Thursday, September 6, 2012

Rouxbarb 18

RouXbarB (Bobowen Reflections) #18 August 1, 2012 ~ Bang Bang Bang…and Then It is just as accurate to say that the country is as much “caught up” in the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat tied to the 2012 Olympics as it is with the still painful memory of the movie theatre shooting in Aurora, Colorado a few weeks ago. My sense is that the commentaries and personal conversations will continue until…yes, until the next tragedy of this nature occurs. I am not even remotely suggesting that there is a semblance of anxious anticipation on my part for such a reoccurrence. Rather, that in all likelihood, nothing as in NOTHING of substance will emerge or evolve to head off such an eventuality. There is irony in much of life and although I don’t recall the specifics, I recently heard that America is NOT the most heavily armed country; but that the rate of death by guns is higher here than elsewhere on the planet. The kicker for me is a focus on a failure or unwillingness to make the connection between factors which are directly tied together. A starting point is the national ATTITUDE about violence in general and guns in particular. It would be one thing (although not admirable) to say that Americans are either indifferent or blasé about violent behaviour. Sadly, violence toward one another (civilian against civilian, gang against gang, etc.) is all but worshipped. The rougher, the tougher the better. Violence is readily equated to courage, assertiveness and pride. There is no question (for me anyway) about the direct carryover into amateur and professional sports. And then there is the unbelievable and continuing pattern of violence toward animals. And yes, I must include that whole range of video so-called “games” in which “the enemy” is zapped with the indifferent speed of a button push. My own contradiction is that I am less bent out of shape by the violent electronic syndrome of the sofa than I am over what happens DAILY on our seething streets. The tragedy of our often rather strange attitudes (which, by nature, are internal) is that such attitudes find a way of materializing. That is, making themselves known or felt(!) in the real world that, of course, is well beyond the comfortable confines of our living rooms with their respective flat or fat screens. So during these still sadness-laden post-Aurora weeks the country is (again!) mired in arguments or discussions about guns or no guns. If guns, what kind and for what purpose? Or, a key conversational piece, how many? Referring once again to something I recently read, a man proudly noted that he has 100 of them and thousands of rounds of ammo. Quite frankly I am not sure if this is a sign of unbridled hubris or classic human insanity. What I am sure of is that in the absence of taking another, long overdue look at how and why Americans define either Americans or Americana – that all inclusive pattern of what we think, feel and DO – Aurora will move from a true human tragedy to an unfortunate bit of collective slippage from what should have been a calm night at the neighbourhood movie theatre. YUP and YES and INDEED….guns don’t kill people. They have neither minds nor methods nor self-contained means to do ANYTHING other than to look mechanically attractive or silently menacing. It is MAN (as in human) who brings these feature or factors into “play.” Maybe, in the last analysis (ha!) the best friend a gun ever had or will have is an equally attractive gun rack! Or maybe we might sensibly conclude that in light of that fact that, unless they are used as a battering instrument, guns don’t kill people, BULLETS do, outlawing bullets is the way to go. Now, all one can hope, dream or even pray for is a movement – as only Americans can mount a movement – TO OUTLAW BULLETS!! Then a “bang” will be safely reduced to the way a female curls her hair…….This very thought is infinitely more healthy and pleasing than worrying about some fool picking up “the tool” and doing his stupid and inhuman thing.

Watts Up

WATTS UP Watts Towers Arts Center & Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center 1727 East 107th Street Los Angeles, CA 90002 August 2012 to January 2012 Contact: Rosie Lee Hooks, Director Phone: 213.847.4646 www.wattstowers.org HUELL HOWSER’S “California’s Gold: Watts Towers” on KCET Monday, August 20th at 7:30PM Wednesday, August 29TH at 7:30PM Tuesday, September 18th at 7:30PM Saturday, October 6th at 5:00PM September 9,2012—January 6,2013 Noah Purifoy and Charles Mingus Galleries BAILA con DUENDE The First Black Artist In Los Angeles Group Exhibition Opening Reception: Sunday, September 9, 2012, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., featuring live performances by Silfredo La O, Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Charles Dickson, Ingrid Elburg, and Anna Martine Whitehead, with an off-sight open studio tour at The R. Cloud House Artist in Residency of Dominique Moody’s work-in-progress, The Nomad. Admission is free. Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. BAILA con Duende features the works of seventy-four living Black Artists in Los Angeles (BAILA) at all levels of their careers – from legendary, celebrity, mid-career, and emerging, to those just starting out. World-renowned McArthur Genius Mark Bradford, along with celebrity artists Kehinde Wiley, Betye Saar, John Outterbridge, Artis Lane, William Pajaud, Samella Lewis, Charles Gaines, Henry Taylor, Joe Lewis, Ulysses Jenkins, Noah Davis and Rodney McMillian are among the talent who have come together in a show of solidarity to display their works in this exhibition whose theme is spirit. The purpose of the exhibition is to reveal the breadth of diversity in content and artistic styles of the so-called “Black Art” Diaspora. The show is curated by Cuban-born, Los Angeles-based artist/activist Lili Bernard, and features the original works of the following visual artists: Mark Bradford, Kehinde Wiley, Betye Saar, John Outterbridge, Artis Lane, William Pajaud, Samella Lewis, Charles Gaines, Henry Taylor, Joseph Lewis, Ulysses Jenkins, Noah Davis, Rodney McMillian, Charles Dickson,Toni Scott, Dale Brockman Davis, Dominique Moody, Lili Bernard, Derrick Maddox, Isabelle Lutterodt,Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Lauren Halsey, Vincent Johnson, Bernard Hoyes, Charles Bibbs, Joseph Sims,Duane Paul, Zeal Harris, Miles Regis, Castillo, Aaron Waugh, Rosalyn Myles, Carlos Spivey, Raksha Parekh,Steven J. Brooks, Teresa Tolliver, Lavialle Campbell, Yrneh Gabon Brown, Michael Massenburg, J Michael Walker, Anna Martine Whitehead, George Evans, Keith Mikell, La Monte Westmoreland, Donna Brown,June Edmonds, Silfredo La O, Wendell Wiggins, Moses Ball, Charla Puryear, Mark Broyard, Numa Perrier,Samuel Levi Jones, Milton Loupe, Ngene Mwaura, Donna Angers, AfraShe Asungi, Samuel Pace, Lisa Diane Wedgeworth, Angela Briggs, Enoch Mack, Ingrid Elburg, Buena Johnson, Sharon Barnes, Yohannes Tesfaye, Greg Pitts, Donald Bernard, Andre Ajibade, Miriam Moore, Kevin Thompson, Karien Zachery, Jim Starks, jr., Liliane Lathan, Isaiah Bernard Ferguson, plus two artists in memoriam: Willie Middlebrook and Joseph Beckles. BAILA con Duende Closing Reception and Artists Discussion: Sunday, January 6, 2013, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with interactive performance by Joe Lewis. Watts Towers Arts Center Campus. Admission is free. For further information, please contact Rosie Lee Hooks, WTAC Campus Director at (213) 847-4646, or via email at: watts.towers1@lacity.org, or Lili Bernard, Curator, at (323) 791-3576, or theartist@lilibernard.com. Other Programming During the Run of the Show: 31st Annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival and 36th Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival: Saturday, September 29, 2012 and Sunday, September 30, 2012, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Watts Towers Arts Center Campus. Admission is free. Coming Soon!! September 29 & 30,2012 Watts Towers Arts Center Campus 31st Annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival Saturday, September 29, 2012 Artistic Directors: Rosie Lee Hooks, Patrice Rushen, and Munyungo D. Jackson Masters of Ceremonies: Ndugu Chancler and James Janisse 11:00 a.m. Cuauhtemoc Mexica Dance Group 12:00 p.m. Maestro Debasish Chaudhuri 1:00 p.m. Carlinous Pandeiro De Ouro 2:00 p.m. Juan Carlos Blanco & Omo Ache Afro Cuban Music & Dance Co. 3:00 p.m. Munyungo Jackson presenting “The African Diaspora” 4:00 p.m. Ndugu Chancler’s “Drum Set at 60” 12:30 p.m. Mary Bucci Bush “Sweet Hope” Book Reading and Signing Noah Purifoy Gallery 36th Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival Sunday, September 30, 2012 Masters of Ceremonies: Kamau Daaood and James Janisse 10:30 a.m. Alaadun 11:30 a.m. Watts-Willowbrook Conservatory String Ensemble 12:30 p.m. Quattro 1:15 p.m. Watts Towers Community Action Council • Charles Mingus Award 1:30 p.m. Andrea Marcelli Trio featuring Mitch Forman & Alphonso Johnson 2:30 p.m. Ray Bailey Trio 3:30 p.m. The Azar Lawrence Ensemble 4:30 p.m. JMP All Stars featuring Patrice Rushen, Ndugu Chancler, Bobby Rodriguez, Justo Almario, Munyungo Jackson and Reggie Hamilton All Day Festival Activities Guided Tours of the Watts Towers of Simon Rodia 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Drum Pavilion: Universal Drum Circle Lead by Matt Gibson III Stilt Dancer, Kehinde Noah Purifoy Gallery & Charles Mingus Gallery BAILA con Duende By Black Artists In Los Angeles Curator Lili Bernard Dr. Joseph and Bootsie Howard Gallery Permanent Exhibition: International Musical Instruments Supervised Children’s Activities: 12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Upcoming Exhibition 2013! January 20,2013—April 7,2013 Noah Purifoy and Charles Mingus Galleries Charles H. Tatum, Sculptor Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Sunday 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Tours of the Watts Towers Hours: Thursday-Saturday 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Sunday 12:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Garden Studio We Need Your Help! Come volunteer your services in our Garden Studio Program! For further information please contact our Education Coordinator, Rogelio Acevedo Watts Towers Arts Center/ Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center 1727 E. 107th street, Los Angeles, CA 90002 (213) 847- 4646 cadwattsctr@earthlink.net ONGOING EXHIBITIONS Tour the world-renowned WATTS TOWERS OF SIMON RODIA! Come view the magnificent Towers and learn about the fascinating man who created this renowned work of art. It took Simon Rodia 33 years to build the Watts Towers. Watch a 12-minute short film by William Hale in which Simon Rodia explains in his own words, why and how he created the Watts Towers. Watts Towers Tour Hours: Thursday& Friday 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. Dr. JOSEPH AND BOOTSIE HOWARD GALLERY The Watts Towers Arts Center is the home of International Ethnic Instrument Collection consisting of 144 primarily non-western instruments collected from around the world. This wonderful collection was donated by Dr. Joseph Howard to the Watts Towers Arts Center in 1989. Gallery Hours: Wednesday—Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. ONGOING CLASSES Visiting Schools Program—October 2012 to June 2013 Neighborhood Schools Program—TBA* Jazz Mentorship Program—Ongoing Cal Arts Partnership Piano Program—Fall October 3, 2012 to December 15, 2012 Spring January 16, 2013 to April 27, 2013 Cal Arts & Sony Pictures Animation Program—TBA* From Where I’m Standing Photography Program—TBA* Adults Special Needs Classes—TBA* Preschool Introduction to Art—TBA* TBA*—To Be Announced Friends of Watts Towers Arts Center HAS A NEW OFFICIAL WEBSITE www.wattstowers.org A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO FRIENDS OF WATTS TOWERS ARTS CENTER Often we get so comfortable with those who are our foundation that we forget to single them out and say Thank You. We take this opportunity to do just that. The Friends of Watts Towers Arts Center are a major source of support to us. Some of their funding contributions make it possible for us to: • Produce our Annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival and Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival • Underwrite Receptions for Openings of Exhibitions, Recitals, etc. • Provide After School Snack Program • Provide Supplies for Classes • Offer One on One Tutoring • Support Garden Studio AIR Program (Artist in Residence) • Graphic Designer for Materials to Publicize and Market our Festivals i.e., Festival Art, Mailers, Study Guides, etc. • And Much, Much, More UPDATE Watts Towers Arts Center & Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center We are extremely grateful to our Support Groups for generating so much support for our Programs, Exhibitions, Events and on-going operations. We continue to rely on the support of so many through letters, emails and word of mouth concerning the importance of our work to the Community, for the City of Los Angeles and with our international visitors. WHEN YOU VISIT - HAVE A LOOK AT THE Friends of Watts Towers Arts Center Museum Store for one of a kind art pieces Available now The Watts Towers 50 Years Inspiring Art Commemorative Program 1959-2009 ASK ABOUT OUR FUNDRAISING PROJECTS Heart of Watts Project Watts Towers Project Limited Edition Post Cards Limited Edition T-shirts WISH LIST Grand Piano New Computers and Printers Sculpture of Simon Rodia String Bass Photo Archivist Replacement of lost trees Sculpture of Charles Mingus Mural Restoration Upgraded Sound System Additional Staff Rebuild Simon Rodia’s House Marquis for Watts Towers Arts Center & Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center Representation of the Watts Towers in the DWP Holiday Lights at Griffith Park T H A N K Y O U For holding us up and preserving The Watts Towers Arts Center The Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center And supporting continuing arts education programming at the Watts Towers Campus THANK YOU City of Los Angeles City Council The Greater Watts Community Parents and Students Friends of Watts Towers Arts Center Watts Towers Community Action Council The Committee for Simon Rodia’s Towers in Watts Mayor’s Task Force Staff of the Watts Towers Arts Center & The Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center Artists and musicians Local, national and international visitors to the Watts Campus And to the thousands of others who continue to add their voices to save this essential, 51 year old Arts Education Institution and Community Arts Center!

Saturday, October 24, 2009