This coming Thursday night is Finishing School's final event for their residency at MOCA. Come on out for the workshop and build some foxhole radios to take home. Better yet, call the Finding Joy Hotline and record yourself to become part of the project.
As the final event of their three-month Engagement Party residency, Finishing School presents Finding Joy, a public intervention taking place at MOCA Grand Avenue’s Sculpture Plaza, on Thursday, December 4, from 7 to 10pm. Engagement Party is the dynamic new initiative developed by The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), to engage innovative Los Angeles–based artist collectives. Intrigued by the military term “finding joy” (referring to the successful establishment of radio contact on the battlefield) Finishing School will lead a workshop in which participants will build small DIY radios that will be used to detect prerecorded transmissions located throughout the museum. To generate audio content, prior to the event Finishing School will interview members of the MOCA community about what brings them joy. The public is also welcome to share their thoughts by phone; to participate, please call the Finding Joy Hotline at 213/455-2926 and follow the instructions. Reception with cash bar to follow.
This event is FREE and open to the public. No reservations are required.
Our friends from the dA are having an event on Saturday and YOU should come! This is perfect chance to pick up unique gifts for Christmas and support your local arts while listening to some Jazz and enjoying a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Here's the deal,
Tray Chic Serving up FUN & FUNDS Event date: Saturday, November 22, 2008 Time: 6pm to 10pm Location: The dA Center for the Arts, 252 S Main St., Pomona Arts Colony, CA 91766 The dA Center for the Arts is known for creative fundraising. There were the metal chairs, the bowling balls, the skulls, and now artists have taken cafeteria trays and transformed them for the "Tray Chic" silent auction fundraiser. The event will take place this Saturday during the closing reception for the dA's current show, a remarkable art exhibit titled Popztlan. The dA has gained its reputation as a place where established contemporary artists such as Karl Benjamin and André Miripolsky, show alongside talented local and emerging artists. The Popztlan exhibit, featuring two paintings by Karl Benjamin, and a bridge that was once installed over the L.A. river, is truly a sensory adventure. A preview of early Tray Chic submissions, indicates a range of concepts that are “off the hook” so to speak. Notable artists such as Michael Woodcock, Dan Van Klapp, Fr. Bill Moore, and Dee Marcellus Cole are contributing trays, our beloved First Street Gallery volunteers are in the mix, and a few new artists will be making their en-tray into the downtown art scene. The dA has a strong artist base and the support for this event has been enthusiastic.
Trays will be sold in an silent auction format, with proceeds going to support The dA’s mission. Bidding starts at 6pm, and closes at 8:45pm. Winning bidders can purchase and take their trays on the spot. Trays not sold during the silent auction will be available for purchase during the month of December.
For extra fun while deciding which tray to bid on, there will be a wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, the dA Martini Club will be recruiting new members, and a jazz trio to embellish the evening.
For more information Contact Terry Castillo (909)397-9716
Getting Tray Chic in Pomona, Saturday November 22 By: Stacy Davies
While eating cafeteria-style food is not one of those dining experiences we ever intentionally seek out (you’ve been on the road three hours, you’re starving, and there’s a Sizzler—what you gonna do?), we do have our radar scoped out for people who get all creative with mundane, functional items and make them kitschier than they already were. In fact, we live for it. Lucky for us, the dA Center is holding a fundraiser for itself this weekend, and doing exactly that—offering up cafeteria trays transformed by local artists such as Michael Woodcock, Dan Van Klapp, Fr. Bill Moore, Dee Marcellus Cole and more, and peddling them at a silent auction to keep the dA thriving. Funkiness for a good cause? We’ll take two helpings, please. The event takes place at the closing reception of the dA’s current exhibition, Popztlan a “truly sensory adventure” that among other things features a bridge that was once installed over the LA River. There’ll also be hors d'oeuvres, wine tasting, and a jazz band to keep you greased and groovy. So unhinge your wallet and check out this worthwhile event—remember, you have holiday shopping to do, and nothing says “I love you” more than molded sheets of plastic and fiberglass embellished with a Venusian pin-up girl with missile-tipped ta tas. I can now check grammy off my list. (Stacy Davies)
Tray Chic fundraiser at dA Center for the Arts, 252 S. Main St., Pomona Arts Colony, (909) 397-9716; www.dacenter.org. Sat., Nov. 22, 6PM–10PM -Susie
Finally, after 2 and a half years of waiting, the Glass House Bar is ready to open. Earlier today, Saturday November 15, we got an anonymous tip that the bar was going to have a private opening. Well, we took it slow and waited to go see for ourselves until after dinner at Pho Vi and a drink at DBA. The buzz was out, several people where already reporting that it was the spot of the night and it was packed. Just like the streets were during a random Saturday night. It seemed Pomona was the place to be. Was it the fires keeping everyone local? Or keeping everyone away from the OC? Well, just to name a few, The Globe, Pho Vi, Casa Jimenez, Joey's BBQ, and DBA, Sakura Ichi, all reported big crowds. Back to the new bar, we entered passing a curious guard holding a digital ID reading machine. This should of been a tip-off for the future/high-tech, sleek feel the bar entails. What a crowd, we immediately saw our friend Jaclyn bartending and ordered our two Stellas. We then proceeded deeper into the bar and discovered a whole group of our local colonists were already holding a beautifully sculpted glass and wood table for all of us. By the way, Perry (owner and creator of this living sculpture) was there to greet us and welcome us to his latest creation. He is seen here with our friend Christina who is also the manager for the Glass House Record Store next door. Looking around you can't help but notice the Future/Retro/Minimal feel of the decor. The tables, benches, chairs, ceiling, windows, bar, and everything else is custom made of mostly welded steel and glass. We know "Malibu" Jim Arneson had a lot to do with this, being the lead sculptor, he also created the Huge Metal "Wing" above the bar and the giant steel apendage protruding from inside and extending out over the front of the building. Oh Yeah, and I can't forget Tom Pathe's huge painting of a TV color test bar hung solo on the west wall. It is illuminated by two massive lights giving it a glowing presence which makes the room complete. Well, needless to say, this place is an instant hit. With a full bar and great atmosphere, it will be a definite stopping point for all those crazy people looking for a good place to drink. This said, it adds another peg to our booming Downtown Pomona night life and music culture. Bravo Perry, we love it and can't wait to come back.
It was 2nd Saturday again and it was a good one. I was able to sneak out of Bunny Gunner and do some of the artwalk. First stop was a Cal Poly student show at the old Progression Space. Cal Poly and other students regularly put these quick one night shows up in some of the empty retail spaces in the arts colony. We thank Jeved for this as they are very supportive of the arts. Well, on to the art, the students put together a really nice painting show with lots of different styles and subject matter. After this show I headed around the corner to SCA. Our friends Cheryl Bookout, Randy Au, Mary Dessert, and Patt Buchanan had a beautiful show with paintings and sculpture. I most liked the way the show was presented with art from all the artist mixed together throughout the exhibition space. Next door was the Latino Art Museum, I made a quick run through here saying hello to our friend, the director, Graciela Nardi. She sent me off with some of her delicious home made empanadas. The art was one artist who's work is very fiery mix of abstract and geometric painting. Headed back upstairs and past Pho Vi, who was jammed with lots of hungry artwalk patrons. I love how Pho Vi opens their large doors and gives the restaurant an outdoor porch feel (by the way, they're finally serving beer now). Do you know "The Po"? Its the little tiny space outside DBA. Its a tiny room with 4 large windows making it an ideal installation space to show art for people walking by. This time they had the work of Martin Gantman, "Oedipus Rehung". The artist mixed a variety of famous paintings and photographs and then encircled them in a neon heart. On to DBA, we walked in and said or hellos to Ron Faris, owner of the Bar/Gallery. This current show is made up of amazing photorealistic paintings of various people in everyday situations by artists Alyssa Monks. Most notable are the paintings above the couch area of a female figure who appears to be covered in water. The artists ability to create the illusion of wetness using a paint palette-like technique was what impressed me most. Just next door at the dA was my favorite exhibition of the night (besides Joel's of course). Rolo Castillo curated "Poptzlan" which is what the name suggests, an explosion of Pop art and just over the top exhibition design. There was a giant steel bridge erected in the middle of the gallery taking up and framing the entire show. Karl Benjamin's massive paintings, wow, and right next to two awesome paintings by Robert Reynolds really made this a top notch show. The show stealing works were two gigantic portrait paintings on the north wall. They are very bright and colorful faces accented with a hint of geometric line work. The show that doesn't stop, Popztlan also opened the basement and had a band playing and 3 projections in the new basement lounge. I came back rounding the block to listen a bit to the bands playing outside of Ink'd Chronicles. They have a tattoo inspired art show that is also a cancer awareness benefit. Buzzing away, the tattoo artist were inking people up to the sound of the bands and the decor of dozens of great pieces of art. Back home at Bunny Gunner, we are exhibiting a show by our beloved friend, Joel Heflin. He created giant flannel grams of apocalyptic-like events. These pieces are funny, they have child-like cut out felt monsters being bombarded by angels and jet planes. We even got to make t-shirts from some of the left over cutouts. Joel is member of the art collective Finishing School and has a great bunch of friends who all came together to support him. Joel even had a visit from the folks from MOCA!. We ate a delicious meal cooked by in home traveling Gourmet Chef and our friend, April Boyer who's company is called " The Modern Gourmet". This was the most amazing meal! April spoiled 20 of us. She came in at about 1:00 and started cooking her heart out. Dinner was ready at 4:30 starting out with Appetizers : Proscuitto-Wrapped Shrimp and Bruscetta. Then for the main course; Ceasar Salad Chilled Penne with Chicken, Pesto and Pine Nuts, Meatball Lasagna, Brocolli Rabe with Garlic and Romano Cheese and Tiramisu for dessert. Unbelievable! I highly recommend April, this was a real treat! We haven't felt pampered like that in years! She does everything from doing all the shopping , bringing all the platters and bowls to cleaning up after the meal...she does everything and at a great price! I'm telling you, that was the best Lasagna I have ever eaten! Everything was so delicious and we even had leftovers for today;-) Thank you April! We love you!
Well, that was our weekend here in the Colony, I hope that you enjoy the slideshow and we invite you to join us on the second Saturday of every month to celebrate the arts and entertainment, right here in downtown Pomona. -Juan and Susie
are returning to MOCA for their second performance.
THIS THURSDAY: Little Pharma Drug Run
THURSDAY, NOV 6, 7–10pm MOCA Grand Avenue Sculpture Plaza
SCHEDULE UPDATE: 7pm Meet at MOCA for costume-making and screening of Big Bucks, Big Pharma: Marketing Disease & Pushing Drugs
8:30pm Ride leaves from MOCA (route TBA at event)
10pm Reception at Fringe Exhibitions (504 Chung King Court, Chinatown)
Starting at MOCA, participants will first meet for a costume-making workshop and other activities. Dressed as their favorite pharmaceuticals, they will then embark on a group tour of the late-night drugstores of downtown Los Angeles. The event will culminate at Fringe Exhibitions in Chinatown, which will be hosting an incarnation of Finishing School’s Little Pharma, an interdisciplinary project investigating alternative medicines and lifestyles as viable antidotes to some of the drug industry’s pathologies. Little Pharma is on view at Fringe Exhibitions from October 11 through November 8.
Finishing School and MOCA will not be providing bicycles, so please bring your own.
If you're not familiar with Finishing School, check out last month's performance, it was great!
Downtown was hopping last night and all the local bars were full of folks from all over having a good time. We want to share some photos with you all of some very creative and funny costumes. Oh, and my beautiful Granddaughter, Sophia. Enjoy!
