This July, WHP’s Executive Director, Edgar Arceneaux, taught a birdhouse making class with the children in Watts. Everyone was thrilled about the idea of building a small, single unit home for a family of birds! With this project, Edgar threaded together creative storytelling, architecture, drawing, painting, collage and fused it all with lots of fun! The final products were a wonderful expression unfettered creativity - pardon the pun. It was such a successful program that we hope to do again next summer.

We want to again send our special thanks to our dedicated volunteers: Christine Fuchs, Jason Leith, Sarah Loyer, Marvella Muro, and Nina Savill.

Birdhouse making week 1 to week 4 of July 2011!

August 12th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments Off

In July, we wrapped up a 4 week mosaic making class with Artist-in-Residence, Raul Curiel. Raul has been designing mosaics for more than 15 years! In that time, he developed a completely new way to create mosaic works, and the children benefited from this new application. First, they explored the Watts Towers to see, first-hand, the magic of mosaic art, including images of works by Gaudi and from ancient Rome. In the images below, you’ll notice the intense concentration and furrowed brows of the students as they applied their tiles. Rafael, 6, commented, “it’s like putting a puzzle together!” In week 4, all of their hard work came into focus: their simple flower pots transformed into singular works of art.  Half the fun was seeing their faces - ah, the magic of mosaic art!

We want to send out a special thanks our volunteers for making these programs possible: Christine Fuchs, Jason Leith, Sarah Loyer, Marvella Muro, and Nina Savill.

We also want to extend our great appriciation to our sponsor for donating the tiles for this project:

Mosaic making from week 1 to week 4!

August 11th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments Off

It’s summertime and, at WHP, that means summer classes for families. We organized two 4 week classes in July for the children in Watts: mosaic making and birdhouse making projects. Edgar Arceneaux is teaching the birdhouse class and below we are proud to show you week 1 of the project!

July 21st, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments Off

We are happy to report that WHP and USC have completed the first phase of the new fence at the Platform. We want to send a special thanks to USC Professor and Architect, Victor Jones, and Architect, Carlos Gutierrez for designing and partially funding the project. Come by for a visit and see the work!

WHP, USC, Watts residents, and volunteers came together to build phase 1 of the Platform fence

April 20th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments Off

This spring, Watts House Project is launching a new website, designed by Margo Graxeda and Sandra Rozza of LMSY. We are very excited about the new interactive feature of the website. Visitors will be able to navigate easily through WHP’s collaborative projects, find out about the artists and architects working with us, learn about the residents, and see how the Watts Towers inspired it all! We’ll keep you posted as things progress - it’s a countdown!

Sincerely,

WHP family.

April 6th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments Off

We are pleased to announce that Will Sheffie is the new Managing Director of Watts House Project. Will bring to WHP a wealth of civic experience having worked for local elected officials and a number of City of Los Angeles Departments. Will’s most recent assignment was with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Safe Neighborhoods Division. Will is familiar with the Watts community, having been involved on numerous projects and programs with community groups and not-for-profit agencies in the area. Hi ability to work with diverse groups and interests will be a positive for WHP. As the Managing Director, he will oversee WHP operations, systems and programs

April 6th, 2011 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments Off

November 22nd, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments Off

On Tuesday September 14, Board Member, Steve Glenn, generously opened his home to host one of a series of successful fundraising events we call Salons. As part of fundraising, donors competed in a silent auction for prizes that included architectural tours of some of LA’s most renowned homes by the architects who designed them. Other prizes included prints and a work by our very own Executive Director, Edgar Arceneaux. Thank you to our outstanding volunteers who devoted their evening to the fundraiser and special thanks to the organizers, new WHP board member, Channing Henry, board member and the evening’s host, Steve Glenn, and WHP Development Coordinator, Gisela Morales.

Salon on September 14th

October 9th, 2010 | Category: Fundraising, Public Programs | Comments Off

In July (2010), WHP launched a new series of kid’s summer programs. Organized in collaboration with the local residents, artists, and educators, the month-long project called Gardening For Families was led by Educators, Katie Bachler and Sarah Dougherty with assistance from Gisela Morales. The kids learned about composting, gardening techniques, wrote in a journal about their adventures at a local Farmer’s Market, and learned about the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables.

Gardening For Families on July 13: Making a Diary

Gardening For Families on July 17: Day at the Farmer's Market

August 17th, 2010 | Category: Community Programs, Public Programs | Comments Off