In conjunction with the Echo Park Film Center
After Sunset (around 7:30pm)

The Echo Park Film Center Bus

Echo Park Film Center rolled into Watts on Saturday, May 2nd, in what Yana Cerant called a “pimped-out bus.” They gave out little Flip cameras to the neighborhood kids, who spent the next day filming themselves, their friends, the volunteers, the ice cream man, and the Watts Towers security guard.

Yana Cerant films using her Flip camera.

On May 3rd, the bus returned, and this time Paolo Davanzo and the other Echo Park Film Center volunteers worked with the kids to edit their raw footage into compelling short films - about school, generational gaps, the Watts House Project and its progression (from the point of view of the neighborhood flowers), cooking, friends, and the power of dance. After the sun set and the neighbors had set out a delicious potluck of chicken salad, spaghetti, taquitos, fresh guacamole, and quinois, the hungry WHP volunteers, residents, kids, and their friends gathered to view the films. A fantastic energy was in the air, and the bonds of community were palpable.

The Watts Neighborhood Film Festival

May 7th, 2009 | Category: Community Programs | Leave a comment

May 2-3 Volunteer Weekend

May 6th, 2009 | Category: Volunteer Days | Leave a comment

Watts Village Theater Company presents
OCHRE & ONYX: The Langston Hughes Project

Written by Lynn Manning; Directed by Nataki Garrett

May 1 through May 31, 2009

SPECIAL OFFER for Watts House Project Volunteers - FREE Tickets to all previews (May 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th) and $8 tickets for all remaining performances! Simply RSVP to 323-599-0811 and identify yourself as a WHP volunteer to reserve your tickets.

OCHRE & ONYX follows the present day story of an African-American slam poet and an Afro Latina painter who find themselves in the middle of a struggle for the true soul of the beloved poet, and father of the Harlem Renaissance Langston Hughes. Meanwhile, in 1920’s Mexico, the young Langston fights to convince his father James, to finance his study of poetry at Columbia University. As father and son struggle in the past, poet and painter struggle in the present, in two strikingly similar worlds.

Performances located at the LA Design Center - 5955 S. Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90047

STARRING: Melissa Camilo, Rodney Gardiner, Maurice Glover, David Guerra, Lauryn Whitney Johnson & Jessica Kaye Temple
Set Designer Nadia Morgan
Lighting Designer Kathi O’Donohue
Costume Designer Naila Aladdin Sanders
Sound Designer Josh Senick
Dramaturg Scott Horstein
Stage Manager John Freeland, Jr.
Associate Producer Meropi Peponides
Quentin Drew Memorial Interns: Erick Medina & Ivan Padilla

Performances: Fri, Sat @8pm & Sun. @3pm; Thurs., May 7th @8pm and Sat., May 16th & 30th @3pm

Audio Described Performance & Post-show Discussion on May 16th @3pm
Preview Admission, Students, Seniors: $10
General Admission: $20
Free Parking Available
Special Ticket Offers:
Pay-What-You-Can (May 3 @3pm, May 15 @8pm, May 16 @3pm)
Pay-What-It’s-Worth Night (May 8th @8pm)

To make a reservation or for group sales, please contact (323) 599-0811

Purchase Tickets online here.

May 1st, 2009 | Category: Related Programs | Leave a comment

Saturday February 21, 2009 will be the second volunteer day at the Watts House Project for GOOD Magazine, organized by L.A. Works through their BusinessWorks program. This intrepid group will be painting Rosa’s house at 1768 107th, installing her brand-new fence, and painting a simple mural on the back wall of the house. If you would like to volunteer and join in, please email sue@wattshouseproject.org.

February 20th, 2009 | Category: Partner Organizations, Volunteer Days | Leave a comment

On Saturday December 13, 2008, L.A. Works organized a volunteer day at the Watts House Project for GOOD Magazine and Jet Blue Airlines. As a part of their BusinessWorks program, which organizes community service days for corporations and companies, this volunteer day included 25 volunteers working for 4 hours. They landscaped 1768 with drought-resistant native California flowers and plants in beautiful designs, installed grass and flowers in the backyard as well as concrete pavers for a newly expanded patio. The fear of rain delayed our plans to paint the house, but we’ll reschedule for the beginning of 2009. For more information about L.A. Works and their mission, click on http://www.laworks.com, for Good Magazine http://good.is, and for Jet Blue Airlines http://jetblue.com.

Garden Planted at 1768 107th St.

Rosa's Garden with the Watts Towers across the street

December 14th, 2008 | Category: Construction Updates, Partner Organizations, Volunteer Days | Leave a comment

Watts House Project: art meets architecture near the Towers

Watts House Project Update
December 3, 2008

Since its successful September launch event, Watts House Project has made a transformative visual and structural impact on the 107th Street neighborhood in Watts. The renovations have spread organically from the Madrigal residence at 1762 E. 107th to the two surrounding properties, manifesting in beautiful new wrought-iron fences that have replaced rusted chain link, newly painted existing fences, and a magnificent floral mural designed by artist Carolyn Castano wrapping around the façade of 1768. The Madrigal residence itself now sports a custom porch lamped designed by Tanya Aguiniga, a new coat of paint on the front porch and roof overhang, decorative window trim, and a newly tiled pathway conceived and designed by property owner Felix Madrigal in consultation with WHP director Edgar Arceneaux. These changes have sparked a conflagration of interest among residents, Angelenos, and beyond, with often deep discussions about the meaning and importance of the Watts House Project playing out on the pages of the Los Angeles Times, ArtForum, and blogs across the nation.

Most of this change was wrought by an ever-increasing corps of dedicated volunteers, who have given their time, energy, and talent over the past few months to fundamentally transform a neighborhood many of them had never before visited. College students from a variety of area schools (including USC, UCLA, Cal Arts, and Art Center) worked in collaboration with artists, arts professionals, entrepreneurs, residents, City Year corps members, high school students, and community organizers from all over the city, responding to the idea that the future of the greater community rests on the viability of its most forgotten neighborhoods. Their sweat, labor, and freely given time speaks volumes to the power of this core idea and its ability to move people to action.

January 2009 will see the implementation of a bold new architectural plan by designer Francisco Arias to extend the porch and living room of the Madrigal residence, enhancing its function as a space of family and community gathering, not to mention the ad hoc headquarters of WHP. Design talks are already well underway with the residents of 1760, Monique and Lewis, and the WHP team will break ground on this ambitious second round of renovations in late February 2009.

December 3rd, 2008 | Category: Construction Updates | Leave a comment

Launch Event Sep-28 -29, 2008
link for iphone

September 30th, 2008 | Category: Public Programs, Volunteer Days | Leave a comment

We are pleased to invite you to the Launch Event of the Watts House Project, Saturday and Sunday Sept. 27th-28th.

When: Saturday and Sunday, 9/27-9/28 - 9am-7pm

What: Watts House Project Launch Event and Exhibition, during the Watts Towers Jazz Festival

Where: 1762 E. 107th Street (directly across from the Watts Towers)

Los Angeles artist Edgar Arceneaux is the director of the Watts House Project, described as an “artist-driven urban revitalization initiative” centered around the landmark Watts Towers. His goal is to work directly and collaboratively with the residents of 107th street, along with local architects and designers, to completely overhaul the neighborhood with gorgeous facade enhancements and streetscape improvements, all smartly and ecologically designed to meet the particular needs of the residents themselves.

On September 27-28th, during the annual Watts Towers Jazz and Drum Festival, Edgar and a team of volunteers will be starting improvements to the first residential house, 1762 E. 107th Street. WHP will also be setting up an outdoor exhibition in the front yard of the house that will feature information about the project’s beginnings as well as various artists’ renditions of the future neighborhood. In addition, urban planner James Rojas will be conducting an interactive planning workshop called “Watts In Your Hand,” in which residents and visitors will engage in building a physical model of how they imagine the neighborhood.

We encourage you to stop by and see the project and enjoy the great jazz music. If you are so inclined, we also encourage you to volunteer - WHP is taking volunteers Thursday - Sunday to help out with the facade improvements and setting up the exhibition. If you are interested, please email Project Coordinator Sue Yank at syank@hammer.ucla.edu and let her know what time(s) you want to come. Shifts are 9-12, 1-4, and 4-7pm. Bring work clothes and a great attitude!

Click for the official WHP invitation: English version / Spanish version

Please click for the Watts Towers Festivals 2008 Brochure / Schedule

September 25th, 2008 | Category: Public Programs, Volunteer Days | Leave a comment

September 2008 Renovation Event

Our big kick-off launch event will occur the last weekend in September as a part of the Watts Jazz Festival. We plan to completely renovate one of the residential houses on 107th Street by pairing an artist and architect with community residents. We need volunteers to assist in fundraising efforts and secure construction materials for the remodel. We are working towards a plan to utilize sustainable energy and resources and welcome any insight regarding possible support.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

WHP is actively seeking institutional, individual and corporate partners to purchase property and secure long-term leases. Planning and program development is underway, and we are seeking funds to support the artist-in-residence program and general operating costs.

Email info@wattshouseproject.org with your contact information to join our mailing list and receive updates about this and other events.

September 1st, 2008 | Category: Public Programs, Volunteer Days | Leave a comment