance & Movement Art Show
Downey Arts Coalition is gearing up for our Fall show, “Dance & Movement” which opens October 4th at the Downey Civic Theatre. This show coincides with the Downey Symphony Orchestra’s October 24th concert, “From Russia With Love,” featuring the Swan Lake Suite by Tchaikovsky.

Submissions are requested by September 25, email previews to curator Liz Moran, liz@www.downeyarts.org, or contact Liz to arrange other means of viewing the work.
- Jpeg image of the artwork
- Name, medium and size
- A brief description of the theme and meaning
Read the description in the image below for more details.
August 26, 2015
Poetrypalooza tonight at The Green Salon

POETRYPALOOZA at the Green Salon Saturday 22 August 2015

4pm to 10pm

casa la reina (email for directions)

Poetrypalooza is a traveling poetry festival that visits several cities in the month of August, produced by the zzyzx writer’s group.

4pm workshops: lorine (postcard poetry)/ terry (random prompts) / frank (critiques) / don (critiques)

5pm storytelling: paula pereira (workshops and critiques may continue)

6pm dinner and music: (baked potato bar and music by pomdip)

730 open mic: featuring coery dhauw and local poets

8pm poetry readings: featuring lorine, frank, trista – with zzyzx writers

845 music: the lowered

915 music: esmoladera

artists: terry walker, dave youel, steve sauer

join the green salon on facebook

Email roy@www.downeyarts.org for more information

August 22, 2015
POETRY MATTERS with Conney D. Williams – Thursday August 20

This month’s edition of POETRY MATTERS – Thursday August 20th at STAY GALLERY- features Los Angeles based poet, actor, performance artist and Downey Resident Conney D. Williams.

Doors open at 7:00. Local poets are invited to bring a poem to read at the lively Open Microphone session which begins at 7:30, so arrive early to get on the list!

Conney D. Williams is originally from Shreveport, Louisiana where he worked a radio personality. He recently released two critically acclaimed cds of his poetry accompanied by music: “Unsettled Water” and “River&Moan.” He has two collections of poetry “Leaves of Spilled Spirit from an Untamed Poet (2002)” and his most recent, “Blues Red Soul Falsetto (2012).” He’s been published in various publications, newspapers, and anthologies (Voices from Leimert, At the End of the Day, Drumming Between Us, and Wide Awake).

He’s the Artistic Director at the World Stage Performance Gallery where he facilitates the Anansi Writers Workshop. He is a community activist and has worked with youth for over 25 years. He’s formerly an ordained minister and Youth Pastor in the Church of God in Christ. He has hosted a weekly cable television show and also recorded a gospel rap cd called L.I.F.E (1985). He was the Poet’s Stage Coordinator for the Leimert Park Village Book Fair; and also the Annual Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival for three years (2012-2014). He has performed his poetry on television, radio (KJLH, KPFK), universities (USC, UCLA, Claremont, CSLB, Antioch, CS-Northridge, and others), cultural events & organizations (Black Arts Festival, CAAM), for the City & County of Los Angeles, across the U.S., and he regularly curates poetry events in Los Angeles.

Sign up for this Facebook Event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1636245316633923/

Stay Gallery is at 11140 Downey Ave, just north of Firestone Blvd.

Poetry Matters is free and open to the public. Doors open at 7 p.m. The open mike begins at 7:30.

August 14, 2015
DAC Open House Artists Mixer presents Kristine Augustyn – July 28

July Open House for Artists and Art Lovers

The Downey Arts Coalition will host an Open House on Tuesday, July 28th, at 7:00 PM, at the Epic Lounge at 8239 2nd Street. The event is FREE to the public and offers an opportunity to connect with others who have an interest in supporting and participating in local art events.

We are very excited to have Kristine Augustyn as our feature artist. She will remind you of Monet and a little of Van Gogh, she is absolutely amazing. Please treat yourself, and come see her work in person.

We will also be treated to a performance by the Epic Lounge Improv team, starring our very own Forrest Hartl.

There will be music, art, improv, food, drinks, and great conversation with other art lovers.

Some info on Downey Arts Coalition –

The Downey Arts Coalition is also celebrating its fourth anniversary this year. Since its founding in 2011, the group has sponsored art exhibits, monthly poetry readings, and produced two Broadway plays and two free music festivals. Art shows for the Dia de los Muertos celebrations, the City of Downey rooftop events, and the Downey symphony concerts are curated by members of DAC.

The non-profit organization has also hosted movie screenings by local filmmakers, and recently assisted with publicity for the Glenfest Movie Festival that was free to the public at the Downey Krikorian Theater.

Art curator Pat Gil explains, “Whatever someone’s passion is – music, film, theatre, dance, poetry – we can work together to help you express it in our local community.”

Gil describes DAC as umbrella organization that provides “a place for local artists, arts organization, and community leaders to share and collaborate.” Reflecting its commitment to the community, the DAC website offers a calendar promoting city concerts, art shows, and music events.

Everyone, no matter what their interest, is invited to come for an evening of networking and stimulating conversation.

July 25, 2015
Free Downey Symphony Concert at Furman Park – July 29

Downey Symphony Orchestra returns for their annual “Pops in the Park” concert on Wednesday. Their repertoire will feature music from The Sound of Music, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and much more.

The free event is open to the entire family, including kids, who will have the opportunity to conduct the orchestra at the end of the concert. Arrive early for the best seating and don’t forget your own food, refreshments, blankets, or chairs.
Furman Park is located at 10419 Rives Ave. in Downey. The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m

July 24, 2015
San Gabriel Valley poet, Don Kingfisher Campbell, at Poetry Matters July 16

On July 16, Poetry Matters will welcome the San Gabriel Valley Poetry Group and the group’s editor, Don Kingfisher Campbell. Campbell is the founder and coordinator of many poetry workshops in Southern California.
Additional poets published in the San Gabriel Valley Poetry Quarterly will also be featured at the event. If you are interested in attending one of the group’s meetings, they meet at the Santa Catalina branch of the Pasadena Library.
Poetry Matters will be held at Stay Gallery, located at 11140 Downey Ave in Downey. The doors will open at 7:00 p.m., with the open mike beginning at 7:30 p.m.

July 11, 2015