May Art Night 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Night of Poetry, Music and Art
18th Street Presents our Spring Art Night
CLICK THIS LINK FOR THE PDF VERSION
Santa Monica, Ca- On Saturday, May 1, 2010 18th Street Arts Center celebrates its quarterly art festival featuring two exhibition opening receptions, a dynamic outdoor video and sound installation, and Highways Performance Space’s highly-anticipated Poetry Slam Contest. Art Night takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the18th Street Arts Center, located at 1639 18th Street, Santa Monica, north of Olympic Boulevard.
The event also features art installations, open-artists studios, gallery openings and an opportunity for visitors to be exposed to other art and social organizations referred to as the “18th Street Connect.” Food will be available for purchase and free drinks will be provided by Izze Sparkling Juice, Pama Pomegranate Liqueur, Hpnotiq, and LunaAzul Tequila.
Main Gallery:
“Prep Materials”
Carla Herrera-Prats’ exhibition, “Prep Materials” explores the role creative processes play in pairing standardized education and democracy, by looking closely at the history, design and fabrication of the first standardized test-scoring machines. Her installation consists of a slide projection, a wall drawing, a series of photographs and scanned prints deriving from three different archives.
Project Room:
“Fine Art, (626) 394-3963”
Matthias Merkel Hess’ presents a project that investigates what the public wants from artists while also promoting his own nascent career as an artist. Aligning his status as a young artist with that of the fly-by-night businesses usually advertised on telephone poles, the signs are an invitation to the public to call him at his personal number to discuss art or create an art piece based upon the client’s choice.
Highways Performance Space:
As part of its 6th Annual Poetry Fest, Highways Performance Space, Leo Garcia, Artistic Director, partners with 18th Street Arts Center for an evening of where poets and performers go mano-a-mano, matching wits, smarts, timing and passion as they throw-down on issues of the day. Curated by E. Amato.
6-8pm – RISING STARS YOUTH SLAM
Highways’ FIRST-EVER YOUTH SLAM! A fantastic slam for those 21 and under! Open pre-registration required, first come, first serve (visit www.highwaysperformance.org to sign up). The winner will go on to be part of the ALL-STAR SLAM later that night!
Plus DJ and Musical Guest!
8.30-10.30pm – ALL-STAR SLAM
A good old-fashioned POETRY SLAM featuring a sensational line-up of spectacular spoken wordsmiths battling it out on the mic! Seasoned performers plus the winner of the RISING STARS YOUTH SLAM will compete for bragging rights and a CA$H PRIZE!
Plus DJ and Musical Guest!
Outdoor Area: V.I.C.C. Entertainment will create a special outdoor video, light and sound installation, showcasing the provocative artwork and engaging artists from 18th Street’s artist community.
Pasillos I (building 1629):
In celebration of the LA Opera’s Spring 2010 production of Richard Wagner’s ‘The Ring Cycle’, 18th Street will present “Digital Wagner”, a real time interpretation of the iconic themes and social relevancy in The Ring Cycle. Artist Clayton Campbell’s digital prints and projections feature a cast of contemporary characters who bring a new spin to an old story about the nature of power, love, loss, treachery, and redemption.
18th Street Connect:
Art night guests can learn about the services offered by other cultural organizations in the greater Los Angeles and Santa Monica area. Participating Organizations include: Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division, Pico Family Youth Center and Y.W.C.A. This year’s 18th Street Connect will also consist of a community of artisans whose handcrafted creations will be available to the public for purchase.
Open Studios:
The studios of 18th Street Artists in residence are open to the public. Participating artists include: Dan Kwong, Karl Doerrer-Attaway, Lita Albuquerque, Luciana Abait, Henriette Brouwers, John Malpede, Arzu Arda Kosar, David McDonald, Highways Performance Space, Susanna Dakin, Ichiro Irie, Chris Fox, Michael Barnard, Bernadette Fox, Birgit Sauer, Continuum Montage, Marina Day, Suzanne Lacy, Otis MFA Public Practice, Michelle Berne, Clayton Campbell, Yvette Gellis, Leslie Starus and Electronic Café.
For more information about Art Night and the exhibition openings visit http://www.18thstreet.org. Art Night is sponsored in part by the cultural funding initiatives of the City of Santa Monica, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, the James Irvine Foundation, the California Community Foundation, The Getty Foundation, Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences, IZZE, and Pama Pomegranate Liqueur.
18th Street Arts Center’s mission is to provoke public dialogue through contemporary art making. 18th Street is a community which values art making as an essential component of a vibrant, just and healthy society.
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