Category: Visual Arts

  • Call to Artists: Hollywoodland, deadline Sept 23rd

    Call to Artists: Hollywoodland, deadline Sept 23rd

    Hollywoodland

    • Sponsor: GlennFest Film Festival
    • Where: Downey Civic Theatre
    • Opening: Saturday, October 8, 2018 – 9:00am
    • Closing: Sunday, October 9, 2018 – 10:00pm
    • Parameters: All Medias, Mixed Medias, All Sizes, Self-Contained
    • Fee: $8 per art pieces that are selected
    • Theme: Movie and Hollywood inspired art pieces.    

    Submission Deadline: Sunday, September 23, 2018- Midnight

    For many decades films have been a great source for entertainment for countless people throughout the entire world. Films take us to faraway places people could only see in their dreams, tells stories of great evils against a great goods, love, horror and history of great events and greater people. Over the years the medium has gone through changes and styles that has since become hyper realistic and provide an immersive experience.

    In honor of the seventh year of the Glennfest Film Festival, Downey’s free film festival, we will be holding an art exhibition at the Downey Civic Theatre. We are looking for art pieces that take inspiration or based around different films that have been released. This includes portraits of the actors and actresses who have been involved in the film industry throughout history and other items or people surrounding the industry.     

    Selected artists will be featured in the galley booklet, with your contact information. All artists will access to all film screenings for the entire festival and can attend whichever ones they can as all screenings are free. Artists are also encouraged to attend our reception brunch Sunday, October 9 from 11am- 1pm with food, drinks and live music.  

     

    Artwork must be regarding theme:   

    For consideration, please submit the following to:

    Andrew Hernandez at:  andrewh@www.downeyarts.org

    1. Jpeg of artwork
    2. Title, Medium, Price, and Size
    3. Short description, one sentence, of relation to theme.
    4. Short biography about yourself, one paragraph, photo, website and social media information.

    Those selected will be sent an artist’s information packet re details about delivery and retrieval.

  • Call to Artists: Viva El Arte – Deadline Sept 23

    Call to Artists: Viva El Arte – Deadline Sept 23

    The next group art show at the Downey Theatre is coming October 20th as part of the Downey Symphony Concert Viva La Musica!  Submit your work to curator Andrew Hernandez, andrewh@www.downeyarts.org by September 23rd. We are looking for art pieces inspired by Latin American culture. Details below.

  • 100K Poets for Change at the Green Salon Sept 22

    100K Poets for Change at the Green Salon Sept 22

    This month, The Green Salon merges with the annual, world-wide cultural event promoting peace, equal rights, and ecology, 100k Poets for Change.  As usual, the salon will include fine art, live music, poetry reading and an open mic… but this month also features political discourse on sustainability, poetry and prose writing workshops, a full-length feature film, and a small art fair.  Vintage political t-shirts will be available at the marketplace.

    The Green Salon

    Since its founding in 2011, 100k Poets for Change has been working with poets, artists, musicians, and other creatives to organize events around the world for serious social change.  The Green Salon has collaborated with 100k Poets from the beginning.

    Come meet the Mayor of Downey, Sean Ashton, and speak with him about the upcoming mid-term elections.  He is a staunch supporter of civil rights and will share his thoughts on the current political climate with us.

    The salon begins early, 5pm, with writing workshops hosted by ZZyZx WriterZ, Ivan Rios, and a poetry/craft workshop by Terry Walker and Frank Kearns.  There will also be the opportunity to have your writing critiqued.  Be inspired, hone your skills, and share your work at the open mic.

    The featured musician for the event is Richard Torres.  He is a composer of atmospheric, Zen-like music regularly performing at cultural events such as the Green Salonand the Lotus Festival, hosted by the City of Los Angeles.  He will perform throughout the day, often on rarely-known musical instruments.

    The featured poet is Sarah Thursday.  Her new book, Conversations with Gravel, is a highly-praised mosaic of love poems which she will perform.  Copies will be available for purchase and autographing.

    There will also be a table of vintage classic books for sale.  Most of those authors, however, will not be available to autograph their work.

    The evening will include a full-length feature film on world humanity projected under the stars.  It is an engaging story not to be missed.

    City of Downey Mayor Sean Ashton

    The Green Salon is the longest-running monthly cultural event in the Downey area.  It is the fourth Saturday of the month and it is always free.

    Because of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Winter Solstice, this is the last salon of the year –everyone will be occupied with parties in the following months.  Once again, The Green Salon will be held at the art studio of Roy Anthony Shabla.  He will display Halloween paintings for the event.

    The Green Salon / 100k Poets for Change 2018

    Saturday, September 22, 5pm

    11210 Greenstone Avenue

    Santa Fe Springs 90670

    (Near Bloomfield and Lakeland, off Florence or Imperial)

    FREE

  • Metallic Reflections Exhibit at the Downey Symphony Concert April 7

    Metallic Reflections Exhibit at the Downey Symphony Concert April 7

    DOWNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCLUDES 2017 – 2018 SEASON

    AND “METALLIC REFLECTIONS” DOWNEY ARTS COALITION

    ART EXHIBIT AT THE DOWNEY THEATRE

    SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2018

    DOWNEY – The Downey Symphonic Society, once again in collaboration with the Downey Arts Coalition, concludes the 2017 – 2018 Concert Series of the Downey Symphony Orchestra at the Downey Theatre by presenting an evening filled with classical music and and art exhibit with the theme “Metallic Reflections.”

    Music Director Sharon Lavery has another delightful evening of music planned to conclude the 59th season of the Downey Symphony Orchestra. “This concert is entitled “Russian Spectacular” and has some spectacular Russian flair: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. You won’t want to miss the return of international piano sensation Kevin Fitz-Patrick as he dazzles you with his exquisite and vibrant playing. As we do every year for our spring concert, the program will open with a piece conducted by our Baton Auction Winner. This year’s lucky recipient is Josh Beall and we look forward to watcing him shine as he conducts Slavonic Dance No. 1 by Dvorak.” After intermission at this concert, there will be the “Baton Auction” held to raise funds to support the Downey Symphony Orchestra and give the lucky winner the opportunity to lead the stage full of professional musicians in April of 2019.

    All of the above activity will take place within the auditorium of the Downey Theatre beginning at 8:00 PM. However, the doors to the Downey Theatre lobby will open at 6:30 PM for the Downey Arts Coalition ‘s art exhibit entitled “Metallic Reflections” overseen by Pat Gil a member of the Board of Directors of the Downey Symphonic Society and the president of the Downey Arts Coalition.

    Pat Gil explained, “DAC (Downey Arts Coalition) is very excited about this new exhibit; we’ve been wanting to do this for a while. Who does not enjoy the beauty of gold, silver, and bronze especially in art? We are very impressed by many of the art pieces in this exhibit, many of our returning artists have stepped it up, and we have some new talented artists exhibiting also.

    Artist Ricky Ostendi

    Our featured artist this month is Rick Ostendi. He is a Downey native who enjoys painting, sculpting, and his favorite of all – drawing. Inspired by cartoons like Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry, Ricky thought to himself, “This is something I need to do.” He started at Griffiths Middle School and while teachers taught him of pharaohs and pyramids, Ricky would draw them rather than take conventional notes. He felt that art opened his mind and freed him to be as creative as he wanted. Today, you can find Ricky’s work in a number of restaurants, bars, and galleries. His original urban style art is easy to spot and even easier to enjoy. If you have a pen and blank paper, you can bet Ricky will create something that everyone in the world can appreciate. Ricky will be showcased in the outside courtyard/patio of the Downey Theatre during the event, displaying his work while he creates a new piece of art right before your very eyes!

    We welcome some new talented artists, like Susan Hawkins with her bronze and mixed media sculptures Double Helix, Double Helix 2, and 3 Figures. All three submissions depict different human figures that give a sense of movement almost as if they are dancing.  Each movement of the three pieces draws the viewers in, as if they are a drama that is nearing the climax.

    Erika Reynosa with her piece Submarine Window – an acrylic that incorporates metallic paints giving the viewer the appearance of looking out from a submarine. To achieve this the artist not only paints the darkness of the water as one dives deeper into it, but uses the metallic paint on the frame itself to give it the appearance of the ship’s hull allowing the viewer to become part of the art work. Other new artists include Andrew Ruano, Katayoon Alavin, Maxwell Coppla, Jasmine Hernandez, Charina Tanaka, Paula Prager and the exhibition curator Andrew Hernandez.

    Artist Wendy Hernandez

    We are very happy to see many of our favorite artists returning: Amelie Simmons with her piece Liquid Metal – a mixed media art work depicting an electric guitar that uses her “touch me” art style while incorporating metallic paints. This gives the overall composition vivid colors and motion as if the instrument is in the process of being played. Also, Wendy Hernandez with her piece Leap – an assemblage of art pieces that are made using various metal objects including gears, bike chains and bearings that take the appearance of frogs on lily pads. The piece adds a unique elegance to the overall composition using objects others would often be thrown away or seen as spare parts.  And popular returning artist Lindsay Yost with her ceramic mosaic piece He Is Hers which incorporates her ceramic art style to create a boat anchor in the middle of blue tiles that make the anchor appear as if it is floating amongst blue water. As with her previous art work, it is both beautiful and has a sense of tranquility. Other returning artists include Jorge Del Toro, Carolina Estrada- Del Toro, Aia White-Podue, Isabel Acosta, Linda Ikeda, Lisa Maffia-Reynoso, Stephanie Snee, and Katie McGuire.

    The Downey Theatre lobby doors open at 6:30 PM on Saturday night, April 7th. A pre-concert “talk” about the music being performed is given from the stage by Music Director/Conductor Sharon Lavery at 7:15 PM. The concert begins at 8:00 PM. Tickets are still available at the Downey Theatre Box Office, 8435 Firestone Blvd., open 11 AM to 5 PM Tuesday – Friday and one hour before the concert on Saturday. You may order tickets by telephone at (562) 861-8211 or online at www.downeysymphony.org.

  • A brief chat with curator Andrew Hernandez

    A brief chat with curator Andrew Hernandez

    Andrew Hernandez, Curator of “METALLIC REFLECTIONS” Downey Symphony pre-concert Exhibit

    Three years ago Andrew received his a B.A. in Art History from California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). He first began painting during his  senior year of high school at Verbum Dei High School in  Watts, CA. Andrew volunteering with DAC (Downey Arts  Coalition) during his senior year at CSUDH. Since, Andrew begun serving as curator and assist-curated the Downey Symphony Art Shows for the past three years.

    THE BRIEF CHAT

    DAC:  Could you tell us about the METALLIC REFLECTIONS exhibit and what it represents?

    A.H.: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, among other metals, have adorned objects through-out the centuries.  Using metallic material, artists have been able to make amazing and beautiful art works fit for royalty. We are often drawn to these pieces; they are treasures to be shared.  For our METALLIC REFLECTIONS exhibit we looked for art pieces that have any form of metallic expression incorporated into it. This includes making art pieces from metal objects in any form, using metallic colors including metallic paints, creating a metallic appearance in the piece.

     

    By Wendy HernandezDAC: When you look all these artists and their art work, what can you say collectively about all these exhibiting artists?

    AH: Collectively these artists are some of the most talented and interesting artists that I have had the pleasure to work with. The art pieces that they display shows both their talent and love for the art that they create.

    DAC: Why were these artists were chosen over others?

    A.H: These artists were selected because their pieces truly exemplified the theme for our show and the way they use their selected mediums to display this theme is both unique and beautiful.

    By Erika ReynosaDAC: What can we expect to see in regards to the art that is going to be exhibited?

    A.H: In regards to the submitted art pieces for this show viewers should expect to see a unique elegance especially in the materials that artists use to create their pieces while the individual may seem rude and unusual when put together can make a masterpiece. The viewer can expect the art to draw them into it and hope to have some lasting effect on them after they see and walk away from it.  There is expected to be approximately 28 pieces that will be displayed for this show.

    Metallic Reflections will be on display at the Downey Theatre on April 7, beginning 6:30 pm during the Downey Symphony concert Russian Spectacular. For entrance purchase tickets to the concert by visiting the Downey Theatre box office.

     

    Artists For Metallic Reflections

     

    Aia White-Podue – Returning Artist

    Katie McGuire – Returning Artist

    Lisa Maffia-Reynoso – Returning Artist

    Stephanie Snee – Returning Artist

    Wendy Hernandez – Returning Artist

    Erika Reynosa

    Susan Hawkins

    Lindsay Yost – Returning Artist

    Isabel Acosta – Returning Artist

    Andrew Hernandez

    Paula Prager

    Charina Tanaka

    Kristan Haitz

    Andrew Ruano

    Linda Ikeda – Returning Artist

    Amelie Simmons – Returning Artist

    Carolina Estrada-Del Toro – Returning Artist

    Jorge Del Toro – Returning Artist

    Maxwell Coppala

    Ricky Ostendi – Returning Artist/ Featured Artist

    Katayoon Alavin

    Paul Montelongo

  • Recap: Live Love Art Winter 2018

    Recap: Live Love Art Winter 2018

    Downey Arts Coalition presented its first event of 2018, with a new series of events celebrating local art & culture: “Live Love Art,” on Sunday February 25th at The Epic Lounge.

    DAC President Pat Gil conceived of the events, four seasonal celebrations of artists doing great work in our city and nearby. In the winter edition, three artists were featured: Amelie Simmons, Erika Reynosa and Chris Param. Live music was provided by the El Dorado Collective and When Pigs Fly. The main event was the premiere screening of a new short film by writer/director Paul Tully, “Crossroads.” Tully was also able to introduce his father, Paul Tully Sr., who is promoting a new book of his dramatic life story in New York, “Born a Gangster.” After the screening, the cast and crew were invited to the stage to share their stories as well.

    Stay tuned for the next “Live Love Art” event coming this May, featuring a short film by Polaris Castillo, “El Luchador,” and more artists to be announced. Join our mailing list to stay informed.

  • Live Love Art – Downey Arts Coalition Event Feb 25th

    Live Love Art – Downey Arts Coalition Event Feb 25th

    This is the first of the LIVE LOVE ART events, they will come each season, this is our Winter 2018 edition, on February 25th at The Epic Lounge in Downey.

    Come celebrate the local arts with Downey Arts Coalition. Meet the new DAC team, and learn about all the exciting things happening in the Downey art community, all while you experience this art celebration of music, film, visual arts, and the written word.

    2pm – Doors open – Art exhitbit

    3pm – Showtime – Paul Tully Sr, Author of “Born a Gangster”

    3:30ish – Special Viewing of “Crossroads” by Paul Tully

    4ish -7pm – Live Music by Eldorado Collective and art show continues, with featured artiists: Wendy Hernandez, Erika Reynoza, and Amelie Simmons.

    There will be raffle and auction items, concession stand, and refreshments sold at the bar.

    Entrance Fee: Donation at the door.

    There will be opportunities for you to become a DAC member, for just $15 per person, or $20 for family, annual fee….ask us about it.

    More information about the featured artists will be released soon.

  • Call To Artists: The Masters

    Call To Artists: The Masters

    Submit your artwork by January 6th, 2018 to be included in our next group show at The Downey Theatre, on January 20, 2018. The theme is “The Masters,” for art pieces that take inspiration from past artists, composers, authors, poets and scientists known to be masters in their field. Email your work to andrewh@www.downeyarts.org for consideration.

     

  • Call to Artists, Music: The Art of Sound Oct 21

    Call to Artists, Music: The Art of Sound Oct 21

    Downey Arts Coalition is once again sponsoring a group art show with the Downey Symphony Orchestra for their fall concert on October 21.  The theme is “Music: The Art of Sound.” We are seeking submissions for all medias and mixed medias, self-contained, all sizes.

    Selected artists will be featured in the Symphony concert program, with your contact information, and announced from the stage. The concert is a ticketed event, but participants may purchase discounted tickets to the performance.

    For consideration, submit your work to Andrew Hernandez at andrewh@www.downeyarts.org.

    1. Jpeg of artwork
    2. Title, Medium and Size
    3. Short description, one sentence, of relation to theme.

    Submission deadline is October 7th, 2017.

  • 5th Annual Dia de Los Muertos Art Festival Oct 29

    5th Annual Dia de Los Muertos Art Festival Oct 29

    Art, Culture & Tradition

    The Annual Downey Dia de Los Muertos Art Festival is back for its 5th year on Sunday, Oct 29th, 2017, downtown Downey, in and around the Downey Theatre, 8435 Firestone Blvd. The event is free, and so is the parking.

    The festival opens at 11:00 am with introductions from the Mayor and City Council, and continues until 8:00 pm. During the opening, Tonatiuh Danza Azteca will perform a ceremonial Aztec dance, and the festivities commence.

    This event recognizes the cultural significance of Dia de Los Muertos–Day of the Dead-an annual Mexican and Central American custom rooted in both Aztec and Catholic world views, that goes back hundreds of years.  Dia de Los Muertos is when the spirits of the deceased return to earth, for one day, to hang out with the living.

    The Downey Dia de Los Muertos Art Festival is an ever expanding footprint packed with attractions that cover three stages with continuous film, music and ballet folklorico entertainment.  “Urban Art Alley” features “Found Art” (aka “Urban Art”), fine art, sculpture, altar displays, “make n’ take” arts and crafts, sugar-skull decorating, face painting and displays of both traditional altars and more unconventional “car altars.”

    The Downey Arts Coalition has partnered with the festival for each of the past five years, to bring a wide variety of fine art celebrating the Day of the Dead to the lobby of the Downey Theatre. Curated by Carolina Del Toro, artists are featured both from the local community as well as Southern California and beyond.

    The Downey Dia de Los Muertos Art Festival is generally recognized as one of the Southland’s most outstanding Dia de Los Muertos celebrations due, in part, to the indoor/outdoor setting and the quality and variety of entertainment, and also due to the overall presentation that includes color-coordinated booths and decorations, indoor restrooms,  and folklorico dances in the 738 seat theatre.

    The Downey Dia de Los Muertos Art Festival is produced by the City of Downey and the Downey Theatre.  Festival sponsors include La Amapola Market, AppleCare Medical Group, Avenue Press, Downey Federal Credit Union, Downey Nissan, Modelo, and Rose Hills Memorial Park.