Random thoughts on art, technology, stuff, and occasionally Real Estate: August 2008

While browsing through YouTube for a hundred different things, as usual, I came across this video clip of Sara Palin on the Glenn Beck show ....   the one from a few months ago where Glenn asks her about the possibility of being tapped by John McCain, and she answers "If I had to make such a decision today, it would be no...."

Enjoy!...."

Trojan Football returns tomorrow, Saturday, 8/30 as the USC Trojans begin their 2008 season against Virginia on the road at 12:30PM PDT.

On another note, much has been written  about the concept that Localism isn't just about real estate.  It's designed as a national host for thousands of hyper-local communities. 

Well here's my contribution to the non-real estate community idea.

A Localism community titled .....drum roll .... que up marching band ....

TROJAN FOOTBALL

Fans, friends, alumni, come on down!!!

It's under State: California

County:  Los Angeles County

City: Los Angeles

Community:  Trojan Football

And here's how the community page looks on Localism:  http://localism.com/ca/los_angeles/trojan_footbal

Oh sheesh, what have I done?  (As in, I created more work for myself)  Now I need to upload photos and more information..... 

Occasionally you will hear a local activist refer to the "Trilogy", meaning three historic architectural treasures located in Northeast Los Angeles:  The Southwest Museum, El Alisal (Charles Lummis' personal residence) and Casa de Adobe.  

The Casa de Adobe is a reconstruction of a pre-1850s Spanish California hacienda.  It was built not a as home, but as a museum for the Hispanic Society; it was designed by the office of architect Theodore Eisen and completely hand-built by local adobe craftsman Jose Velazquez. 

The Casa was completed in 1918.  It was deed to the Southwest Museum in 1922 when the Hispanic Society disbanded.

This remarkable landmark is not generally open to the public.

It is currently being used for special museum events only.  Visitors may, however, view the Casa through the L.A. Conservancy's Highland Park walking tour, which takes place every other month*** or annually in December for the community Las Posadas.

***The next Highland Park Walking Tour  is scheduled for Saturday, August 30th, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm.  Tickets are $5 and $10 and can be purchased here.

The Walking Tours are Sponsored by the Los Angeles Conservancy, and are held every other month.  Next upcoming tours are scheduled 10/25/08 and 12/20/08  http://www.laconservancy.org/tours/tours_main.php4#holiday

Andalucia in Los Angeles:  "9 Del Sur"

Fatima Conesa · Paco Conti · Teresa Lafita · Irene Mala · Rocio Arregui ·Antonio Herman · Cristina Galeote · Cristina de Lorenzo · Aurora Perea

Guest Curated by Gabriela B. Aeberhard, Murnau Art Gallery, Seville, Spain

Opening Night Reception:  Saturday, September 6, 2008 from 7-10 pm

The Avenue 50 Studio is proud to present an overseas exchange between Murnau Art Gallery (Seville, Spain) and the Avenue 50 Studio (Los Angeles):  "9 Del Sur," (9 From the South).  This exhibit introduces the work of nine emerging Andalusian artists whose boldness and vitality captures our imagination. 

From the subtle yet striking landscapes by Fatima Conesa to Paco Conti's abstract "Naufragio" (Shipwreck) pieces, Murnau Art Gallery brings us paintings that show today's emerging Andalusian artists as sophisticated, solid, and unique in terms of aesthetics, technical skill and conceptual complexity. These nine artists have been well chosen -- they are making a name for themselves in Spain and elsewhere.

Teresa Lafita offers several works of collage on paper which reflect on the concept of time, Rocio Arregui presents six oil on fabric paintings which pay homage to renowned artists, Cristina Galeote shows intriguing scenes depicting empty and lonely spaces, Antonio Herman uses bold black strokes on white canvas immersing us in a surrealist aura of magical movement.  Irene Mala adds a touch of irony with her expressionist "phones", and Aurora Perea and Cristina de Lorenzo join forces to create a cavernous world of hidden treasures.

The vitality and freshness of Murnau's 9 will make waves in today's contemporary art.  Join us as we journey to the new Andalucia.

Opening Reception:  Saturday, September 6, 2008, 7-10 pm

Where: Avenue 50 Studio, Inc., 131 No. Avenue 50, Los Angeles, CA  90042

Contact: (323) 258-1435 or http://www.avenue50studio.com

The final concert of the free concert series at Heritage Square is Thursday, August 28, from 4:30 PM and 8:00 PM .

The Sometimes in Tune Band begin the evening playing bluegrass and American folk music with a fun, energetic twist. Rounding out the series is Orquesta Salsumba, who combine the rhythms of Salsa, Rumba and Latin Jazz to create a contagious energy sure to bring you to your feet! Led by Eddie de la Fey, this 12 piece band is sure to please!  The last concert drew over 200 people, so be sure to get to the museum early to guarantee a good seat, see our historic architecture up close, to try local food and drink and shop in the museum store.  To see a few select photos of the first concert, please visit our blog at
http://heritagesquare.blogspot.com.

Contributing and Heritage Square Society Museum members may join us on September 20 for a special "Behind the Scenes" tour of Heritage Square Museum. This is your chance to see areas of the museum not open to the general public, how the homes and furnishings are restored, what the future plans are for the museum and much more.  Existing Individual, Family and Sustaining members may increase their membership to the Contributing or Heritage Square Society level and receive a six month extension! Reservations required.  Please call 323-225-2700 , ext 221 for more details. Become a member at http://www.heritagesquare.org/member_app.htm

Finally, on Saturday, October 4, 2008 , enjoy a rare opportunity to shop for vintage phonograph records and record players, sheet music, pianos and more...in the 111 year old Lincoln Avenue Methodist Church at Heritage Square Museum. A $5.00 general admission. Proceeds from the sale of our excess collection will benefit restoration and education programs at the museum.

Heritage Square Museum
3800 Homer Street
Los Angeles, California 90031
Tel. 323-225-2700

* Sponsors of Concerts at the Square - Lincoln Heights,
Highland Park, Cypress Park and Glassell Park
Neighborhood Councils, Raphael Guerin of Keller
Williams Realty, Glendale KIA, Mt. Washington Alliance,
Highland Park Animal Hospital, Glassell Park Improvement
Association, North Figueroa Animal Hospital and Budget
Rent-a-Car. Special thanks to vendors Mom's Tamales,
Mardy's Catering and Swork Coffee.

Some people like to photograph flowers.  I like to photograph street art.  (Well, I like flowers, too.)

I especially like street art that is colorful, clever and creative.  And this mural on the side of Guerrero's Produce Market, Inc. on the corner of Avenue 54 and York Blvd. in Highland Park, mets that criteria.

Ground was broken for the Southwest Museum on November 16, 1912.  The museum was the dream of Charles Lummis. 

"Lummis had constructed a home for himself in Arroyo Seco, which he named El Alisal. It became a personal museum where Lummis began to accumulate his own collection of artifacts and research materials. When site selection [for the Southwest Museum] began in 1905, various locations were considered, some with great financial inducements, but Lummis was adamant that the only choice could be the hillside property visible from El Alisal, with a commanding view of Arroyo Seco and far beyond. The 38-acre site was located on a transportation line between Pasadena and Los Angeles; accessible by the yellow car line and also by auto along Pasadena Avenue (later renamed Figueroa Street)." (Text from Autry's Southwest Museum Rehabilitation Study)

However, as the 20th century drew to a close, the Southwest Museum, the oldest museum in Los Angeles, had fallen on hard times.  Damage from the 1994 Northridge eathquake had not yet been repaired.  Roof leaks needed attention.

In 2003, The Autry National Center merged with the Southwest Museum.  The Autry's stated intent was to preserve the Southwest Museum buildings, and protect the collection.  (The Autry National Center was originally founded as The Musuem of the American West, by Gene Autry, a legendary recording and movie star.)

Both sides in the controversy agree that the Southwest Musuem buildings are in need of repair and renovation.  Reports estimate the repair and renovation costs at $40 million.

Both sides in the controversy agree that the Southwestern American artifacts originally collected by Charles Lummis are unique and priceless, and must be preserved for future generations.

But here is where the trails diverge:

The Autry Center wants to erect a new musuem building in Griffith Park, and move the priceless collection there.  Reports estimate the cost of the new building at $100 million.

Northeast Los Angeles locals want the collection to remain in its original home, atop Mount Washington, and visible from the grounds of El Alisal, as Lummis envisioned it.

Further questions arose when it became evident that Autry's funding for the Southwest Museum was coming, not from liquid assets, but from an inheritance pledge.

And then, this week, the Los Angeles Community College District quietly agreed to use money from its $3.5 billion bond issue on the Nov. 4 ballot to renovate the Southwest Museum and use it as a satellite campus.  Note a "campus".  Not a "museum".

More reading:

Los Angeles Times from 2006:  http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jun/26/entertainment/et-southwesta26

Los Angeles Times from 2001: http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jun/02/entertainment/ca-5351

The Autry's side:  http://www.swmfuture.org/

From Ron Kaye, L.A.,  journalist and activist:  http://ronkayela.com/2008/08/la-story-part-one-the-stench-o.html

From Mark Kenyon, community activist:  http://blackhatblog.wordpress.com/

Arroyo Seco Journal breaks story on Community College funding:  http://www.asjournal.net/localnews.html

Yes, I am a real estate broker, and I have an interest in promoting my community in its best light.

And the communities of Northeast Los Angeles are wonderful: Arty, funky, edgy, filled with spirit and vitality.

But with difficult and changing times, an unfortunate element of anger and violence has appeared. And as a community, we need to address that; "best light" or not.

Featuring Music by:

Maria Elena Gaitan, cello
Nailah, vocals
Curtis Robertson, Jr., guitar

& Spoken Word by:

Peter J. Harris
Amalia Ortiz
Bryan Sanders

Saturday, August 23, 2008 starting at 7:00 pm

"The Black/Brown Dialogues", featuring Inspiration House PoetryChoir, honors healthy and ethical cultural dialogue between the African and Latino communities, at one of Latino LA's most important independent galleries.  Using the Inspiration House PoetryChoir format, poets read their work while master musicians improvise musical responses to the poetry, blending words, intonations, audience responses, and dynamic silence into a sonic tapestry that's entrancing and exhilarating.  The poetry series is curated by Peter J. Harris, artistic director, Inspiration House, which produces work dedicated to leaving its audiences renewed and recommitted to cultural work that contributes to the creation of a humane society.

Avenue 50 Studio, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit art gallery
131 No. Avenue 50
Highland Park, CA  90042
323/258-1435

www.avenue50studio.com

This event is the third of four Inspiration House PoetryChoir events
and is free to the public.

      
The Black/Brown Dialogues are supported in part by the Ford Foundation, JP Morgan Chase,
the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and Southwest Airlines through a grant from the NALAC Fund for the Arts.

Some people wrote short descriptions for their sponsored communities, some wrote long, some inserted multiple images .... no matter, the description box needed to be a uniform size .....

So if you added a bunch of images, or wrote a lengthy  description, your community description will display with a little "read more" plus sign in the upper right hand corner. like this:

Of course, I didn't notice that little plus sign at first, and just spent about 30 minutes trying to fix a description that wasn't broken.  :-)