Category: Updates

Poetry Matters December 19, 2013 at Stay Gallery

Downey Arts Coalition in conjunction with Downy Vibe presents Poetry Matters on December 19, 2013 at the Stay Gallery in Downey, CA. Poetry Matters is a monthly evening to hear poems written by local poets along with an invited special guest poet reading their poems in front of an appreciative audience.

Thursday, December 19 is a special night. It’s the launch party for Lummox 2, a collections of poems and essays edited and published by Raindog, a Long Beach poet. The new book will be for sale at the poetry reading and several poets and writers in the book will read their works that evening beginning at 7:30 PM.

Prior the reading, at 7:00 PM music will be performed by Garretson and Gorodetsky.

Poetry Matters is curated by Lorine Parks. E-mail address is LorineParks@verizon.net.

Stay Gallery 11140 Downey Ave., Downey, CA 90241 ph (562) 774-2056 Parking is available in the street, behind the gallery, or across the street in the parking garage.

Admission is free.

View the latest art exhibition on the walls of the Stay Gallery. Numerous restaurants are within walking distance of the Stay Gallery. Come out and enjoy “Downey at its finest” with poetry, music, art, dinner or a late night coffee and dessert.

Poetry Matters meets every month and will continue to have readings at the Stay Gallery in 2014.

December 7, 2013
Toy Drive Comedy Show Sunday Dec 8

For the second year in the row, Ivy League Improv will present “Laughing around the Christmas Tree,” a benefit comedy show and toy drive on Sunday December 8th, 2PM at Stay Gallery 11140 Downey Ave. Ivy League is a project of Urban Theatre Movement, and a collaborator with the Downey Arts Coalition.

The comedy show is family friendly, so kids are welcome as well. Admission is to bring an unwrapped toy with a $10 value or more.

Last year’s event brought a few dozen toys in to be distributed to families through the Downey Exchange Club Family Support Center. Since 1991 the Exchange Club supports local parents and children with resources and guidance, as well as maintains a child abuse prevention center. DAC is proud to support their efforts in our community.

Come expecting a good time, and enjoy the atmosphere of art and culture at Stay Gallery on Downey Avenue, just north of Firestone Blvd.

December 3, 2013
Debut Concert of Downey Master Chorale Dec 21

After forming a new ensemble in the fall of 2013, the Downey Master Chorale will perform its debut concert on Saturday, December 21 at 7:30 PM.

The performance will be held in the main sanctuary of the Moravian Church of Downey, 10337 Old River School Road, in Downey, just south of Florence Ave.

The performance features A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. This 1942 suite consists of eleven movements, with text from The English Galaxy of Shorter Poems. Britten (1913-1976) was a central figure of 20th-century British classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces.

Following the intermission will feature several popular Christmas carols from a range of composers, such as selections from “The Seven Joys of Christmas” by Kirke Mechem, John Rutter’s “Candlelight Carol” and “Angels’ Carol,” as well as “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night” and “Jingle Bells.”

The Moravian Church of Downey is home to a half-century of classical music history, as the home of the Moravian Trombone Choir founded in 1965 by Jeff Reynolds of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. As a special guest, the concert will features an appearance of the Moravian Trombone Ensemble,

Attendees will also enjoy a sing-along of favorite carols as well as the Hallelujah Chorus.

Tickets are $15 general, $10 student and seniors. Purchase tickets online at this link.

The Downey Master Chorale is conducted by artistic director Margaret Zeleny, and accompanied by associate conductor Chris Squires. For more information, email info@downeymasterchorale.org.

December 1, 2013
Artisan Market $10 Holiday Gifts Dec 8th

What if a holiday boutique, hosted by some of the most talented local artisans and craftspeople, had everything on sale for $10? That’s the idea behind the first annual Artisan Market $10 Holiday Gift Sale, happening Sunday December 8th at the Moravian Church of Downey. This is collaboration of curator Roy Anthony Shabla, fused glass artist Terry Walker and artist/pastor Christie Melby-Gibbons.

The market in Hove Hall will be open 11AM to 4PM, come prepared to do your casual Christmas shopping by supporting our local artisans.

November 23, 2013
Moravian Trombone Choir Concert Monday Dec 2nd

The Moravian Trombone Choir will be having their 48th annual Advent/Christmas Concert at 7:30PM on Monday, Dec. 2nd at the Downey Moravian Church, 10337 Old River School Road. “This concert is the perfect way to get into the Holiday spirit!” says Steven Humenski, the group’s Director.

The concert is free but a freewill offering will be taken.

https://www.facebook.com/events/255435567942503/

November 22, 2013
View from the Edge: Rennie Tang “Dance and Landscape in Dialog”

View from the Edge lectures on Modern Art is back, this time on Thursday November 21st, 6:30PM with dancer and professor Rennie Tang, speaking about “Dance and Landscape in Dialog.” The lecture is free, at the Downey City Library on Brookshire Blvd just north of Firestone Blvd.

Rennie Tang is a designer and educator based in Los Angeles. She is currently Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture at California Polytechnic State University Pomona. Her professional background in dance and choreography strongly influences her practice, research and teaching. She often collaborates with artists on site-specific works that fuse concepts drawn from her various fields of expertise. Movement, art, and education are often key drivers in her design work. Her research interests include temporary landscapes, dance in public spaces and measuring social dimensions of the built environment. Her latest works include the design of a public tour for the Van Abbe Museum in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and a performance piece for Grand Park, Los Angeles, both done in collaboration with choreographer Sara Wookey. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in architecture from McGill University and a Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University.

For more information about the series, email roy@www.downeyarts.org

November 19, 2013
Stay Gallery presents Don Knabe Pediatric Arts Exhibit November 21, 2013

The First Annual Don Knabe Pediatric Arts Exhibit – Art of Rancho

Thursday, November 21, 2013 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Reception at 7:30 pm.

Show runs from November 21 thru December 21, 2013.

Featuring the artwork of 17 students from the Don Knabe Pediatric Arts Program.

Stay Gallery 11140 Downey Ave., Downey, CA 90241 (562) 774-2056

November 15, 2013
Third Thursdays Poetry Matters presents Ruth Bavetta on November 21, 2013

Third Thursdays Poetry Matters presents Ruth Bavetta on November 21, 2013 at the Epic Lounge in Downey, CA.

Although Ruth Bavetta has written and published poems for over twenty years, she was a visual artist before she began writing. In her new book, Fugitive Pigments, she explores the resonance between art and poetry.  Ruth’s poems are feminine, not in the sense of being fluffy but in the sense of being woman… emotional, strong, nurturing, hurting, teasing and above all honest.  “Fugitive pigments” are those colors that fade over time. “Art and life, intertwined.”

Doors open at 7:00 PM. Sign up sheet available for open mic poetry reading at 7:30 PM before the featured guest.

At downtown Downey’s premier performance venue:

The Epic Lounge    8239 Second Street in the heart of downtown Downey

Handicap accessible        Wine & beer served           Food at LA Buns next door and  ok to bring to your seat            Welcome under 21

Look for BUMBLE BEE LOVES YOU mural on the wall of the building next to the Epic Lounge

Reading curated by Lorine Parks   lorine parks@verizon.net

November 5, 2013
Photographer Carolina Del Toro curates show at Downey Theatre

This weekend, as part of the Downey Symphony Orchestra concert November 2, 2013, join us for a special exhibit by photographer Carolina Estrada-Del Toro, in the lobby of the Downey Civic Theatre before the concert. Doors open at 7:00PM. To enter the lobby you must have tickets for the symphony concert, available at the box office, by phone, or online.

Carolina Del Toro has also curated a gallery of work from local artists, celebrating Dia de los Muertos, as part of the Dia de los Muertos Festival held this year for the first time at the Downey Civic Theatre campus. The theatre isa 8435 Firestone Blvd (and Brookshire) next to Mimi’s Cafe.

The festival takes place Sunday November 3rd from 11AM to 8PM and is free to the public, featuring art, film, music, dance, gifts, beer and wine.

Artists featured include: MIKE FERGUSON, LAURA SANCHEZ, WILLIAM RADEMAKER, RICKY OSTENDI, MONICA PUCCIARELLI, ISABEL ACOSTA, JOSE LOPES, RAUL MORENO, EDSON GERSAIN, MIKI LORENA and LESLIE CHAVEZ.

Carolina Estrada-Del Toro grew up in Tecuala, Nayarit; Mexico. At the age of 17 she immigrated to California and enrolled herself at Roosevelt High School. After starting a family, her calling to nature and photography became stronger and that is when her husband encouraged her to enroll in photography classes. She fell in love with the darkroom, but after receiving a macro lens as a gift, she discovered a completely different world of colors, patterns, and overwhelming wonder. She found herself happiest looking through the lens, freeing herself from past emotional scars she thought were too deep to overcome. Her photography creates a close up vision of nature that makes the viewer take a second look. She sees a different world in the depths of nature and without the use of editing software turns flowers, insects, and leaves into mysterious and striking portraits.

Carolina’s photographs have been exhibited at several galleries in LA and Ventura counties. As a founding member of the Downey Arts Coalition, she curated a monthly art show called Art on the Vine, which brought artists and a more vibrant art community to South East LA. Carolina supports not-for-profit organizations and has donated several of her photographs to fundraiser events.

Downey Arts Coalition is proud of our collaboration with the Downey Theatre and the Downey Symphony Orchestra.

During Saturday’s concert, the members of the Downey Symphony will show off their talents as they perform one of the most popular symphonies in classical music, Dvorak’s New World Symphony. The concert also features the winner of our 2012 DSO Young Artist Competition, Joseph Morris, as he performs Mozart’s beautiful Clarinet Concerto, K. 622.

October 29, 2013
Downey Master Chorale Auditions

The Downey Arts Coalition, in partnership with music director Margaret Zeleny have announced auditions for a newly formed city chorus, the Downey Master Chorale. The group is a new opportunity for singers to be challenged and join a community of musicians that wish to share this beautiful art form with their local audiences.

Auditions are ongoing by appointment only. Sign up at www.downeymasterchorale.org for more information.

The Press Telegram has featured the ensemble’s formation, read about it here at this link.

Zeleny is a former music teacher at the University of Minnesota who later joined the Los Angeles Master Chorale. She performed from 1969 to 1978 under the direction of founding-conductor Roger Wagner, then launched her own choir called the Pasadena Repertory Singers in 1981.

Downey originally had an all-city chorus, the Downey Civic Chorus, which relocated to the city of Bellflower in 1989.

Margaret Zeleny leads rehearsal for Downey’s new master chorale program Oct. 1. Auditions to join the group are ongoing. (Photo by Sean Hiller/Daily Breeze)

October 23, 2013