An industrial sculpture exhibit by Christian Castro.
From a young age, self-taught industrial designer Cristian Castro was fascinated by the function of all things, driving him to discover, dissect and dismantle any toys and machines he could get his hands on. Join us for this one of a kind exhibit.
Event is free. Suggested donation at the door.
Stay Gallery 11140 Downey Ave., Downey, CA 90241
Opening reception: Friday, October 11, 2013 8 pm – 12 midnight
Jean Barrett Holloway has produced an insightful look into her years of involvement with a hard-core weight lifting team. These poems immerse us in the dark energy of the ”dungeon,” as lifters strive to perfect the transitory art of defying gravity.
For those in the sport, or outside the world of sport, it provides us a glimpse as to what really happens as part of hard training and stressful events which are just a heartbeat away from magic moments when “gravity blinks.” Jean Holloway has given us honest and original poetry.
“A unique inside view of an invisible sport” – Amazon 5 Star Review
At downtown Downey’s premier performance venue
EPIC LOUNGE
8239 Second Street in the heart of downtown Downey
handicap accessible Wine & beer served. Food at LA Buns next door brought to your seat.
OK if under 21
Reading curated by Lorine Parks lorine parks@verizon.net
The Downey Civic Theatre ~Dia de los Muertos Festival
A vibrant and cultural festival for Downey Sunday, November 3rd 2013
The Downey Civic Theatre presents Dia de los Muertos Festival Sunday November 3rd 2013 from 11:00am – 8:00pm. This festival will be held at the Downey Civic Theatre and outside CivicCenter located at 8435 Firestone Blvd, Downey CA 90241.
This festival will include local artisans featuring award winning altar displays and an art gallery exhibit, dancig to live “triobolero” music and dancing (Ballet Folklorico), an outdoor art car exhibition, a schedule of live folkloric dance on the main stage and two special screenings (free to the public) of the 1960 Mexican film “Marcario” at noon and 5:00 p.m.
Sugar skull decorating ad Papel Picado workshops with master “artisanos” (free).
Free pan de muertos for everyone!
Shopping for “Dia de los Muertos” related merchandise from local merchant booths will be available at the vendor location outside in the courtyard.
A kid’s zone offers interactive papel picado demonstrations, face painting and decorating Calaveras (sugar skulls).
Festival attendees can take advantage of food and drink including a beer and wine garden and more than seven food trucks of various cuisines.
This event is family friendly and free to the public. To participate at this event or for more information contact Amber Vogel at (562) 904-7230 or at info@downeytheatre.org.
The Downey Arts Coalition, in partnership with the City of Downey and the Aerospace Legacy Foundation, is proud to announce a unique weekend of live theater under the stars this September at the outdoor amphitheater of the Columbia Memorial Space Center.
For three nights, we will be presenting a fully staged production of Defying Gravity by Jane Anderson, a compelling play about the Challenger space shuttle tragedy.
Friday & Saturday September 20, 21 at 8 PM, Sunday September 22 at 7PM.
Tickets are $20 ($15 students with student ID).
The Columbia Memorial Space Center was built by the City of Downey as a monument to the efforts of ordinary men and women who played a major role in the success of the US space program through their work at North American Aviation (and later Rockwell) in the 1960’s and 70’s. This play is a family event that will allow all generations to come together to experience and contemplate a pivotal chapter in aerospace history.
Through this effort, we hope to inspire greater awareness and support for the Space Center, and its goal of building a permanent home for the full-size shuttle mock-up Inspiration as an educational exhibit for both students and adults.
Defying Gravity explores the emotional core of the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, artfully weaving together the lives of participants and bystanders. The civilian teacher leads us through the excitement of the opportunity before her, juxtaposed with the deeply felt grief of her daughter, balanced with the bold aspirations of elderly tourists who drive to watch the launch, the guilt felt by a NASA mechanic, and even the parallels drawn from Painter Claude Monet’s artistic quest. The play explores our need to reach beyond ourselves and dare the universe.
There is no greater venue for this play about human dreams and endeavors. One of the Apollo capsules sits out in front of the center and the shuttle mock-up Inspiration is on display across the street. The outdoor performances under the stars underscore the themes of the play, and the human drive to question and explore. The Columbia Memorial Space Center is one of the designated venues for touring Smithsonian exhibits because of the caliber of its exhibits and programs.
The show will be a moving, engaging, entertaining, and educational experience not to be missed. Aerospace professionals and retirees will experience their memories of the drama alongside the fresh eyes of a new generation that was born after the tragedy took place. With a set by theatre designer Geronimo Guzman, multimedia projection of images and video, theatrical lighting and sound, it is sure to be an evening not to miss.
Andrew Wahlquist and Lana Joy Wahlquist are directing and producing the show, as a project of the Downey Arts Coalition, which they organized out of a love for their hometown and a desire to see the community come together with a renewed passion for the arts. Andrew is a filmmaker working in the post-production industry, and Lana Joy has worked in the world of professional theater as an actor, director, and college professor. Since its founding in 2012, the Downey Arts Coalition has grown in membership and audience attendance as it sponsors an increasing variety of local art events.
Tickets are available through the Downey Civic Theatre Box office. For tickets or for more information call the box office at (562) 861-8211 or visit online at www.DowneyTheatre.com. Box office hours are Tuesday – Friday from 11am – 6pm. Ticket office is located at 8435 Firestone Blvd Downey CA 90241.
If you or your business would like to help financially by becoming a sponsor of the show, or place an ad in the show’s program, please contact carol@www.downeyarts.org for more information.
The Downey Civic Theatre has announced the first four shows of its
2013-14 Season. The city provides these concert opportunities to the local community to bring quality shows to our beautiful 738 seat theater.
Press release to follow:
Experience the performing arts at the Downey Civic Theatre where incredible things are happening! The Downey Civic Theatre is proud to announce another exciting season of national touring artists.
On Tuesday September 24th, 2013 at 8pm “The Hungarian Folk Ensemble”, regarded as one of the greatest folkloric dance ensembles in the world, will perform at the Downey Civic Theatre. The Ensemble has performed in 44 countries across four continents and won the admiration of all audiences. Their rich and colorful repertoire entitles the Ensemble to be regarded as one of the top touring groups in the world. As a musical genre, the rhapsody is characterized by its tumultuous rhythms, strong emotion, impassioned surges of thought, and freedom of expression. It’s forceful, tasteful, glorified presentation of ethnic expression you don’t want to miss!
Grammy Award winning American jazz singer “Al Jarreau” will light up the stage on Saturday October 12th, 2013 at 8pm. Al Jarreau’s unique vocal style is one of the world’s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically acclaimed performers of our time with seven Grammy Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide. Album hits including “Look to the Rainbow”, “All Fly Home” and Breakin’ Away, cemented him as an international superstar.
The Pacific Mambo Orchestra featuring Tito Puente, Jr. will perform live in concert on Sunday November 10th, 2013 at 8pm. Tito Puente, Jr. carries his father with him – imprinted on his physical being and locked in his soul. He has captive audiences who echo his passion in performing arts centers, symphony halls and jazz festivals worldwide, with a high voltage celebration that takes place on stage. A new and exciting “big band”, The Pacific Mambo Orchestra has a sparkling rhythm section and bristles with energy, making it one of the best current Latin Big Band Orchestras in the world.
“The Russian Ballet Theatre” creates a beautiful and elegant display of classic fairy tale of “Sleeping Beauty” with a blaze of color, grace and fluidity on Saturday February 15th, 2104 at 8pm. With over 50 dancers, many of whom have been with the company since its inception, the Russian Ballet Theatre will perform a repertoire that is often considered the finest achievement of the Classical Ballet. It is a grandiose and refined blending of the traditional mime, expressive pas d’action and spectacular divertissements in a lavish theatrical setting. Tchaikovsky was delighted with the invitation to write the music for a ballet based on Charles Perrault’s well-known fairy tale. The fairy tale, replete with a king and queen, fairies both good and evil, a beautiful princess and dream prince, magical stage effects, and courtly splendor, lends itself perfectly to the full evening ballet that was Petipa’s pride.
The Downey Civic Theatre continues to offer the Marquee Club as a benefit to patrons. This membership includes the rights to purchase tickets prior to the on sale date to the general public, seat selection from the best seats available, the same seat for every show and other VIP benefits. Members also receive advance notification of added shows throughout the season. To become a member or for more information call the box office at (562) 861-8211 or stop by during normal box office hours.
Want to be a part of the experience? Discover the benefits of volunteering for the Downey Civic Theatre. Find out how you can volunteer and support the arts by calling (562) 861-8211.
The Downey Civic Theatre box office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 am- 5:00 pm and one hour before shows. For upcoming events and information call the box office at (562) 861-8211 or visit us online at www.downeytheatre.org. Get on the fast track for everything happening at the Theatre: text downeycivic to 22828 today.
Annual summer garden party in conjunction with “the green salon”, a monthly gathering of poets, musicians, and artists at casa la reina (Roy Anthony Shabla’s home).
Sunday, July 28, 2013 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Vegan food, Vegan drink, Meaty fun.
50 gift bags.
3:30 pm Live jazz by surprise guest
6:30 pm poets… open mic
8:30 pm avant garde music… jam
Art… all day long. come spend the day.
Bring something to share: poetry, music, wine, vegan snacks.
For more information and directions: roy@www.downeyarts.org
DAC Artist Workshop presents Mike Ferguson at Golden Park on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 7:00 PM.
Golden Park, 8840 Golden Ave., Downey, CA 90242
Born and raised in Southern California, Mike is an emerging artist with a unique style and a love for the absurd that truly sets his work apart. His art is an expression of his imagination, which transports the viewer into a charming and fanciful world where anything is possible. Sometimes disturbing, often whimsical, his work has been known to elicit both deep thoughts and deep laughs (a fact which pleases him immensely).
With a talent that is unique yet reminiscent of the likes of Heinz Edelmann and Peter Max, Mike transports us to a land of angry suns and swirling winds, he takes us deep into the ocean to cavort with sea creatures, shows us mystic smoking totems and grinning devils, and introduces us to Tiny Robots who win our hearts with their charming personalities. The detail that goes into these fantasies is beyond description and a must-see.
A full-time Marketing Professional, Mike also plays the mandolin and the Appalachian dulcimer and enjoys working with fused and stained glass. He currently lives with his son Joseph and his dog Gunner in Downey, CA.
Participants will get a chance to participate in Mike’s “The Melvin Project” in which he provides the outline of his illustration and invites artists to style and color themselves. His favorite will receive a special gift.
“How Public Art Ruined My Life” presented by View From The Edge.
View From The Edge is a lecture series bringing life to modern art with important voices of the local arts community. Thursday June 27, we present Mitchell De Jarnett.
Mitchell De Jarnett graduated from the California State University, Long Beach School of Fine Arts and the UCLA Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning. He has practiced in the USA, France, Germany, India, and Egypt where he managed the design of the interiors for the Library of Alexandria for Snohetta Architects. His current practice spans multiple design fields including new media, public art, and architectural design. He has recently completed construction of a large public plaza / environmental artwork (with partner, artist Lita Albuquerque) at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Grand Central Art Forum. He has taught at SCI-Arc, Otis College of Art and Design, UCLA, and the California State Polytechnic University at Pomona.
The lecture begins at 6:30PM at the Downey City Library, and is free to the public. The Downey Museum of Art, Downey Arts Coalition and curator Roy Anthony Shabla have collaborated to bring you this series. The DMOA has had a historically significant place in the modern art movement in California, as have artists local to the area. Come to learn about some of the significant names of the local history of modern art.
Poetry, art, dance, music, film ~ and conversation at Casa La Reina on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 7:00 PM.
Poet: Scoot Noon Creely
Musician: Andrew Quinones
Artist: Terry Walker
Bring something to share: poetry, art, wine, vegan snacks, nudity…
Curated by Roy Anthony Shabla.
the fourth Sunday of every month in the garden.
email for directions: roy@www.downeyarts.org
Greek Night @ Stay Gallery
In celebration of the Downey Greek Food Festival in Downey, we will be hosting a ‘Greek Night’ beginning at 10pm (when the festival ends) on Saturday, June 1st. Artwork by Greek artist Zafiris Gour will be on display, and tons more.
Stay Gallery 11140 Downey Ave., Downey, CA 90241