Stay Gallery is hosting it’s first annual ‘STAY YOUNG’ Festival Of The Arts to celebrate our local student talent.
Over 60 curated art works will be displayed by artists from Downey High, Warren High, and Downey Adult School.
Exhibit opens on Thursday, May 29th from 6p – 9p
ASB members invite the community to come together on Saturday, May 31st for a family friendly day of fun filled activities.
Stay Gallery is located at 11140 Downey Ave, north of Firstone Blvd.
Stay Gallery is hosting a unique show where music collides with the visual arts. Friday May 23rd is the opening reception of REALITY MALFUNCTION, a group art exhibit by Alfonso Salcido II, Rene Decasas, Ozzie Juarez and Julian Keith, plus a special performance by WAX CHILDREN. Event begins at 7PM, suggested donation at the door.
Stay Gallery is at 11140 Downey Avenue, north of Firestone Blvd.
From The Downey Patriot:
DOWNEY − What do you get when you mix distorted guitars and spacey reverb with a noisy wall of sound that meshes melodious riffs, jazzy drumbeats, and hypnotic — yet often indistinguishable — lead vocals?
A fan of alternative rock might call this psych-rock or shoegaze, but local followers of the reemerging subgenres recognize this as the rising, Covina-based band Wax Children.
Formed two years ago by lead singer Mr. Wall and guitarist Cal Jones, the self-proclaimed “bizzaro psychedelics” are now a quintet of twenty-something guys known not just for music, but for surrealist artwork, which will be on display at Stay Gallery later this month.
Drummer Julian Keith, who goes by the name “Fieldhouse,” joined the band early on after meeting Jones at an art exhibit in 2012.
“Cal and I were invited to display our artwork at a gallery. His art was right next to mine,” said Keith, who lives in Downey. “I had just come out of a band…and he was looking for a drummer. We kind of stumbled on each other.”
Keith played his first gig with the band the day after he agreed to join.
“Bizzaro-psyche is a bizarre twist on psychedelic. It’s very metaphorical, like being in a dream-like state. In a dream it doesn’t make sense on first glance,” he said.
“We use a combination of noise pop, shoegaze, slight jazz fusion — but we never tried to be one genre. We share the same favorite bands. But one guy loves delta blues and folk and another is heavy on punk and metal…we listen to a lot of stuff in the studio.”
However, music isn’t the only thing these guys are willing to make “bizzaro.”
Keith and Jones are also both accomplished artists who have displayed their surrealist and cubist pieces in several art galleries.
“My background with art started with me drawing on my notes in high school,” recalled Keith. “Painting is really a self-realization — I do it for myself. My angst in music becomes joy, but my angst in art is pain. I paint when something is bothering me.”
What’s bothering Keith lately? GMOs, or genetically modified foods.
“They’re feeding GMOs to children and they’re hazardous to your body,” said Keith, who will display work on the subject during a three-day exhibit at Stay Gallery called “Reality Malfunction.”
“This is the first time I’ve displayed in a while… ‘Reality Malfunction’ is just about expressing our angst towards society and bringing some realization.”
In fact, Wax Children released their third EP in February entitled “Angst,” but the group is already planning a return to the studio this year for a follow-up project.
“We’re actually working on two albums and talking to some record labels. If we get major airplay, that’d be nice, but we’re focused on finding a label that suits us properly,” he said. “We don’t want to make it too big, but we would like to make a career out of this.”
Ironically, the band’s name may describe much more about this group of young artistic rockers than one could ever imagine.
“It has different meanings, but for me, Wax Children is the realization that your childhood melts away as you get older,” Keith said with a smile. “So hold on to your childhood.”
To hear a sample of Wax Children’s music, visit waxchildren.bandcamp.com or facebook.com/waxchildren.
“Reality Malfunction” opens on May 23 at Stay Gallery and will feature the surrealist artwork of Ozzie Juarez, Rene DeCasas, Alfonso “Cal Jones” Salcido III, and Julian “Fieldhouse” Keith, along with a special performance by Wax Children.
**********
Published: May 1, 2014 – Volume 13 – Issue 03
MOMENTS IN TIME / ANNE RIGNEY
Opens: Friday, April 25th, 2014 @ 7p
Runs: April 25th – 30th
Stay Gallery continues to bring provocative visual arts to its creative space on Downey Avenue, the latest a photography exhibit by Rita Labib, opening this Friday.
NEARLY NAKED
A Photography Exhibit by Rita Labib
Show runs: April 4th – 20th
Exhibition Opening: Friday, April 4th @7PM
Artist Bio
Rita Labib is a young artist with an old soul. At the age of fourteen, she saved enough money to buy her own DSLR by making and selling shirts, scarves and jewelry and that is when she says, “My life changed.” Since then, she has been shooting at every opportunity that arises, with a focus in high fashion and beauty. Her work has since then been shown in galleries and published online and in print. Rita’s other passions include traveling, cuddling with her pitbull, sculpting with clay and porcelain, and volunteering to raise awareness of poverty and disease around the world. One day she hopes to have her own space where she can teach art classes and hold gallery professional events for young upcoming artists. “I’m constantly putting my skills to work,” she states, ” I don’t consider it a job because I absolutely love what I do and I enjoy every minute of it. I’m trying as best I can, to make the most of this life that i’ve been given.”
Artist Statement
NEARLY NAKED is a representation of the impact on our society’s perception of beauty from the multi-million dollar entertainment and advertising industry Rita say’s that this is something that always seems to be on her mind. Women are degraded in many forms and Hollywood has created an unhealthy standard of beauty that causes many young girls and women to have extremely low self- confidence. “That needs to be changed,” she states. In her show, NEARLY NAKED, she will be exhibiting photographs and sculptures that challenge these norms and exemplify the beauty of a woman.
Article courtesy the Downey Symphony and The Downey Patriot
In partnership with the Downey Arts Coalition, the upcoming concert of the Downey Symphony Orchestra, to be held at the Downey Theatre on Saturday, April 5, will include, at no extra charge, “Home Sweet Earth” – an art exhibit in celebration of Earth Day.
Coordinated by the team of Pat Gil and Eloisa Ball, both newer members of the Downey Symphonic Society Board of Directors, the art exhibits that have taken place during the prior two concerts at the Downey Theatre this season have been very successful. Audiences for the DSO (Downey Symphony Orchestra) concerts have increased dramatically and the exhibited artists are being presented in a different kind of venue where the audience might not otherwise have seen their work.
The Downey Theatre, opened in 1970, has an expansive lobby that includes a second floor art gallery that has been sorely under-utilized until this season. When this space is occupied with exciting and visually stimulating art works and a large number of audience members exploring their surroundings, the theatre is full of life and energy and is the place you need to be!
Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22nd, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year. Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on enviornmental issues.
However, Pat Gil found that her vision of having an Earth Day event, a large festival where many people could come together and enlighten each other as to healthier and enviornmentally safer choices, could start off, albeit somewhat smaller, if she held it a few weeks earlier. Announcing “Home Sweet Earth” as the title and Earth Day the theme of the art exhibit coinciding with the Spring Concert on April 5th at the Downey Theatre was a logical choice as a way for Pat to “plant the seeds” in order to make her Earth Day event an annual reality. Other members of the Board of Directors of the Symphonic Society agreed with Pat and are anxiously anticipating another successful union of “Art Exhibit” and “Downey Symphony Orchestra Concert.”
The list of artists will not be finalized until just before the event. However, confirmations have already come in from such local and respected artists as husband and wife Jorge and Carolina Estrada-Del Toro with their work featuring nature, animals, sculpture and abstract photography; Isabel Acosta – a clothing designer and surfer with concerns about our ocean’s water; Roy Anthony Shabla – well known abstract painter and poet who produced and performed “Babel” at the Stay Gallery; Karen Yee – an artist with museum quality work that was well received by past audiences who is creating another “master piece” for the occasion; Rocio Villalobos – a wonderful watercolorist; Polaris Castillo – a whimsical artist and film maker; and Don Lamkin who has painted a 36 x 36 inch acrylic on canvas titled “Many Hands Light Work” specifically for this exhibit. “I just wanted to show the signifigance that if everyone from all countries, cultures and races works together, we can make a big difference in the health and sustainability of our mother earth,” Lamkin said.
In their ongoing quest to find new and unique artists, Pat Gil and Eloisa Ball both discovered a wonderful student artist while judging the 3rd Annual Chalk Art Festival held recently at Warren High School. Viviana Herrera, a student at West Middle School in the sixth grade, has created an art piece entitled “What Is Life?” that fits perfectly with the theme of the “Home Sweet Earth” exhibit. Although drawn in chalk for the festival at Warren High School, Viviana has recreated her work in colored pencil for the exhibit at the theatre. Parents Luis Herrera and Maria Mendez couldn’t be happier about their daughter being asked to participate and are bringing a large number of family members to attend not only the art exhibit, but the Downey Symphony Orchestra concert too!
The concert, entitled “World Cup Classico,” begins at 8:00 PM and will be performed by the Downey Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sharon Lavery, Music Director. The doors to the lobby of the theatre will open at 7:00 PM for the “Home Sweet Earth” art exhibit and at 7:15 PM Sharon Lavery will talk, from the stage, about the music being perfomed that evening. This “mini lecture” (she is, after all, on the faculty at USC) is another “extra, at no additional cost” to the evening and has become a regular occurance at the concerts in the theatre. Come early to listen and learn how and why she selected the classical music from some of the countries that are involved in the World Cup tournament that will be held later this summer. Maestra Lavery will also interview Christopher Bartz, Soprano Saxophone soloist, who will be performing “Fantasia for Saxophone” by Villa Lobos of Brazil. The program also features music from Argentina, Mexico, Italy, Russia, and “The Downey Overture” composed as an ode to our own orchestra by Oscar Navarro of Spain and premiered here in 2011.
One more additional bonus to the evening also comes with no additonal cost. After the concert, everyone in attendance is invited to a complimentary reception with the artists from the “Home Sweet Earth” exhibit; the Downey Symphony Orchestra; the Downey Symphonic Society Board of Directors; Sharon Lavery, Music Director; and Christopher Bartz, Soprano Saxophone soloist. Cookies, punch and champagne will be served. Munch and mingle. Bring your camera and/or your cell phone. Take photographs of yourself with friends and members of the orchestra or an artist or even a willing member of the Board of Directors. Take home photographic memories of the evening or instanly post those photographs to Facebook and make your ”friends” that aren’t with you that evening wish they were there!
If you haven’t got them already, please don’t delay in obtaining your tickets for this fun-filled evening! They are available now through the Downey Theatre Box Office by phone (562) 861-8211, online at downeytheatre.org, or in person at 8435 Firestone Blvd.
Box office hours are Tuesday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking around the theatre is free in the Downey Civic Center.
For more information visit: downeysymphony.org.
From Shirley Johnson:
Saturday April 5th, at 9:00AM, this is the date: Walk the Talk Against Child Abuse & Neglect will be hosting our 2nd annual Chalk Art Festival. This event is to bring awareness about the problems of child abuse, education, signs of abuse, what to do and how to report suspicious behavior.
This will continue to be our focus.
Our Chalk Art Festival will be a bit different this year by hosting our event on two major streets in Downey – Downey Avenue and Firestone Blvd. This will give our event far more attention and more exposure for the very talented artists. The Art will be done on boards, taped to the sidewalk, where some of the most incredible professional art will unfold — all in colorful chalk, and it’s all for sale.
The chalk art event is to bring awareness to children who are abused and neglected, throughout the year our charity works to support other organizations, especially during Christmas.
If you can support us with a donation, we thank you.
We hope to see you April 5th! God Bless!
Shirley
Office address and phone: 8423 Florence Ave, Downey CA 90240, 562-862-2378
Warren High School Art Club is hosting their 3rd Annual Chalk Art Festival, under the leadership of art teacher Jennifer LaMar. Students and members of the community have been invited to create works of sidewalk chalk art throughout the main part of campus, with a competition to follow. All money raised at this event goes towards Art Club Scholarships for Warren High School Seniors, who have dedicated many service hours to Art Club and the Arts.
Chalk Art Contest Begins at 9:00am, and judging begins at 3:00pm.
Chalk Art will be judged for the following categories:
Best Rendition of a Masterpiece
Best Use of Color
Best Humor
Most Original
Best Team artwork
Best Youth (children 12 and under)
For more information visit the Warren Art Club website (click here).
The Downey Civic Theatre is conducting a survey as part of its effort to make sure the theatre has long-term viability and continues to be relevant in the community. The Theatre Management wants to hear from Downey residents regarding what they like, what they don’t like and what shows they’d most like to see.
An online survey has been created to generate feedback which will be used to determine future programming, event coordination and marketing efforts. To participate in this survey please visit www.DowneyTheatre.com or click on the survey link below.
All surveys completed by March 31st, 2014 will be entered into the drawing for a four pack of tickets to a Downey Civic Theatre Presents performance,
“Broadway Rhythm” at the William & Jane Bristol Civic Auditorium, 16600 Civic Center Dr., Bellflower, CA
Friday, May 16 at 7:00 PM. Saturday, May 17 at 2:30 PM. Sunday, May 18 at 2:30 PM.
General admission is $5.00. Tickets may be purchased at the theatre door before the time of the performance.
The chorus was founded over 40 years ago in the neighboring city of Downey. The chorus became associated with the city of Bellflower in 1989. The chorus is comprised of men and women who enjoy singing in four part harmony songs from the American Songbook, movies, Broadway, and popular love songs from the 1920’s to the present.
The chorus meets weekly for practice and performs for the public three times per year. Shown photo is from the December 2013 show.
The Downey Symphonic Society presents “World Cup Classico”. Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 8:00 PM. Downey Civic Theatre 8435 Firestone Blvd., Downey, CA 90241. Art exhibit “Home Sweet Earth” at 7:00 PM with artwork featured on the walls of the Theatre lobby. www.downeytheatre.com Box office: (562) 861-8211 Opening piece (TBD) to be conducted by Priscilla Winslow. Downey Overture – Oscar Navarro. Concerto for Saxophone – Villa Lobos. Estancia: Four Dances. Op. 8 – Ginastera. Nabucco Overture – Verdi. Huapango – Moncayo. Capriccio espagnol, op. 34 – Rimsky-Korsakov. Featuring Christopher Bartz, Soprano Saxophone