Cheryl Johnson

First, let it be said that Los Angeles is a city of murals. And Angelinos love their local murals.

In Highland Park, Mexico-Tenochtitlan "The Wall That Talks", is one of the largest, and one of the most striking murals.

The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles (MCLA) sets the date of its creation as 1996. If you'd have asked me, I've have said it's been there for 25 or 30 years. It is a fixture.

In recent years, however, "The Wall That Talks" has been marred by taggers.

And then along came ALZA. ALZA is a traveling sign painter. He sells local small business owners on the idea of creating signage for their businesses in a spray painted, grafitti style. EL CHAVO has documented some of ALZA's work here.

The thing about ALZA, he adds a little philosophy to many of his signs. Good, solid philosophy that you really can't argue with. Philosophy such as: "live to learn, learn 2 live", "respect your hood", and "art is the key".

ALZA decide to take matters into his own hands at "The Wall That Talks". He inscribed his message right on the mural. "Don't you care? Act like you care."

Waltrrrrr is enraged, and rightfully so. On, the one hand, I am also enraged, but, on the other hand, I sense ALZA's message in some strange way seems to belong there.

The second Saturday of every month is Gallery Night in Northeast Los Angeles: Your opportunity to explore the Galleries, Shops, Restaurants and Nightlife in the historic and eclectic neighborhoods of Northeast Los Angeles. Maybe even purchase art for your home or office.

Tour participating galleries this Saturday, August 9, from 7PM - 10 PM. Wrap up the evening with food and drinks at La Casa Blue or Mr. T's Bowl.

August Highlights:

@ drkrm.gallery

The New York Underground Scene 1972-1977
Photographs by Paul Zone

drkrm.gallery will have special hours Saturday August 9th, from 7pm to 10 pm as part of the Northeast Los Angeles Arts Organization (NELAart) Second Saturday Gallery Night. Photographers PAUL ZONE and LOUIS JACINTO will be in attendance.

Featuring Punk Rock Brownies by BIGMOUTH BAKERY

Drkrm.gallery is pleased to present Paul Zone and his photographic flashback to the Underground music and style scene in 1970's New York. From from CBGB's, Max's Kansas City and the Warhol Factory to Glam Rock and the early Punk scene, this exhibition features larger-than-life legends like The Ramones, New York Dolls, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Patti Smith and a very early performance of KISS.

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Cactus Gallery

WISH YOU WERE HERE

OPENING NIGHT/NELAart.org's Second Saturday Gallery Night: August 9 from 7p - 10p
MEET THE ARTISTS: August 16, from 8p to 11 p

Show runs from August 9 - September 11

Innovative and outstanding featured artists, Walt Hall and Paul Torres have followers galore thanks to their rich narrative, bold techniques, and unique styles. This August, join us for a brazen show we believe will further establish these artists in the archives of our "Los Angeles art community".

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Avenue 50 Studio

Opening Night Reception: Saturday, August 9, 2008 from 7-10 pm

The Avenue 50 Studio is proud to present "Lives at the Intersection," an exhibit featuring multi-media works of art by six Los Angeles artists. The works are as diverse as the artists. Many of us live at the intersection of bi-racial, bi-cultural, intra-cultural and immigrant realities. Black/Brown relationships are stretched across a racialized domestic and international landscape sprinkled with preconceived stereotypes. Our exhibit focuses on a "value added" (strength and benefit) perspective regarding the spaces created at that intersection. Each artist created a space for conscious dialogue exploring commonalities and possibilities. They capture moments shaped by their experiences and truth, and invite the audience to consider the multi-faceted opportunities. Join us as we journey to and through "Lives at the Intersection."

August 9, 2008 through September 7, 2008

More info here: http://www.nelaart.com/

And here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NELAart/

Mr. T's Bowl: http://mrtsbowl.tripod.com/

La Casa Blue: http://www.lacasablue.com/

NELAart is based in Highland Park and consists of galleries and art organizations located in Northeast Los Angeles who are dedicated to increase the visibility of the thriving arts community in the area. Northeast Los Angeles has a long tradition in the arts. Many working artists now continue this tradition by making their homes and having their studios here. The neighborhood is also home to many galleries, alternative arts spaces and arts organizations. NELAart provides a resource to share information and ideas, and assist in promoting galleries and organizations. Please join us in celebrating the arts in Northeast Los Angeles.

Saturday, August 9, 2008 from 7-10 pm

Universal Struggle" -- Nathanial Bustion

Continuing with our Black/Brown Dialogues: "Lives at the Intersection" art opening

Mely Barragan · Nathaniel Bustion · Pamela Davis · Jan Jackson · Jacobo Ramirez · Oscar Sanabria

Curated by Dr. Gerda Govine Ituarte, Ed.D.

Opening Night Reception: Saturday, August 9, 2008 from 7-10 pm

The Avenue 50 Studio is proud to present "Lives at the Intersection," an exhibit featuring multi-media works of art by six Los Angeles artists. The works are as diverse as the artists. Many of us live at the intersection of bi-racial, bi-cultural, intra-cultural and immigrant realities. Black/Brown relationships are stretched across a racialized domestic and international landscape sprinkled with preconceived stereotypes. Our exhibit focuses on a "value added" (strength and benefit) perspective regarding the spaces created at that intersection. Each artist created a space for conscious dialogue exploring commonalities and possibilities. They capture moments shaped by their experiences and truth, and invite the audience to consider the multi-faceted opportunities.

Sponsored by: Myra Booker, Ph.D.; Sandy Bleifer, Artist; Lisa Boags, Documentary fillmaker (Tuskegee Airmen); Eleanor Brownn; Christina and James Cook, M.D.; Joann Edmond; Ruthie and Attorney Joe Hopkins (Publishers of the Pasadena San Gabriel Valley Journal); Lara Larramendi; Alex and Jaylene Moseley; Attorney Angela Oh; Rebecca S. Rojas, Ph.D.; Linda Rose, Ph.D. (Cerritos College); Shirley Spencer; Professor Jack Turman, Ph.D. (USC); Attorney Carolyn Williams; and COFAC.

The Black/Brown Dialogues: Lives at the Intersection is also 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.

On Thursday, July 31 (doors open at 4pm), The Susie Hansen Latin Band  will play an outdoor concert at the Heritage Square Museum <http://heritagesquare.org/> in northeast Los Angeles. The Susie Hansen Latin Band plays from 6:30pm to 8pm. The opening act, Groove Session, plays 4:30pm to 6pm.

The address is 3800 Homer Street, on the east side of the 110 Freeway (Pasadena Fwy) at the Avenue 43 exit. Tell your friends who want to "go green" that they can take the Gold Line, and Budget Rent-a-Car, a co-sponsor of the event, will provide free shuttle service all evening from the Heritage Square stop on the Gold Line to the front door of the museum. Concert is free and open to the public.

Call 323-225-2700 for more info. Dance floor provided!

On July 25, 2008, a group of hardy adventurers will embark on an extraordinary expedition of the Los Angeles River by kayak and canoe, to demonstrate to developers and the Army Corps of Engineers that the LA RIVER is indeed a navigable waterway that should be protected and owned by the people of Los Angeles.

A mighty river in previous centuries, Los Angeles River is now one of the most hydraulically modified urban rivers in the world. Nearly seventy-five percent of the fifty-two mile long river is enclosed in concrete. Channelization of the river was initiated in 1938 by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of a massive flood control project which continued until the late 1950s. Interest in returning the river to a more natural state has developed in the last few decades.

Here is the proposed timetable for the expedition:

DAY 1 (Fri., July 25th)

o 3:00 pm. Kick-off ceremony/"launch" at the LA River Headwaters on overpass @ Owensmouth; Canoga Park. Supporters welcome.

o 4:00-5:30 pm. Our group explores the Sepulveda Basin. Supporters can park at the parking lot at Balboa Park soccer fields and look for us on river. {6000 Balboa Blvd, Encino, CA 91316. Thomas Guide pg. 531, D1}

o 5:30-7 pm. Our boats travel from beginning of Sepulveda Basin to take-out @ Burbank Blvd. x LA River (100' or so downriver). Supporters can try to find us along that route, or show support atop the banks @ that take-out. Woodley Ave. is the best place to park cars for take-out.

DAY 2 (Sat., July 26th)

o 9:00 am. Riverside talk with Dr. Jenny Price (cars @ Woodley Ave.; talk just downstream from river @ Burbank Ave.; east/Woodley side of river). Supporters welcome.

o 3:00 pm. Griffith Park / Bette Davis Picnic Area. Supporters welcome for riverside picnic @ park.

o 5:30 pm. Atwater Village / Yoga Park; Los Feliz Blvd. x LARiver (100' downriver from there on east side of river @ Dover St.). A speaker will address the crew and anyone else who wants to show up as supporters.

o 7:30 pm. Marsh Park. (end of Marsh Street, off Riverside Drive). Supporters welcome to riverside chat at the park. {2961 Marsh St., LA, CA 90039. Thomas Guide pg. 5944, F3.}

DAY 3 (Sun., July 26th)

o 11 am - 1 pm. Greetings from downtown bridges for anyone who cares to locate us.

o 1:30 pm. Maywood riverside park. Casual bring-your-own-food picnic lunch at their new park. Supporters welcome.

o 3:30 pm. Compton Creek. Explore Dominguez Gap/Slough. Supporters welcome.

o 5:00 pm. Willow Street Estuary {2500 block of De Forest Ave @ 25th Place, Long Beach, CA 90806; Thomas Guide pg. 795, C3.}. Supporters welcome.

o 7 pm. Final take-out at Shoreline Park in Long Beach. Supporters welcome. Celebrate. Plant the flag. Mingle. Closure.

The official expedition press release: http://www.lalatimes.com/lariver/IR_BoatersPlanDescent07082008.pdf

FOLAR: Friends of L A River http://folar.org/