Help LA Artists make grassroots changes in our neighborhoods: Pepsi REFRESH

From Watts, East Los Angeles and other LA neighborhoods come engaging, empowering, and exciting grassroots arts projects to improve the Los Angeles landscape. EATLACMA, PlaceIT, LA Commons and Watts House Project, led by local artists, tackle food, urban planning, and community redevelopment by engaging residents to work together to transform their neighborhoods.

Against the backdrop of potentially disastrous cuts to the LA Department of Cultural Affairs, four local grassroots projects have banded together to increase their chances of winning a national competition that will improve their communities. The Pepsi REFRESH Project will give away $20 million this year to a number of projects with the greatest popularity on its website. We are asking our friends, colleagues and neighbors to join us in a unified effort to help us reach the top of this list. With this funding, we can bring over a quarter million dollars to Los Angeles residents who are most in need of programs that dialogue with, engage, and empower them.

• EATLACMA, led by Fallen Fruit (David Burns, Matias Viegener, and Austin Young), explores the relation between food, art, culture, and politics at LACMA. The exhibition includes planting gardens on the museum campus, workshops, performances, and hands-on public events.
http://www.refresheverything.com/EATLACMA

• PlaceIT, led by James Rojas, recycles materials such as toys, wooden blocks, and bottle caps into tools for people of all ages and backgrounds to build sustainable urban models, with hopes to reach more participants and transform the urban planning process.
http://www.refresheverything.com/JamesRojas

• LA Commons utilizes public art to bridge local artists, youth, and community members and celebrate diversity through a youth-led creation process, conducting neighborhood tours in partnership with UCLA’s Department of Urban Planning in a series called Trekking Los Angeles.
http://www.refresheverything.com/LACommons

• Watts House Project, led by LA artist/advocate Edgar Arceneaux, proposes to build 10 windmills in Watts backyards, freeing people from the power grid and bringing green job training and sculptural innovation to the neighborhood.
http://www.refresheverything.com/1768East107thstLACA90002

These projects collectively dare to share a common vision that empowers Angelenos to take control of their future and embrace the richness in their communities to increase the quality of their lives.

Pepsi’s REFRESH is set up in such a way that in order to win, people can vote EVERY DAY for the entire month, so please VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN!

February 11th, 2010 | Tags: Add new tag, eat lacma, la commons, pepsi refresh, placeit | Category: Fundraising, Partner Organizations | Leave a comment

WHP Founders Circle Launch

On Tuesday February 2, Catharine and Jeffrey Soros generously opened their home to stage a launch event for the Founders Circle of Watts House Project. Resident Collaborators, Designers, Artists, and Architect teams joined the WHP Board of Directors in a dynamic fundraising event, with the goal of matching the $125,000 grant recently awarded by the Andy Warhol Foundation.

This was a momentous occasion to present the evolution of the nonprofit organization and to garner fiscal support for its ambitious projects to a diverse group of important stakeholders. Those in attendance included WHP board Chair Joy Simmons, Olga Garay, Bettina Korek of ForYourArt, Hammer Director Annie Philbin, architect Stephen Slaughter, Linda and Jerry Janger, Alma Ruiz, Rita Gonzalez, Eve Steele and Peter Gelles, Allegra Pesenti, Mario Ybarra Jr., Alexandra Grant, John Umbanhowar, Frank Escher, Lisa Firestone, Allison Swan, Mary Wells, Lauri Firstenberg, and Sue Bell Yank amongst others.

Residents Rosario and Elizabeth Alvarez and Marybelle Flores with Artist Mario Ybarra, Jr.

Jeffrey Soros addresses his guests

Founding Board Chair, Alexandra Grant with Incoming Chair Joy Simmons

The broad spectrum of WHP Collaborators

Board Member, Eliane Henri and Claire Heath

Lauri Firstenberg and Friends

More Photos:

February 8th, 2010 | Tags: Founders Circle, Fundraiser, WHP Events | Category: Fundraising, Partner Organizations | Leave a comment

107th Street Posada 2009

On December 19, the newly established 107th St. Neighborhood Association, with the support of the WHP and WHP volunteers, held the first annual 107th Street Posada. Festivities began early with a customary candlelit procession, where residents went door-to-door requesting shelter in traditional song. Finally, the residents found themselves at the WHP Platform, where the final request for shelter was granted and the party began. Residents held an informal potluck and visitors & guests trickled in to celebrate to the jovial tunes of DJ Nattu Coleman with a vast spread of food, hot ponche, and champurrado.

More than 30 neighborhood children attended and demolished 5 piñatas and left with bags stuffed with candy and toys. This event would not have been the success it was without the hard work and spirited planning of 107th St. residents Genaro, Rosario, and Elizabeth Alvarez, Rosa Gutierrez, WHP executive director, Edgar Arceneaux, and the wonderful and generous help of WHP volunteers Lauren Williams, Trinidad Ruiz, Will Curtis, Alaina Gibbs & Zoe Walsh.

Check out photos from the event:

January 11th, 2010 | Tags: 107th Street Neighborhood Association, 107th Street Posada, 2009, Christmas, DJ Nattu Coleman, Edgar Arceneaux, Genaro Alvarez, Rosa Gutierrez, volunteers, WHP Platform | Category: Community Programs, Public Programs | Leave a comment

107th Street Posada, Saturday December 19th

The Watts House Project cordially invites you to the 107th Street Posada hosted by the residents of E. 107th Street in Watts. Festivities will begin at 7pm at the WHP Platform located across the street from the Watts Towers Art Center at 1726-1750 E.107th Street. There will be Christmas carols, piñatas, hot drinks, and lots of holiday cheer.

We are still looking for volunteers to prepare for the Posada and help with creating decoration, from colorful flags to wooden ornaments as we will also be decorating a tree! Volunteer Days will be Friday December 18th from 12-5pm and Saturday December 19th from 11-4pm. We are also looking for donations of Christmas lights and any other Christmas decorations. Food, drinks, and good company will be provided. Please contact Elizabeth@wattshouseproject.org to RSVP or for more information.

We look forward to seeing you there!

December 13th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

This Holiday Season Give LOVE

Watts House Project would like to invite you to support us this holiday season in helping to build the Love House.

The Love Necklace is a fundraiser designed to benefit the Watts House Project and the renovation of the Cerant family home. Artist Alexandra Grant’s proposal for the Love House would place a sculptural version of the same LOVE letters atop the home, as well as fortify, renovate, and green the home. The LOVE sign is designed to act as a lightning bolt, drawing attention and resources to the neighborhood.

You can see the proposal for the Love House here.

To purchase the Love Necklace please visit www.thelovenecklace.com

All the profits from the sale of the silver and the gold Love Necklaces go towards building the Love House and Watts House Project.

Wishing you the best for the holiday season,

The Watts House Project Team

November 30th, 2009 | Tags: Alexandra Grant, Cerant Family, Fundraiser, Love House, Love Necklace | Category: Fundraising | Comments (1)

Fellows of Contemporary Art (FOCA)’s 5 Senses/107th Street Dinner

Last Saturday, Watts House Projects hosted Fellows of Contemporary Art (FOCA)’s 5 Senses/107th Street Dinner, inaugurating the new WHP “Platform” located at 1726 107th Street.

The series was part of a collaborative artwork by Alexandra Grant, for the the Fellows of Contemporary Art to present a collaborative writing and mapping project that would include a reading and dinner. The event was in conjunction with the exhibition “Not Los Angeles” curated by Aandrea Stang and Zachary Kaplan and included readings by Andrew Berardini (Smell), Allison Carter (Sight), Douglas Kearney (Sound), Gabriela Jauregui (Touch), and Salvador Plascencia (Taste). As a final address to the senses, guests we taken through the 107th St. neighborhood on a special “Smell” tour by Katie Bachler.

Please visit www.focala.org for additional program information.

October 31st, 2009 | Tags: Aandrea Stang, Alexandra Grant, Allison Carter, Andrew Berardini, Dinner, Douglas Kearney, FOCA, Gabriela Jauregui, Katie Bachler, Platform, Salvador Plascencia, WHP Events, Zachary Kaplan | Category: Public Programs, Related Programs | Leave a comment

Art and Architecture in Pasadena

Edgar Arceneaux will participate as a panelist at Art and Architecture in Pasadena on November 7, 2009. From the larger topic of Directions and Controversies, Arceneaux will discuss the Watts House Project in Future: Growth, Technology, and Sustainability in Pasadena.

Addressing the ongoing discussions in Pasadena about the role of history in shaping our present and future culture of urbanism, architecture, and the arts, the Armory, the Pasadena-Foothill Chapter of the AIA, and Peter Tolkin Architecture are co-sponsoring a series of panel discussions. The series begins with an examination of Pasadena and its various histories of art and architecture. The second panel looks at the visions and plans that continue to shape Pasadena. And the third panel discusses possibilities for the city’s continued growth and innovation. Appealing to a broad range of interests and geared toward a general community audience, the discussions mix speakers with expertise in different fields and time periods, each panel addressing the current moment in Pasadena as seen in the context of different arcs of change.

At the Armory Center for the Arts
145 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, California
www.armoryarts.org

3 Saturdays, 2 - 4 p.m.
Admission free; no reservations needed

Panel 1: October 24, 2009, 2 - 4 p.m.
PAST
PASADENA AND ITS VARIOUS HISTORIES
Pasadena takes pride in its rich history and today retrospectively promotes the preservation (and singularity) of its history. In looking back a much more complex picture emerges. In understanding culture, what is now safely viewed as history was often challenging to the dominant perceptions of their time. This panel discussion examines the various histories of art and architecture in the region and how they are interwoven with the social history of Pasadena.
Moderator: Larry Wilson, Public Editor for the Pasadena Star-News
Panelists: Anthony Denzer, Ph.D., architecture historian, professor, and author of Gregory Ain: The Modern Home as Social Commentary; Ilene Susan Fort, Ph.D., The Gail and John Liebes Curator of American Art at LACMA; Michele Zack, local historian and author of Altadena: between Wilderness and City, and Southern California Story

Panel 2: October 31, 2009, 2 - 4 p.m.
PRESENT
ASSESSING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PASADENA
Pasadena has seen unprecedented growth during the past economic boom (past twenty five years). Much of this growth has centered on the revitalization of the central district of Pasadena and in districts that have historic designation (and historic buildings). Historic preservation has been vitally important to the cities success. Within this context, a debate has emerged regarding how contemporary art and architecture can and/or should relate to historic fabric and what new art and architecture should be preserved in the future. This discussion is meant to broaden these ongoing debates.
Moderator: Christopher Hawthorne, Los Angeles Times Architecture Critic
Panelists: Can Bilsel, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Art, University of San Diego; Maria Luisa de Herrera, art historian, independent public art consultant, and former Cultural Affairs Manager for the City of Santa Monica; Stefanos Polyzoides, Principal, Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists

Panel 3: November 7, 2009, 2 - 4 p.m.
FUTURE
GROWTH, TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN PASADENA
With the continued growth of Southern California forcing to make Pasadena a more urban city, this discussion will explore future innovations in technology, sustainability as well as the need for in-fill growth within the City of Pasadena and how the past can not only inform but also embrace the future.
Moderator: Frances Anderton, Host of DnA: Design and Architecture on KCRW
Panelists: Edgar Arceneaux, Contemporary artist, Director of Watts House Project; Kevin Burke AIA, Partner, William McDonough + Partners; Michael Maltzan, Michael Maltzan Architecture

This program is made possible through the generous support of Edgewood Realty Partners, LLC, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The Wallace Foundation, and an Anonymous Donor.

Organized by Peter Tolkin Architecture in collaboration with the Armory Center for the Arts and the Pasadena-Foothill Chapter of the American Institute of Architects

Art and Architecture Poster

October 30th, 2009 | Tags: Armory Center for the Arts, Art and Architecture, Edgar Arceneaux, Panel, Pasadena | Category: Public Programs | Leave a comment

September 5th Volunteer Day Pictures

Our lovely volunteers surveying their work, September 5

A big shout-out to all the amazing volunteers who showed up for our September 5th volunteer day. We got the diamondia planted in the Cerants front yard in record time! Mike got a great deal from the friendly folks at Amigos Nursery on four-inch mature diamondia, so we are hopeful that the lovely little plants will grow and spread quickly! Our gardeners had so much time left over that they were able to harvest the Cerants summer garden and clear space for a winter/fall garden.

Meanwhile, next door in the Madrigal back yard, a crew of strapping young students from the East LA College Architecture club removed concrete and hauled supplies to the new WHP properties down the street, and leveled a huge pile of dirt in preparation for seeding grass next month.

Our volunteers were so efficient that we finished nearly an hour early! On behalf of the residents of 107th street and the WHP, we are so grateful to the generous and strong people who came down to lend their time on a holiday weekend. Perhaps they thought that expending a little labor for the greater community was a good observation of the holiday indeed.

Volunteer Dana Claudat harvesting the zucchini plant

The boys, moving concrete

Flora, Man-man, and Mike planting diamondia

Volunteer Ron Hernandez

WHP master gardener Katie Bachler and her two huge...zucchinis!

Sue Yank, Jess Ruvalcaba, Moneik Johnson, Katie Bachler, Jennifer Lehman, and Alex Castillo-Kesper

Thanks again to our volunteers - you guys rock!

Flora Kao
Adriana Cortez
Matt Fertel
Jessica Padilla
Alexander Badorrak
Juna Amano
Nichole Smith
Dana Claudat
Jennifer Lehman
Oscar Peraza
Sara Stranovsky
Adan Macias
Javier Vallardes
Ron Hernandez
John Epperly
Art Craft
Roberto Gomez
Aron Carcamo

September 9th, 2009 | Tags: diamondia, gardening, volunteers | Category: Volunteer Days | Leave a comment

Upcoming Events and News: Fall 09

WHP Panel at Santa Monica Museum of Art

Tuesday, September 29, 7 pm
A Collection of Ideas…
Building the Love House: Using Art for Social Change in Watts
with Alexandra Grant, Mike Niemann, and Edgar Arceneaux

Watts House Project is an artist-driven, collaborative redevelopment project between residents, artists, and architects to find creative solutions to everyday problems facing the Watts Towers community in South Los Angeles. Artist Alexandra Grant conceived of the “Love House”–placing a sculpture of the word “love” on the roof of a family home on 107th Street–as a lightning rod to draw attention and resources to the community across from Watts Towers. Grant and designer Mike Niemann discuss their collaboration on the “Love House” with Edgar Arceneaux, Director of Watts House Project (WHP).

FREE Admission; first come, first seated.
Reservations required: justin.izbinski@smmoa.org
or 310.586.6488 x119

September 3rd, 2009 | Tags: Alexandra Grant, Art for Social Change, collaboration, Edgar Arceneaux, Love House, Mike Niemann, Santa Monica Museum of Art | Category: Related Programs | Comments (1)

Love Necklace Featured in new Collette Store in Paris

Rodarte Teams Up With Colette
by Marc Karimzadeh

From WWD Issue 08/20/2009

Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy will team up with Colette in October to create a monthlong retail space and gallery.

The duo will be offering a selection of their fall designs alongside objets d’art and some other favorite pieces they curated for the occasion.

Located on Colette’s second floor, the gallery will be unveiled during Paris Fashion Week and remain open for the rest of that month.

Kate Mulleavy said she and her sister jumped at Colette buyer Sarah Lerfel’s suggestion to create the store and gallery.

“Colette was one of the first stores to carry us, so we have a strong relationship with Sarah, who has…given us a lot of guidance,” Mulleavy said.

The store will offer many of the things the Mulleavys love, from CDs of their favorite music to DVDs of 25 or so of their favorite horror flicks, including “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Don’t Look Now,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Rosemary’s Baby” and “Black Sunday.”

In addition to a selection of specially created Rodarte pieces like stuffed, knitted animals, the designers enlisted their mother to create limited edition jewelry for the Colette collaboration, and asked some of their friends and people whose work inspires them to design things. Among them are Love necklaces by Alexandra Grant, pillow cases by Miranda July, glitter taxidermy by Annakim Violette and books with covers hand-painted by Rebekah Miles, from “Charlotte’s Web” to a Kurt Cobain biography. The sisters collect these books and picked the ones to be sold at Colette.

At the gallery space, the designers selected American art works by the likes of Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, Mari Estman, Elliott Hundley, Alexandra Grant, Karen Kilimnik, Ari Marcopoulous, Raymond Pettibon and Autumn de Wilde.

“Rodarte has always been so inspiring,” Lerfel said. “I’m fascinated by their world. We already gave them windows for their first season and I was impressed with the way they built them. So I’m happy to give them space at Colette to express more, to let them introduce their collection but also everything they like.”

Mulleavy said the project served as an opportunity “to let people inside of our minds. It’s almost as if you are in our studio.”

Colette will also exclusively sell Rodarte’s marbled ballet flats, which the duo created in collaboration with Repetto.

“Colette is such an amazing store because it is always changing and challenging the landscape, especially of retail,” Mulleavy said.

September 3rd, 2009 | Tags: Alexandra Grant, Collette, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Love Necklace, Rodarte | Category: Artist Editions | Comments (1)