Behind the Scenes with Barbara

Tae-Hoon Kim’s Ceramic Friends: Cute!

2008-06-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

Tae-Hoon Kim’s art is simply cute.

His collections of ceramic creatures look like they’re from their own happy universe, if not from the same strange family. Their heads are round like big, juicy honeydew melons, while their bodies are compact and genderless. Kim dresses his little friends in a colorful wardrobe, often involving a simple pattern, a lot like children’s clothes—stripes, dots, checkers. Some of them simply have hearts or bouncy letters going across their chests, like “I Love U.” Others exhibit subtle hints of their happiness—their left arm hanging up at a 90-degree angle, as if they’re perpetually waving hello to you.

“I like to make people happy,” says this Cal State Long Beach artist. “I like simplicity and childlike innocence.”

He sites Paul Klee, Damien Hirst and Pieter Bruegel as inspiration to his art. Klee’s simplicity, Hirst’s unprecedented work, and Bruegel’s pleasant colors and wit, he says, make him happy.

Most of Kim’s art is created at his corner office space found on the first floor of Fine Arts Building 2. Anybody within a 100-feet radius seems to know who he is. When I met him last Friday, his visiting friends came at random times, snapping candid shots of the giddy artist. Then his neighbor, working on a few ceramic pieces of her own, would periodically offer us bits of her rich, dark chocolate candy bar filled with chunky raisins.

This seems like a place filled with many voices and the perfect setting for constant play, but Kim, a South Korean native whose been studying at CSULB under a special student program since the summer of 2006, holds focus on a lot of things, especially his artwork.

He started showing his work in his home city of Seoul in 2005, then with moving to California shortly after he’s shown his work in dozens of art shows throughout the Orange County and Long Beach areas, including last year’s Annual Student Art Exhibition at the University Art Museum. (News broke earlier, that on May 15 his pieces will be showcased for this year's annual show.)

Kim also gained the attention of Giant Robot last year around fall, landing him a two-page feature spread in this art magazine that defines itself by covering “cool aspects of Asian and Asian-American pop culture.”

It’s a thriving idea for Kim. He’s refreshed and stimulated by American modernism and its freer customs (compared to South Korea’s constant struggle to remain traditional, he says). Here, he crosses the challenge of not being too commercial, carefully studying the balance between creating and selling.

Besides working with clay—making cute little creatures and plates and "happy pills" (these oversized capsule-looking ceramic things)—Kim also likes to paint and draw, and he spends a lot of time with learning new movies, poetry, and art. He doesn’t enjoy the fussing with traveling, but, interestingly, he's planning to make a trip to designer stores like Gucci and Ferragamo over the summer, Kim says, to study their design and “color-matching” expertise.

See all of Kim’s cute ceramic friends and "happy pills" currently showing in a joint art show with fellow ceramics artist Matt Causey in the Merlino Gallery. The show, “Dancing with Angma,” will end Thursday.

All photos were taken by Barbara Navarro in Tae-Hoon Kim's ceramics studio on Friday, April 25.

Again, where's Barbara?!

2008-05-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

"It's finals!" Some of us are hard studying, others are hardly studying. Ouch. When things get tense like that at the Daily Forty-Niner, we simply double consumption of sweet stuff to calm the nerves.

Yummmmmmm!

Managing editor Colleen Donnelly (yellow shirt) and diversions editor Kristen Crawford wonder what cupcake they'd like to try. (They end up taking a few and sharing.)

A mouthful for Jonathan Oyama, the assistant editor at the news desk.

As for moi, I say these are the toughest weeks! First, getting through final projects and papers, along with those deep and dense studying lapses, and then finally just letting it all go. I'll be posting every now and then, but don't hold your breath!

Good luck with finals, all! And enjoy the Finals Issue that'll hit stands Monday morning.

Insights @ the CSULB University Art Museum

2008-05-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Photos by Barbara Navarro.

LB author, poet Paul G. Maziar tells me his secrets!

2008-05-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

Barbara is on Pacific Time: 8 p.m., San Pedro. Feeling spy-like, password: Mommy.

That's almost a line from Paul G. Maziar's book "What It Is: What It Is." I found it at {Open} Bookstore in Long Beach in late March, right after visiting Matt Maust's teeny art show going on inside. Maust, being 1/4 of the Cold War Kids, as well as an extraordinary graphic artist, collaborated with the prose writer that is Maziar and voila: "What It Is: What It Is."

In preparing a book review of Maziar's latest, I got in touch with the author where he revealed more on his book's title, his friendship with Maust and his relationship with Long Beach (and what it means to come back). You'll be able to find my review of "What It Is: What It Is" in Monday's paper. For now, here are a few excerpts taken from our correspondence:

On his relationship with Long Beach...
My relationship with Long Beach has been on an elevator. The place stirs my mind and all my senses, (and) so far has been the place where I’ve been the most productive as a writer.

Where he hangs out in Long Beach...
My favorite place to get a burrito is La Taqueria, I think it’s the best.

On the title of the book, "What It Is: What It Is"...
The title of the book is partly nonsense jive, which we wanted to be something fun that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Plus Maust and I have long been saying “What it is?” as a greeting to each other and friends.

On meeting Matt Maust...
The first time Maust and I met, we hit it off— talking about music and art and books. When he began showing me some things he has been inspired by as an artist— I realized it would make perfect sense to collaborate on our own project. Two years, and a few versions of WHAT IT IS later, here we are.

On Matt Maust...
Maust is an immense talent, someone who’s so true to what he does he is at all times a creative soul— in various ways, whether it is in speech, comradery, travel, or interpreting music/art/literature.

Mingle with Paul G. Maziar and his special musical guests, along with Matt Maust, at the {Open} Bookstore tonight in Long Beach.

Visit Maziar's MySpace page for the complete 411 and flyer. The event is free and truly one of a kind. (http://www.myspace.com/whatitisbook)

Book cover by Matt Maust, courtesy of Paul G. Maziar. Other photos by Barbara Navarro.

ISM: In Long Beach, they're totally an IN-ism

2008-05-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

Juicy bits of those ISM magazines do a good job of catching my eye whenever I shop at my favorite local bookstores. How I wish every bookstore anywhere carried these 8-by-6-inch, colorful things. The magazine stands for something interesting, coming from an official non-profit organization and all, and it’s got even more interesting content, always pushing forward local artistes (writers, photographers, painters and the like) into the limelight with interviews and full-colored spreads.

But looking beyond the soft matte finish of the magazine, and looking beyond the simple ISM logo stamped across every one of their covers, I found an even greater community that simply calls itself ISM. Altogether they are, in fact, “ISM: A Community Project.”

What do they do as a community? Party and celebrate their fabulous existence, for one. To embellish the atmosphere, they do a good deed of hanging their even more fabulous collectibles—photography art and such. Everybody who contributes to the magazine, and those people whose names we see on the masthead, gather their things and shower them into various local art galleries, leaving their mark as ISM: Gallery.

And the parade doesn’t stop there, they have their own place online, too—ISM: Online, a place outside the random, every-now-and-then ISM: Gallery gatherings or the even rarer two-times-a-year business of the ISM: Magazine.

During spring break, I had the happy chance of joining the fun at the ISM: Gallery, taking residence inside Long Beach’s Koo’s Art Center on Broadway. Apparently, the two—Koo’s and ISM—have been sharing space for the last two exhibits heard of out of this place (“Hello, My Name Is” and “Shudder,” the one that kicked off my weekend of spring break), so it’d be healthy speculation if eventually Koo’s turned into ISM’s.

ISM’s relentless affection of breaking into Long Beach art scene seems to be working for them, especially with their latest exhibit, the fashionable-looking “Prelude,” which will open on Sunday at Koo’s Art Center, or the ISM: Gallery. So, if you’re into fashion, and the fashion shows of late on campus aren’t cutting it for you, then perhaps this will satisfy your fashionista appetite and should also quench your curiosity of who or what exactly ISM is all about.

Kevin Staniec, founder and executive creative director of ISM, will be in full swing on the 11th, catering to all Long Beach art darlings. He’ll be presenting new artists to the ISM: Wall (something described as an ISM ritual), and the night will be lit up by the fashions created by UCLA students for their fashion show FAST.

ISM says they’re promising that everybody will be sharing oohs and ahhs over the original sketches on display, the runway shows, over-the-top accessories, the one of a kind wearable masterpieces... All of which will be lovingly showcased. But if this event will turn out to be as fun as “Shudder’s” opening, I’ll come prepared with my best face for all the fun photo booth action and my dancing shoes for the hot DJ music.

RSVP for Sunday night's opening of "Prelude" like a VIP at ISM: Online. (www.ISMcommunity.org/)

All photos were taken by Barbara Navarro at the opening of "Shudder" on Saturday, March 29.

The yummy Frosted Cupkery: Minutes from CSULB, seconds from Cindo de Mayo!

2008-05-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

Yummy! Frosted Cupcakery, found minutes away from Cal State Long Beach, tucked along a street cruising off the ever-popular Belmont Shore strand (at Second Street and Claremont Avenue), you can find this tasty cupcake (yeah, the one in the picture), lovingly dubbed the Flavor of the Month.

I stopped in today to try it. The cupcake's fluffy white cake is frosted with a rich, "Mexican-inspired" frosting (officially "Mexican chocolate buttercream"), flecks sprinkled around. There's even a miniature paper Mexican flag swinging on top. But, don't be scared that you'll miss out. The cupcakery worker assured me that the cupcake would be around well past the Cinco de Mayo holiday. (Durrr... Flavor of the Month, Barbara.)

As soon as I bit into this cupcake, anyway, I immediately identified this taste. My mom has used this chocolate at home countless times, I was sure. And, yes, if I had to describe the taste of this chocolate, I'd tell you to try Nestle's Abuelita, a rock hard dark chocolate that's laced with cinnamon and covered in coarse sugar.

Stop by Frosted Cupcakery to try it! (And, by the way, they also blog.) In the meantime, I'm curious...

How are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo?

Photos by Barbara Navarro.

Retired Material

2008-05-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Considered Connoisseur: From April 8 to May 4

Did I hear right? WILL SWAIM: The Marxist who wanted to be a priest after high school, but who was also in a punk band and then ended up editing business magazines after college? That’s what I think I heard Will Swaim (the editor in chief at the District Weekly, thankyouverymuch) say over the weekend at a journalism conference. And thank the divine superpowers for leading him into the writing world, or the alternative press more precisely, or else…? Or else! I’m not sure Long Beach would be as cool a place without this colorful little thing, the District Weekly. We all have Swaim to thank for starting it all about a year ago. Lets all help them celebrate the occasions this Friday! (More details on that at thedistrictweekly.com/.) Congratulations!

Photos taken by Barbara Navarro at JACC in Downtown LA, Saturday, April 5.

Tae-Hoon Kim’s Ceramic Friends: Cute!

2008-04-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

Behind the Scenes with Tae-Hoon Kim

2008-04-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

Tae-Hoon Kim's art pieces are cute!
Return for a full story on this Cal State Long Beach ceramics artist tomorrow! In the meantime, you can see Kim's art in a joint show with fellow CSULB artist Matt Causey, "Dancing with Angma," now at the Merlino Gallery.

Details of images above: (Photo, above) A random statue taking residence in Fine Arts Building 2, where Kim's ceramics studio is behind one of those doors; (video, below) sneaking around Kim's studio as he prepares his art pieces for the "Dancing with Angma" show, now at the Merlino Gallery. Both images were taken last week. Photo and video by Barbara Navarro.

Get some Satisfaction!

2008-04-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Self-proclaimed “deep-digging music nerds,” Satisfaction, also an OC-based music act, opened for Matt Costa Thursday night at OCPAC’s Samueli Theater. However, their sound is anything but nerdy, just flat out cool.

With their second EP “Cougars, Sharks & Flying Sparks,” these boys show off their smoky arrangements, exploring a soundscape of wrangly guitars, smooth vocals and a sweet, lingering piano. Satisfaction is Michael Rosas on vocals and guitar; Matthew Fletcher on keyboards; James Fletcher on drums; and Aaron Wahlman on bass.

They’ll be bringing their cool indie alternative rock to Long Beach tonight.

Satisfaction: The Prospector, 2400 East Seventh Street, Long Beach; $5; 9pm

Photo above: Taken with Satisfaction singer, guitarist Rosas outside the OCPAC Samueli Theater after Matt Costa's show on April 24. The photoshoot was random, but very fun!

A crazy night at the cool Matt Costa show

2008-04-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

I'm usually not into Matt Costa's type of music, that folk-tinged, raspy kind of stuff. But when you're a reporter in my position, open-mindedness comes very handy when you have a prominent OC performing arts center inviting you to his sold out show. So, there I was, Thursday night at the Orange County Performing Artscenter for the Matt Costa show.

I had been to this Costa Mesa venue about a month ago for the Cold War Kids concert, but the vibe in the air was different this time. The lobby surely wasn't buzzing and the lines at the bars weren't snaky either. The demographics, to put it simply, were different. Conversations I overheard in the bathroom consisted of cramming for lab hours in a high school AP class, to older women chit chatting about working with the lead singer from the opening band, Satisfaction, at a nearby skin care corporation in the finance department. Oh, the interesting landscape of random-land.

The vibe, anyway, was enhanced by juicy remix hits from some of my favorite bands—like the Cold War Kids, the Klaxons, Interpol and Peter, Bjorn & John—that played at the break time between the Satisfaction and Matt Costa sets. (I arrived after Satisfaction ended their set, about 20 minutes before Costa took the stage at around 10:05 p.m.) I found my way to the front row, finding a spot to the side of the stage, uncomfortably in front of the loud speakers. I could feel wind coming from those speakers—that’s how close I was.

But the crowds were thick with teens dressed to the nines in their best knee-high gladiator sandals and Newport Beach jewelry. Yes, the front row was lined up with precious young girls hoping to lock deep stares with the singer.

Finally, with my paper Moleskine notebook and pen in hand 10 minutes into Costa’s set, I attracted a few fans of my own. One man brushed his way to my right for a while, and then to my left, at last asking, “What are you writing?” I’m usually quite secretive about my note-taking, and so this kind of question made me so much more self-conscious than ever before. It made me realize something: Matt Costa, or even his band musicians, could possibly see me from the stage and identify me as “the critic.”

This inquisitive stranger didn’t quit, either. He repeated stared at my notebook every time I opened it for more notes and asked me the usual questions—like, Who do you write for? “Cal State Long Beach. Daily student paper,” I said loud enough over a stompy Costa ditty. “Do you know a writer named Sean—?” “Sean Boulger?” “Yeah, I just got through interviewing with him.” “Oh, the Union Weekly.”

Then I started thinking of all that rivalry talk I hear around campus—how the Union has something better. May be. But they weren’t around scooping up all the Behind the Scenes treatment I was just digging into.

For about the next two hours, the lead singer of Satisfaction (yeah, that's who that was), Michael Rosas, and I pretty much stayed on consistent wavelengths. He tamed some wild fan girls, for example, who jumped their way onto the stage, while I shot footage and snapped their glittery wickedness on our side of the stage where we all collected in front of those woofing speakers. Rosas made new friends, while I greeted some old ones (yep, Cassie, the girl from the Cold War Kids show was there this time, too). By now, people knew Michael was someone exclusive, either recognizing him from the previous set, or recognizing his authentic rock star behavior. As for me, I was handling myself with more mystery, but still looking quite “in” with my nice notepad and careful reporter eye.

It turned out that Rosas liked me more than I thought, being completely uninhibited as I snapped candid shots of him having flirty moments with his new admirers. After the show, we even got into the “free fun” photo booth outside where we took some pictures of us two together. There, surprisingly, I also ran into Jonny Bell from the Crystal Antlers and then we took photos in the booth, too.

I’ve got to admit, the music wasn’t the center of attention at this show. (OK, OK... It was actually pretty good and fun and different.) But on top of it all, I felt like I slipped into a new dimension I hadn’t experienced before, concluding that rock shows, or any show/concert/event, is not always about why you ever went, but about who’s there (yourself included) and how they’re going to make things happen.

Photos by Barbara Navarro.

Finding Tina Lai in a good 'somewhere'

2008-04-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

This week senior printmaking student Tina Lai is showing "In a Lot of Somewheres," a collection of etchings and lithographs she calls very personal. Emphasizing the personal aspect of this collection, which is at the Merlino gallery space in the south campus, Lai has also placed a few items she considers revealing of her philosophy and personality. These objects include a guitar and its case (which she keeps open for donations), a working typewriter, a vintage record player, a kid's toy dangling from a silkscreen, and then a tower with a few, buzzing blades of green grass.

I found Lai in her gallery space last night, reading a bulky copy of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged." I asked her, Why Rand? and a whole lot more about her pieces. Her responses are below. And if you'd like to meet her today, or simply stop by to leave her a note, don't walk, run! The show ends at 5 p.m.

Lai's flyers read, "25¢ admission." And though Lai means serious business, she or more less goes on having a Joshua Bell moment as visitors come and go. The fee, Lai says, is more of a donation for the artist—the print (shown above) serves as a reminder, and the accompanying guitar case laying on the floor below it adds more to the request. Lai explains that this set-up came as an inspiration from "Atlas Shrugged." "In the book, people create things and others say 'We need those things, so we should get this for free.' But there's a process (to creating), whether you're a scientist, artist or musician. It requires a vision, then work and going through series of trial and error to have art, a symphony, a new technology. In our world people say art should be free. But why? People pay to go to concerts and theaters, why not art shows and art galleries?"

In this lithograph, a sort of variation of a pointillism drawing (and, moreover, a recreation of Gustave Caillebotte's "Paris Street, Rainy Day"), Lai delves even deeper into the general meaning behind her show. She says, "My pieces deal with people and their identity and their space, and how (when you freeze them) they fit into their surroundings. It's almost a mundane moment." Lai also points out the gay couple and their modern clothes, compared to Caillebotte's late 19th century apparel.

Georges Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" gets remade here, too. Lai pointed out the two male ducks and abundance of gay partners. In front of this painting you'll find a tower with a few blades of grass buzzing around at random times. Lai says she added this (and a few other pieces) to her show so that there'd be more than just flat prints to adorn the room.

This is by far Lai's most abstract piece in "In a Lot of Somewheres." "These are all accidents. I had to figure out how the white could come together. It's similar to life, how I find randomness interesting." This piece is made of Lai's postcards made of silkscreen prints. Whereas the usual is to make perfect duplicates (in the silkscreen process), Lai used the imperfect outcomes to make this piece. "The postcards (their pattern) are all imperfect individually, but as a whole they work together. In life, horrible circumstances seem to occur when things don't go together, but I like to think of the different possibilities of all they ways things could happen... Or is happening, you're just not in that space right now."

The portrait here is one of a musician who works at a hospital as a technician. It's an etching with watercolor; the drawing on the record (which is right below this drawing in the gallery) is a silkscreen. Lai says she used a photograph for inspiration to this piece, and hopes this inspires many more viewers to wonder, especially, she notes, with all that space she left on the drawing.

Here, Lai expresses her relationship with her mom, the most personal piece in the show. Lai explains the dual-tone silkscreen: "You see a face and couch, but really, the space is between all these unspoken thoughts. It reflects my philosophy of growing up, how as a daughter, there's less to rely on your parents and grow up and realize they're just people. And still, there is a special bond... My mom gave birth to me, and that means that there will always be a strand of her in me."

"The 'LOST' sign is meant to be whimsical. It's the one piece that most reflects my personality; it's very random. I do things like this." What did she lose? "It's a poster I made with pen and posted them around the art department. For 10 years, I had a (one-of-a-kind) retractable knife. But I lost it, and I never have found it. It's something that's being in different spaces and being in different somewheres."

All artwork by art student Tina Lai!
All photos by Barbara Navarro.

A love note to Tina Lai

2008-04-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

4/23/08

Dear Ms. Lai,

Golden dreams and good wishes, like buzzing money in the pocket. 'Tis good, you know, art to relate this is what I like to see... Thank you for such fun...

Sincerely, Daniel Helman (geology dept.)

Tina Lai saves these notes in a special somewhere! Here she is, the artist herself, showing me all the notes admirers have left for her on her typewriter. (And then I get distracted by the that sign that says "LOST." Hmmm... Tina explains that to me, too. My notes coming soon! For now, play the video!)

One night, tangled deep with We Barbarians

2008-04-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

Contrary to the sick image I developed of We Barbarians after first hearing their music, this tight-knit indie rock band—simply identified as "Quon, Van Heule and Warkentin" on their MySpace page—came out for a benefit show at Costa Mesa's Detroit Bar last night. That totally softened my views. What this Long Beach, grunge-sounding band was really like: The lead singer is a sliver of a man who belts out huge, fevered screams that ask for gentle attention; the bass player, partial to the right side of the stage, maintained a heavier demeanor, slipping deep into smouldering grooves most of the time; and the drummer, who sported some sexy scruffy facial hair last night, you'll find most likely camouflage behind a cluster of a silvery drum set, banging away like a secret agent. No, these weren't black-stained pouty hipsters from the LBC, even if their songs all seem to be cut from the same bruised fabric. Instead, their following surely seem like the in-the-scene kind, and definitely not moody. Did I mention that We Barbarians' fans also include Long Beach poet Derrick Brown and the Cold War Kids? They were also in the audience (or on stage!).

Photos by Barbara Navarro.

We Barbarians will next play at Spaceland
on Monday, May 12.

A psychedelic night: Crystal Antlers, Thursday

2008-04-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

LOVE
WHO: CRYSTAL ANTLERS
WHAT: KBeach Concert Series (second in three-band line-up)
WHEN: Thursday night, on stage from about 8p.m. to 9p.m.

WHERE: Nugget Pub & Grill, somewhere on CSULB

WHY: Oh, they're one of a handful of Long Beach bands next in line to be huge

Here's a snapshot of my notes...

High energy
Their sound: can be mellow, droopy, intensely psychedelic, even, and then utterly sparkly at the same glittery moment, especially with the boys' charming on-stage chemistry
Saw some crazy instruments handled by Sexual Chocolate, the band's percussion man, including a minature baby blue piano he held in his hands and blew into like a whistle
The keyboards were beautiful, fusing and bridging each song with the next
"A Thousand Eyes" is a hit; it's so popular, everyone went ooh and ahh over it
The crowd was at a colorful, voluminous capicity (obviously, they were there for Crystal Antlers... 95% of the crowd left right after the last song)
For the last two songs, two worshipping audience members stood up to sing along literally face-to-face with the band's singer/bass player Jonny Bell
The boys ended their set, and everyone was happy
Crystal Antlers hung out to sell their cool six-track, self-titled EP "Crystal Antlers;" some fans asked for their autographs, others for their pictures
I spoke to Jonny Bell afterwards, too. I was amazed at how sincere and collected he was after all that sweaty, high-energy rocking

Cyrstal Antlers will next play at the Prospector in Long Beach for the Fidotrust Fest on Saturday night.

Photo by Barbara Navarro.

Other music events going on around town tonight...
{open} bookstore, with bands of the experimental genre for Third Saturday on Retro Row
Fingerprint Records, with Silversun Pickups
Grand Prix, with Pennywise
Detroit Bar, with We Barbarians

Zephyr Cafe reintroduces cupcakes to menu

2008-04-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

This Long Beach cafe gets more exciting with every new visit that I make. Zephyr first surprised me with their art collection of Skullphone banners strewn across their walls when I first discovered them about a month ago. Then, their food... Zephyr's vegetarian, vegan and raw dishes mak me want to switch over to a whole new way of life! (I always look forward to returning to this place. It's a constant!) And now, they've topped my list of restaurant places in Long Beach with their addition of cupcakes to their Tuesdays and Fridays menu.

Zephyr's Cupcake of the Moment: "Cookies and Cream"

Zephyr features a variety of cupcakes on their Tuesdays and Thursdays menu. Here's a list of just some of their different, tasty offerings:

Chocolate with peanut butter frosting
Pumpkin chocolate chip topped with a hard chocolate shell
Chocolate, chocolate chip with chocolate mousse frosting and coconut
Chai latte with cinnamon spice frosting
Vanilla filled with cinnamon banana custard and topped with chocolate mousse

Call ahead to double check...
562-435-7113

Or, simply stop by!
340 E 4th St. (at Long Beach Blvd.), Long Beach

Hours
Tuesday through Saturday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo by Barbara Navarro. Yum! ;) Clearer pictures for the next time!

Long Beach Antlers: it's like bringing Christmas early for Cal State Long Beach indie rock fans!

2008-04-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

I'm fixated on their name. Even more fixated on their sound—psychedelic and smooth.

And it's only been about a week since I found out about them.

Who are they? None other than Crystal Antlers—a Long Beach band you SHOULD know about.

The band is rather underground still, but, as DJ Oldboy put it, "They are probably our biggest band to come out this whole year."

Why did DJ Oldboy (or Chris Lynch) fall in love with Crystal Antlers? Apparently, Oldboy went on to the band's MySpace music page, heard their cover of Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" which had that Chocolate Watchband sound, he recalls, and then: Love.

It's all over now for me, too. I want Crystal Antlers. Rapido!

Here is an exciting Q&A with Crystal Antler's singer/bass player Jonny Bell, where I got to delve into the dynamics of this Long Beach band, their sly playnames, and what "grawge" means.

What's going on at the Nugget? Why is it THE place (of all Long Beach venues) for your show Thursday night?
Well, we've never actually been to the Nugget before, so we don't really know what to expect. It is THE place we were asked to play on Thursday and we're pretty excited about it.

Do any of you go to school? Or, maybe you already graduated from college?
Damian (a.k.a Sexual Chocolate; percussions) and I graduated from UCLA; Victor (organs) went to Otis; and Andrew and Kevin (guitar and drums, respectively) work blue colar jobs.

I hear your music. I like it. Though, I've read such descriptive words like "grawge" used to label your music, and I'm not sure how to make the connection. Can you explain what "gwarge" means?
Thanks for the kind words... When I think of "garage" I think of the Sonics or Love, that kind of stuff. We're not really trying to be 60's revivalists. We just like the old gear.

Where did you get started?
I think our official start was when we recorded our first single which was in San Francisco.

Where do you usually play (shows, parties, etc.)?
Nowadays we play anywhere that seems like a good time where we can reach a log of people and get drunk for free. I guess it's a good thing we finally get to reach the CSULB crowd. We'll have to get LA Record some distro out there. (Barbara's note: You can find LA Record at {open} bookstore on Fourth Street.)

Do all of you live in Long Beach?
Most of us live in Long Beach...

Where do you hang out?
We hang out at the local gay bars sometimes. Everyone seems to have more fun than at the other dives in town and there's not much pretention. Also, lately we've been having BBQ's in Bixby Park and playing kickball.

Do you have playnames? Like, "Sexual Chocolate"?
Haha... Damian Edwards a.k.a. "Sexual Chocolate." Damian doesn't identify himself—he just IS.

How do you feel about the Long Beach music scene? Where do you fit in with it all?
I like the LB music scene. There's all sorts of interesting stuff going on in different styles and none of the bands sound like each other. I think we fit right in there.

Are you friends with famous LB musicians, like the Cold War Kids (or anybody else who isn't as "mainstream")?
Haha... We don't know the Cold War Kids. Are they from Long Beach? We're friends with Free Moral Agents and Magic Lantern as well as many others.

Watch out for the boys performing tonight at the Nugget Pub & Grill at 7 p.m. The show's free and features two other bands. But, um, Crystal Antlers, just as Oldboy said, will "make eyes and ears bleed." I'm intrigued. See you there!

To hear Crystal Antlers' music (and to view their videos, tour dates and catch a glimpse of Mr. Sexual Chocolate himself), please visit their MySpace page by clicking here.

Photo by Grant Peterson. Artwork by Crystal Antlers.

Out with the old, in with the new?

2008-04-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

I discovered Acres of Books for the first time in mid-January, and I truly fell into a narrative wonderland, an escape within a giant maze of towering reads. …Ooooh. But after a few weeks (er, days… I work for a daily, remember?) of research and hanging around the place, I learned of the store’s dimming truth: it could be knocked down. The stinky trend was finally catching up to Acres at their lot on Fourth Street and Long Beach Boulevard—a trend involving beautification of the immediate and surrounding blemished street blocks by Acres, which included a possible buyout from the city.

At Friday's weekly poetry night (or how the owner Jackie Smith calls it, “a psychobabble fest”) the store finally made the announcement: the city would be moving them out, that they had "negotiated the sale of our property... to the Redevelopment Agency," meaning Acres of Books would be knocked down.

Sad, stinky news. And, I don't get the city's fixation with demolishing history for lofts that nobody's buying. What will be left for Long Beach's future bibliophilic communities? This dusty downtown dinosaur is the place.

The truth is, there is another bookstore in town that I've also developed a crush on—{Open}, an independent store on Fourth Street (in the "Retro Row" neighborhood). It's a special little place that thoroughly stocks books by local literary stars, or simply draws large crowds when they invite them in for readings. Their art shows make a good draw, too. (Art di Matt Maust, anyone?)

So much to choose from... The wonderfully old, and charming new!

See these places for yourself...
Acres of Books, 240 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach. (562) 437-6980
{Open} Bookstore, 2226 East Fourth Street, Long Beach. (562) 499-OPEN

Pictured above: (Left) Acres of Books' towering shelves; (right) Echo Park photographer Marleah Tobin at the current art show happening at {open}, taken on opening night (3-29-08).

Pictured below: Snapshots of the shelves at {open}. Photos by Barbara Navarro.

Ode to the District Weekly

2008-04-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

I thank them for not having porno ads dominating the back section of their issues, ever, which I know is the standard for most alternative publications. I admire them for being so animated in their storytelling and so committed to giving this city (and often times, the surrounding cities) some color. Like Technicolor color. And, after one full year in business now, it’s safe to say, also, that they’re not some elitist group in town who just write to show off. They have something real to say and they do it so exquisitely with so little—they’re out once a week and, on average, probably have 15 full pages of stories and reports. I like them for many reasons. Congratulations, District Weekly! You’re one year old, and yeah, you’re growing up quite fast. But that’s OK. It’s as if you were born with a hundred brains at a hundred years old. That’s what’s so sexy about you!

Images courtesty of Kristina Coffeen at the District.

A Bright Future: Art Department's Annual Exhibit

2008-04-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

From wire to plastic trash bags, or wood, plaster, pencil and paint, art students from various media classes create a vast collection of colorful, fresh art for the Department of Art Annual Foundation Exhibition. Occupying the Gatov, Merlino, Werby and Dutzi Galleries located adjacent to the Fine Art Buildings, these one of a kind student art creations will be on display through April 10. ALL PHOTOS & VIDEO BY BARBARA NAVARRO

Just Rad: CWK Fan, CSULB Student at OC Show Adding to Her Juicy Concert-Going Résumé

2008-04-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

Cassie Ann Comley! This girl got way down at the recent Cold War Kids show at the Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa. She wasn't holding back any singing or stomping, and bassist Matt Maust was taking note from his place on stage! I approached Cassie inside the theater where we both were—in the front row!—and after the show, I snapped a few pictures of her. I was so impressed, and then even more excited, to learn that Cassie is a business student at Cal State Long Beach.

Here's something to wow you on Comley's concert-going past: She got eight stitches below her left eye after a Senses Fail concert at the Glasshouse four years ago. She says this was a time "when I went through a hardcore, vegan phase." Later on, in her days of crowd-surfing numerous Thursday shows, she once lost her shoe. Other things she likes to do: go to Coachella just to sweat her tush off by dancing to LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip, for example. "I've seen Bright Eyes in San Diego, and I had pit seats to see The Shins at the Grove," she goes on to brag. "My cousin works for KROQ, so I get around." Oh, just flaunt it aloud some more, Comley. You know you rock!

This is what happens when you love good music, she says, and see the point in going to live shows: It's the perfect way to shake the stress.

But we both also knew another thing long before the show ended: Seeing the Cold War Kids was the perfect way to start our spring break recess!

You can find my review and see more pictures of the Cold War Kids in concert at Orange County's Performing Artscenter at the Daily Forty-Niner website.

Photos by Barbara Navarro

Where's Barbara??

2008-03-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

I've been out with my camera lately. You might've already seen me snapping pictures at a wall or something. But, because I'm on vacation (spring break), I won't be posting anything new until April 7th when I return to school.

Here's what you can look forward to...

My review of the Cold War Kids at the Orange County Performing Artscenter
Story and pictures of Marleah Tobin's art show at {open} bookstore on Fourth Street
Pictures from ISM at Koo's for their magazine/art party
Fine Cut, the university student filmmaker film festival (featuring a CSULB student!)
My review of the new Allan Kaprow show at the MOCA Geffen
A new "Considered Connoisseur"

There's probably more. Maybe less. But come back to visit April 7th and we'll then see.

Barbara

Retired Material

2008-03-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Considered Connoisseurs: From Feb. 24 to March 28

Overdue. A new connoisseur, yes? So, I give you two! Here I captured hairstylist Lori Huitron (on the left) with salon co-owner Dionne de la Vega, right, at the newest, most ultra-mega-über beauty salon in Long Beach, Flaunt Salon. Lori left my hair in top-notch shape after I visited her for a haircut recently, while Dionne fluttered about the salon, trying out new looks created from their new Napoleon cosmetics. Dionne later shared with me that she worked in the fine art world for 10 years before establishing Flaunt last December. I liked them both, and the salon, that I’ve put the girls here, as my most current Connoisseurs, and my honest remarks in a review of the salon published in the Feb. 21 issue of the Daily Forty-Niner.

Cold War Kids: Distorted in Tinted Shades of Grays and Reds

2008-03-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

It’s a group of men, living and working in and around Long Beach: the four-man band Cold War Kids and their photographer/poet/artists friends. They're producing a wealth of artistic goods while hitting bold, battered-out notes across international airwaves.

And it's way cool and raw in the end.

Looking at the Cold War Kids, many might just stop at “Hang Me Up to Dry,” the hit single from their 2006 debut record, “Robbers and Cowards” that sprinkled the airwaves all last year in irritatingly excess doses. (Yes, irritating—just listen to lead singer Nathan Willett’s feverish screams over a repetitive, wrinkly bass-guitar hook "way too many times.") But that’s not all the Cold War Kids should be known for. Even their band name comes from bassist Matt Maust’s graphic design Internet company from about a decade ago, which is just the start of the band's deep roots.

To be even more amazed at how vast and boundless Cold War Kids actually are, turn off your radio. With only “Robbers and Cowards” to their name (and rare, hard-to-find EPs from way back when), they’ve shot themselves farther and wider into the world by producing other musical compilations and putting out some avant-garde book and art projects. Some may not understand it or even get it or want to get it. But it’s exactly what so many fans around the world love about them.

Some have described the indie-artists as creating a “repertory of craggy guitars, verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown vocals and elliptical songwriting,” while the band describes itself as "[striving] to make honest songs about human experience in orchards and hotel rooms, Laundromats and churches, sea ports and school halls.”

Most recently, bass guitarist Matt Maust made an appearance in the Long Beach area (where he still lives today) with poetry readings and art shows. In February he accompanied his author friend and fellow East Coaster companion Derrick Brown with a show at the Found Theater for a reading. In early March, Maust debuted one of his solo gallery shows at {open} bookstore on Fourth Street, which closed on Sunday.

The show, “Five Easy Pigliano Pieces,” was an interesting fusion between photography, graphic design and Maust’s genuine celebration to traveling the world, touring as a Cold War Kid and then a poet.

It's nice to figure it all (or some of it) out. The Orange County Performing Arts Center has done it—and they’re quite a success for it. Wanting to reach out to the college-aged crowd, the usually posh-and-all-sophisticated center invited the Cold War Kids for a performance March 27 in a music series called Off Center. Peter Bjorn and John, The Walkmen and We Are Barbarians have also been part of the series since it began in late January.

Coming along with them to the OCPAC (or, more precisely, the Samueli Theatre at the OCPAC) is one of Cold War Kids’ friends: photographer Matt Wignall from Long Beach and the band's official photographer. Wignall’s art springs from his interest in Malawi’s environmental conditions, something he’s been apart of with an organization called Water Wells for Africa.

It’s a pretty hot ticket, especially when you consider the size (500-seat capacity) and location (a lush neighborhood in the bright Costa Mesa) and the other entirely fun stuff happening.

WEEKEND: COLD WAR KIDS

1. LIVE The Long Beach-based Cold War Kids make their return to the OC tomorrow night (Thursday, March 27); it's been way too long—the last performance was at the Detroit Bar in Dec. 2006. The Kids will be at the Samueli Theater at the Orange County Performing Artscenter in Costa Mesa. The show is sold out. *Look forward to my review after spring break.*

2. ART Bassist Matt Maust and the band photographer Matt Wignall show their artwork through Monday at Found Gallery in Echo Park. The show's name is "Matt Maust + Matt Wignall: Your Alimony Check Won’t Buy a Bigger Room." Hmmmm... Sounds like a must. Check Found Gallery's website for more details.

3. READ Maust also collaborated with friend Paul G. Maziar for a book called What It Is: What It Is. You can find the book for sale at {open} in Long Beach. Interviews with Maust and Maziar are sprinkled throughout various underground-esque publications around town, like LA Record and ISM. Look for those at {open}, too.

Photos by Barbara Navarro. Band photo via OCPAC.

{open} closes CWK's Matt Maust's show today

2008-03-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

Photos and video below by Barbara Navarro.

Whether you've heard the name Cold War Kids or have all their records (and books), you MUST visit {open} bookstore in Long Beach today, Sunday, before bassist-guitarist Matt Maust's tiny but thorough collection of his recollective art from touring the world packs up and leaves the little space where it's been so nicely put together in the LBC. Where is it all headed next? Perhaps the OC Performing Arts Center. Perhaps Silverlake. Perhaps a new, foreign destination.

{open} has a few collectible items for sale that are a part of this exhibit, "Five Easy Pigliano Pieces." Fans must see this! But anyone can appreciate Maust's careful attention to typography and style.

{open}
2226 E. Fourth Street (near Cherry Ave.)
Long Beach, CA 90814
562-499-OPEN

Sunday's Hours: 11 am to 6 pm

Wallpaper like WOW!

2008-03-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

Start the video. The sign in the first few seconds says:

Aaron Morse is a genius. He understands that, like time and space, there is no up and down or back and forth. There just ins't a way of putting it in order either. This is something wild and true that he's accomplished to portray via "Timeline," a one-of-a-kind floor-to-ceiling chain of murals showing in the lobby of the spacious and polished Hammer Museum in Westwood. And, just as the title suggests, Morse sticks to using historical (and futuristic) ideas for this epic wall masterpiece. See the surreal, imaginative configurations this 30-something-year-old Los Angeles artist (he's originally from Tuscon, Arizona) has created, before the walls go back to nude in mid-June.
And for the record, that sign doesn't say all that.

Video and photos by Barbara Navarro

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Read art show reviews by other Daily Forty-Niner writers featured in Diversions...

Lauren Williams reviews "Kara Walker: My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love" (The Hammer Museum will host on their signature Hammer Screenings dedicated to selections by Walker for every Tuesday in April, starting with "Body & Soul.")
Cynthia Romanowski reviews "California Video," now at the Getty Center

Notes on the CSULB Fashionistas

2008-03-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Mercedes Benz Fashion Week wisped through town last week. After reviewing the videos and pictures posted by the Los Angeles Times, however, I was left uninspired. It’s not like I dream of seeing Nina Ricci goddesses or statuesque Chanel models in high-society, high-dollar gowns coming to town. But I more or less agree with headlines like “tabloid runways,” when referring to the scene and the people who put on the LA shows. The heartbeat of this town’s fashion sense: Getting lines from talentless designer-stars, à la Whitney Port, or all the other stars from “The Hills” and all other reality TV series, for that matter. Gross. Gag. Barf.

With the additional factor of a bitter, crumbling economy (I'm being extreme in my description), some major LA fashion designers, like the real fashion designers, (Louis Verdad, anyone?) pulled out of this year’s annual spectacle.

The Wall Street Journal, moreover, continues to report on declining retail sales (in February, the Commerce Department reported a falling 0.6%, for example, and that's severe in the ever nonprofitable world of fashion) and the overall slowing economy, adding fluff to Verdad’s recent statement that the economy had something to do with him not showing. (But if I had to share headlines with Nikki Hilton and the “tabloid runway” newcomer Benji Madden, I think I’d also turn off.)

As any smart fashionista student, I know that the success of the fashion business lies in the careful balances between finance and creativity. Curious of how my fellow schoolmates were coping in this headline-popular economical slump, I set out to campus to find student-fashionistas who looked great, despite, you know, our already tight student budgets.

Notes on the Fashionistas...

Go International: Ayaka Mori, 22, a studio art student who lives in San Pedro, imports her favorite labels from Japan. Her inspiration for what to wear comes from Japanese magazines, too. She enjoys reading Non-No, Cutie, P.S. and Mina, all publications from her native country.
Be Bright: Yasmineh Kafai, 25, from Los Angeles, likes to work bright colors into her outfits. Instead of wearing complete, solid colors, she'll wear a sweater with colorful stripes, for example. This graphic design student says, "What you wear is a reflection of your personality."
Do-It Yourself: Skateboard in one hand and cell phone in another, Gaberiel Martinez, 29, knows a thing or two about balancing technology with more ol' fashioned ambidextrous ways. For example, with his Danger skateboard, Martinez used grip tape to make the eye-catching pattern we see in the picture. Very cool.
Be Yourself, or Not: Freshman Mahogony Yarde goes to the pretty extreme of wearing bright colors both in her clothes and jewelry. She's definitely a communication and black studies student, but when it comes to what she wears, Yarde says, "I love the fact that I can be a million different people by changing my outfit." (And I'm still wondering if she gave me her real name.)

Come with Your Own Soundtrack: Jingles. Clunks. Heels, dangling necklaces. Don't you love it when music plays inside your mind when you meet someone new? These girls, clad in colorful prints and shiny accessories, not only caught my eye, but called to my ear with their very own wearable sound machines. I couldn't help but admire the details they came adorned with, either. Sarah Olson (left), 21 years old and an international business student, pointed out to me that one of her bracelets was actually a souvenir from her encounter with Mexican rock band Kinky, who made their way to Los Angeles for a show Monday night. Sarah's friend Camila Jimenez (right), also 21 and a fashion and marketing student, wasn't shy to add that the dolled-up pair got noticed right away and were invited to meet the band backstage for the after party. I can already tell you, these Calexico girls have a lifetime to make more memories like that, because they're actually cousins!

All photos by Barbara Navarro.

Green, Green, Everywhere Green

2008-03-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

The Green Scene on St. Patrick's Day, CSULB
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Saint Patrick. Does anybody know the true story behind this patron saint's life?? I'll share the bits of what I know—like, how he traveled around Eastern Europe before finally ending up on a tiny island called Ireland, his native country, now where Scotland is; like, how, actually, he lived in southwestern Britain before he was literally carried out of the land by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland; like, how he might've lived to be 120, according to legend; or, according to another legend, how there were no nights for 12 days after his death on March 17, 461—and I'm not sure staying-out-all-night-long, green-fashioned barflies would like that. But then again, I wasn't in bars looking for who was wearing green today. I found plenty of students, faculty and professors looking cute in a festive green all over the Cal State Long Beach campus!

Who are they? (Click photos to enlarge.)

Column No. 1: Economics Professor, Russ Arslan; Ruth Fabela, 24, San Pedro; Friends Allie Russi, 23, from the OC, and Ryan Sharp, 24, from Laguna Hills, both business marking students; Colleen Donnelly, 21, journalism major (the managing editor at the Daily Forty-Niner, in fact).

Column No. 2: Bonnie Shaw, 48, of Cerritos, studying for teaching creditials; Kevin Forest, 25, San Clemente, pyschology student; Kacy Jacobsen, 22, Napa Valley, political science student.

Column No. 3: Bikes!; Allison Baldwin, the design coordinator for the Daily Forty-Niner, 21, journalism student; beautiful green gardens throughout CSULB campus.

Column No.4: Andy Franks, 21, a journalism student and the top news editor for the Daily Forty-Niner; CAPS faculty member, Kirsten Chun.

Substituting an 8th century bishop for a 20th century drunkard—and a German at that

2008-03-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

"It was a joy. Words weren’t dull, words were things that could make your mind hum. If you read them and let yourself feel the magic, you could live without pain, with hope, no matter what happened to you."
Henry Chinaski, Ham On Rye
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How big of a fan of Charles Bukowski are you?

I've read so many of his books and own some of his newer poetry anthologies. I've been to his grave at Green Hills and I live in the town where he died, San Pedro (but, I was born here, so I didn't have a choice; it was just a coincidence that the ol' Buk and I ended up in the same place). Plus, I toured with Esotouric recently!

Bukowski doesn't fit a genre in literature, because it's a lifestyle. I loved reading his books a few summers ago (after I was introduced to John Fante's Ask the Dust) and I loved watching "Barfly." It's a classic movie and it captures L.A. in a way I've never seen before, either with my own eyes or by movie. I definitely recommend you try touring with Esotouric if you're interested in beating your friends out on who's the better fan of Angeleno authors and their history here. Rumor is, they'll be visiting Vroman's in Pasadena this summer, a place where Bukowski was a usual. But if that's too far off, they have trips focused around Raymond Chandler and the Black Dahlia scheduled for pretty soon.

PHOTO: With the Esotouric group on March 9th, celebrating Bukowski's 14th year death anniversay. Here we stand in front of the Reading Room at the downtown L.A. Public Library, where Buk disvored his God, John Fante.

{Visit ESOTOURIC online. Just click HERE.}

Also be sure to visit the library's Special Collections (2nd floor, to right off the elevators) where you can find Gerald Locklin's memoirs on how he got to know the great ol' Buk in "A Sure Bet." Locklin, a retired English professor from Cal State Long Beach, helped me create today's '5 to Try,' which was dedicated to the greatest barfly of all times, Charles Bukowski.

Cheers!

Weekend: LB Museums Celebrate Women

2008-03-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

The University Art Museum invites opera singer Melodee Fernandez for for a special Spanish Operetta (or Zarzuela) performance and discussion tonight from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Click here for the UAM official flyer.

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On Saturday, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., An Afternoon Affair: Women in Contemporary Society, will take place at the Museum of Latin American Art. Two different panels will discuss the role of women in contemporary society and the arts. Various performances will also take place on that day.

Click here to see the official notice on MoLAA's website.

On Sunday the festivities continue when, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., A Women’s Family Festival will take place, offering guests hands-on art workshops as well as the opportunity to enjoy a variety of live performances.

Click here to see MoLAA's official notice.

A Week in Art at Cal State Long Beach

2008-03-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

Smitten with Kelly Nye's Jewelry Food

Consumption, desire and superficiality came together in form of Kelly Nye's pieces, a few tasty-looking, fashionable makings of wool and metals to show just how sweets and accessories bring basic things in life to excess levels. Kelly Nye, the creator of this exhibit, along with her committee members, Susanna Spiera, Carol Shaw-Sutton and Karen Kleinfelder, explained in the show notes, "Food is a staple of daily life. However, sweets are a superfluous part of a meal, an indulgent afterthought giving no real sustenance. They are a luxury craving similar to jewelry is to a wardrobe."

'Green Light' District, It's Tucked Away at the Design Building

Surrealism + Shiny Materials + Worst Nightmares + Light Design = "Green Light Sculptures," Brainy Expressions by Neil Pappone's Design Students! This Lighting and Interior Architecture design class assembled the latest artistic objects on display (or floating) in the glass showcase at the south entrance to the Design Building. This Green Light Sculpture project required students to create fixtures equally strong with beam force to our modern-day bulbs that waste too much of our earth's precious energies. Recycable or renewable materials were used instead to make their sculptures, inspired by their "worst nightmares."

Photos by Barbara Navarro

In Focus: This Week @ the Student Art Galleries

2008-03-04T20:40:00.000-08:00

My highlights for this week's art event at the Student Art Galleries are here! Here's a glimpse to what you must see.

The Circle Painting Project will leave you smudged with paint and with inspiration for communal art. Visit the Max L. Gatov Gallery, where project leader and Cal State Long Beach MFA student Hiep Nguyen sticks to his catchy motto: "Art for All. All for Art." (There's a lot more to this than the picture you see above, but you've got to walk into the gallery for yourself. It will wow you!)

Juicy bits of souvenirs from a trip into a foreign land are nicely lined up in the Max L. Gatov Gallery East for The Cambodian Project's multimedia show, "Art and Social Action 2008." Amazingly, 20 CSULB students traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in January, where, upon encountering the city's schoolchildren, the Long Beach students employed non-verbal communication lesson plans, which helped developed their new young friends' sense of self, relationship to their community, gave some inspiration to dream and, well, helped build this colorful medley of art.

It's more about listening in the Dennis W. Dutzi Gallery, where tiki-esque melodies ride through along the background of this installation. Although I'm not sure of the creators of this art piece, I'm sure that the music sounded as if it was composed by a factory line of workers hitting on pots or banging on rails. Hints of piano interspersed in the layers of this tricky music made room for a whimsical moment of observation. Update: This is Laura Duphily's "fiber works" collection.

On display in the Merlino Gallery, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual (LGBT) Artist Collective "uses interactive installation to explore issues of Freedom and Imprisonment." While I'm not clear on how those precise issues of freedom and imprisonment were translated in this group show, I collected a sense of release in all the artists' works, especially in Robin Anne Lynch's "Eyes Within." In the desriptions of her work, Lynch says that her art pieces, which are horizontal cut-outs of her eyes in multiple technoligically-altered tones, are an "introspective look into the mystical world of a catlike and aloof young artist." I like her spirit.

Dozens of artists are featured in the Marilyn Werby Gallery for the Art Education Student Group Show, "Windows." But I especially enjoyed this "Busy Work" by Lydia Simson. Made of pencil, watercolor and gouache, I think Simson's work is so incandescent and cool that I'll have to visit the galleries one more time to see it, before it's all gone Thursday.

All photos and video by Barbara Navarro.

This week's art event will end on Thursday.

To view higlighlights of last week's art event at the Student Art Galleries, please click here.

Hours for the galleries:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday — 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday — 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Opening receptions for the student art galleries are on Sundays from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

What is the Purpose of Art on Campus?

2008-03-04T08:48:00.000-08:00

What may be one's vision of a knotty, bony collection of metal sticks and tangled angles might be another person's reminder to not focus on the chaos.

I have not learned the creator of this sculpture, nor do I know the name of it. But I'm on my path to finding it out.

Staring at this piece rouses my imagination—on what it might all mean. To explain it may be somewhat complicated, but just imagine me (or all of us) being somewhere in those scrambled lines.

Maybe these are lines that mimic a sick tongue with irregular interlacing layers of muscles, which in their disordered condition cause great immobility.

Maybe this is an empty cell, with only the traces of lines like we see on connect-the-dot games. Once upon a time things were the way they used to (and should) be—membrane and cytoplasm, to organelles and nucleus, to ribosomes, centrioles, peroxisome, vacuoles, and the whole deal.

Yes, maybe there was somebody who saw the logic in the beautiful way birds' feathers and hair and wings follow a pattern, like connecting a huge population of stars into short, romantic phrases—Hydrus and Mensa, Centaurus and Crux. (Find them in the "Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.")

But with motion, nothing, not even the prettiest constellations, stand still. And that may be because we don't stand still. Isn't that somewhat appealing in all its chaos and asymmetry? Maybe the artist thought about that, too. And viola.

The reminder: not to focus too hard. (After all, there's a shower of water next to that McIntosh Humanities Building, always ready to lure you off the deep fixation.) So, just move on.

That is my insight, my interpretation, on this sculpture. It's safe to wonder. It's safe, because, as they say in class sometimes, there are no right or wrong answers.

There are some facts attached to this piece and those answers will be found in the Diversions section of the Daily Forty-Niner soon, so stay in touch. (I'm working on a feature regarding the University Art Museum's unique permanent collection, and these sculptures belong to that collection.)

Do you ever visit the UAM or sit and stare at those steel/concrete/wooden sculptures all over campus? Maybe, you know, just to wonder?

Photos by Barbara Navarro

A Tasty Blend at Surf City Squeeze

2008-03-03T21:12:00.000-08:00

Monday's '5 to Try'...
Surf On Over
Cruise over to Surf City Squeeze at the University Dining Plaza for a thirst-quenching chiller or smoothie.
You're still not sure where or what I meant? Here's a video to remind you...

In the video, Jennifer Lee, 18, a SCQ worker and sociology student of the university, blends my favorite drink: a small smoothie made of strawberry, apple, bee pollen and ginseng. Jennifer shared her favorite drink with me too—the blueberry banana smoothie.

What's your favorite drink at Surf City Squeeze?

'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' was just, well, horrible! (Part 2 of 2)

2008-03-01T12:18:00.000-08:00

After waking up to my neighbor’s loud rock music, reminiscent of that tacky, big-hair rock band music from the “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” some kind of fear started bubbling somewhere inside me.

Fear for my neighbor. Fear for the youth. Fear for the community. Fear for my city.

Where were my next-door neighbors getting the idea to play these songs? Could it be that some new trend was rolling into town?

Oh, no… Could it be… Because of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”????!?

San Pedro: Don't be fooled; this is not a party.

The “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is in its last run tonight at the Warner Grand Theatre, a movie palace imagined by the original Warner Brothers to bring great film into this great little town by the port, San Pedro. But, really, the theatre’s not for brining something as low-class, raunchy “Rocky Horror Picture Show” paired with live performances by the amateur Midnight Insanity.

When I picked up the Midnight Insanity’s news release a month ago about them being kicked out of the Long Beach Queen Mary, I could sense in their words how set they were with showing at the Warner Grand, where they were booked to continue for at least three weeks. They were calling it “opulent” and an “even more spectacular home” than the Royal Theatre abroad the Queen Mary. Clearly, the performance troupe was swept off its feet with the Warner Grand. And who wouldn’t be? The theatre’s like a sparkly refined turquoise stone found in the pale, run-down downtown area where it is its home.

I found clues behind the departure of Midnight Insanity from the Warner Grand in this week’s The District. They were announcing the Warner Grand show. But I liked the darker side better—the part about why the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" should not be showing at all in San Pedro. I’m happy to share the details here:

“Certain members of the San Pedro City Council are apparently concerned that the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' crowd is too rowdy, and could cause rioting in the streets. ... So, as of now, the show's run is scheduled to end Saturday, and there's not much the fans can do about it but cross their fingers and hope Midnight Insanity troupe can find a new place to do the Time Warp again.”

I can give more insight. While I’m not convinced that the “Rocky” crowd would cause a riot anywhere, I do think that their wardrobes scream mistake, and that they collectively smell like a porn shop video room, and that they shout at the movie screen yelling “Slut!,” “Whore!,” “Jerk!” at the most inappropriate moments, which is so annoying when all you want to do is watch the movie. The troupe itself manages to stroll in with glittery props, like their costumes and other giant, gleaming objects they bring out on the stage (though, not that giant pillow penis). But I’m not sure they take their mimicking jobs so serious—if you had to watch their bellies flap all over the stage for two hours long, you’d think the same.

This is how things die.

I didn’t get it, Midnight Insanity. I didn’t get your dozen “rule number twos.” You adulterated my Saturday night when I first visited you back at the Royal Theater for your last show there. And I hope that your last show at the Warner Grand is tonight.

No more Time Warp!

Photos by Barbara Navarro.

***To read part 1, please click here.

Student Gallery Show to NOT Miss

2008-02-28T13:10:00.000-08:00

A talented group of 14 students camped out at the deserted Salton Sea recently. (The story behind that city is: basically, it flooded some time in the 50s and the people of the town just picked up and left.) They snaped photos, roasted marshmellows over the campfire, sang songs and even contructed a tin man out of cardboard, if that makes sense. Anyway, they had a lot of fun doing it and in the process created art. Their show "Desert Escapade" is on view for its final day at the Gatov Gallery close to the Fine Art Buildings.

Left: Gaby Roth's fish sculpture is the prettiest piece in the collection. I loved it. I Right: Rebecca Kosturko's high-gloss photography captured her artist-mates in a good light.

Left: Photographer Tori Puente stands next to her b&w portraits of the Salton Sea. I Right: Paul Sargeant's Box Man guards Paul Sargeant's photos of the Box Man.

Left: Paul Sargeant's Polaroid up close with the Box Man's legs. I Center: Michelle Bongirno combined earth, color and technology in this subtle collection of photos. I Right: Vishal Goklani's installation made me want to crawl in for a nap. I wanted to, and there is a sign that welcomes you to do that, too. But... I wasn't too sure of where those blankets came from or what all that mess was on the side of the bed or even if there was a mattress underneath.

Photos and videos by Barbara Navarro.

The Artists Showing their Work in "Desert Escapade":

Michelle Bongirno I Vishal Goklani I Kat Halsey I Spencer Harding I Eric Herbranson I Rebecca Kosturko I Alba Lucas I Tori Puente I Leanne Roberson I Gaby Roth I Marco Sanchez I Paul Sargeant I Chris Smith I John Takahashi

CSULB Votes Right for the Oscar 'Best Film'

2008-02-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

Pictures from the Internet.

UPDATE: A part-time professor at CSULB and full-time feature writer for the OC Register, Peter Larsen was absorbed in the Oscar event last night. Read his article by clicking here.

The question, simply, was: Who will take the Oscar statue for Best Picture?

Poll results said:
"Atonement": 11% or 1 vote
"Juno": 33% or 3 votes
"Michael Clayton": 0% or no votes
"No Country for Old Men": 44% or 4 votes
"There Will Be Blood": 11% or 1 vote

Cal State Long Beach voted right. Exciting!

"No Country for Old Men" picked up the award for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem) and Best Director, the brother duo Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.

To view the list of winners of tonight's extravagant 80th annual Academy Awards, visit the Los Angeles Times.

Below is my favorite femme of the night, Marion Cotillard, who won Best Actress for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in "La Vie En Rose." My second favorite femme, Diablo Cody, won the Oscar award for Best Original Screenplay for her work on "Juno."

Video by Barbara Navarro.

Did you watch the Oscars? What was your favorite win?

The Oscar Gold Gleams at Sprinkles

2008-02-23T16:25:00.000-08:00

All photos and video by Barbara Navarro.

After a full year of watching (or not watching) great movies and living through the hurly-burly of the writers' strike, we've finally made it to the day before the Oscars. With all this, I was especially delighted to hear about Sprinkles Cupcakes' Red Carpet flavor and hurried over to the Bevely Hills hotspot for my sweetest, non-celebrity way to celebrate the Oscars. I'll be looking forward to seeing James McAvoy and Keiry Knightley, the stars of "Atonement;" Jason Reitman, Diablo Cody and Ellen Page, the director, fierce screenwriter and star of "Juno;" and Marion Cotillard, the great actress from "La Vie En Rose."

For a full list of the categories and nominees, please visit the offical Oscars website.

Also, you can vote for your favorite movie in my first ever poll (find it on the right). The question is: Who will take the Oscar statue for Best Picture? *Update: Polling is over. Read about the results.*

(To get your own batch of cupcakes, and perhaps somewhere way more local, read my previous post on Frosted Cupcakery by clicking here.)

Who are you mostly looking forward to seeing at tomorrow's 80th Annual Academy Awards ceremony?

I Am What I Read

2008-02-23T14:15:00.000-08:00

Whenever I return to Book Soup on Sunset, the rejuvenation process for me pushes fast forward. I love this place, inside and out (literally!). There's an outside area that houses a wealth of magazines that I constantly return to. They're stocked with anything from local tastemakers to rare international rags. Inside is just as pleasing, with tall, black bookshelves filled with all the newest, glossiest books. And, as funny as this may sound, I really dig their bathroom. The floor squeaks in there and it sounds just right; the lighting, bright and perfect; and the walls are decorated with blue, bubbly graffiti. I love the filth. Just love it.

To further celebrate my admiration of those ubiquitous magazine stands I love so much, I've chronicled a picture collection of all of my favorite magazines (and other reads). These are the publications that I love, and I strongly recommend you pick them up and read them, too!

1 - Anthem Magazine

I've been obsessed with Anthem Magazine for about a year or two (their aesthetic is so clean and modern), and more recently I've been even more obsessed with their editor-in-chief, Dustin Beatty (who is so cute and actually a CSULB grad). I definitely recommend checking out their newly re-launched website, where the mag's featuring Comme des Garçons and the Liars as an online exclusive. (Dustin blogs quite frequently on there, too!)

2 - My high-fashion amassment of girly mags.

Hot to hottest: Michelle Williams on the cover of Interview; Mandy "Candy" Moore on TeenVogue; Natalie Portman, Allure; La Lohan on Elle; and some fabulous Katie Holmes-looking supermodel on Harper's Bazaar.

3 - The everyday stuff.
a. b. c.

a. Oooh... I only buy the LA Times when I know an Image section is included. I'm into their Calendar, Arts & Music and Travel sections, too. But something about Image clicks with me on an entirely different level. b. Metromix is a new raggy weekly that I found in LA just yesterday. I was very pleased with the abbreviated bits of articles in there, mostly because they were short enough for me to read while in traffic. c. Celine, Kerouac and Plath. Currently, bedside. There's always a space for Bukowski and Fante, Levertov, Neruda and Octavio Paz, too.

My infatuation with book stores and books themselves is true. Click here to visit my story on Long Beach's Acres of Books, which appeared in the Daily Forty-Niner on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008.

All photos and video by Barbara Navarro.

So, what do you read?

Retired Material

2008-02-22T20:32:00.000-08:00

Considered Connoisseur: From Feb. 4 to Feb. 21
Many of us say we’re passionate about music, fashion, film and art. But how many of us can truly call ourselves compassionate admirers? At least one CSULB student cares… It’s Melissa Tanney, the newly named arts commissioner for the Associated Student, Inc. Tanney says that her main objective is to raise the attendance of the various art events on campus this semester. This school has one of the most diverse student bodies in the US and that, says Tanney, should make things interesting. Tanney currently lives in Riverside, is an English major with a concentration in creative writing, recalls Thomas Woodruff’s show at the University Art Museum her favorite of the fall season, and she belly dances.
Photo by Barbara Navarro.

'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' was just, well, horrible! (Part 1 of 2)

2008-02-20T12:22:00.000-08:00

Attending the last performance of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Queen Mary two weeks ago was such a dreadful process! The initial appeal was irresistible as Kristen, the diversions editor, and I debated back and forth for days why this would be the show to attend out of the rest and whether it would be her or I to report on this last-show hurrah.

The reasons to attend suddenly became more obvious, and I (unfortunately) ended up going.

For one, I thought, this would be the last show put on at the Queen Mary, since, according to press releases, the Queen Mary’s management suddenly and “without cause” terminated all rights for the performance troupe, Midnight Insanity, to continue its residence at the Royal Theater. The logic there was simple.

And, secondly, my interest to seeing this show peeked when I read that the troupe would be heading next to the Warner Grand across the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, my hometown.

But since attending the show, I can’t help but question Kristen’s, or anybody’s entertainment tastes when they tell me they’re into this “Rocky Horror” cult phenomenon. Kristen, I should point out, added extra sentiment to the bizarre performance by telling me a romantic story about her parents’ fantastical moments of dancing and singing with kooky cast members, all while her parents fell in love and eventually married. She, too, has a sweet spot for these shows.

The evening at the Queen Mary for this 1,127th performance show started off, well, rocky. As my friends noted, it all started going downhill the moment I asked for the coat-check closet.

Things like that just didn’t exist in places like this. And in fact, my friends and I were obviously overdressed for a night that had temperatures dipping into the 40s. We wore dark slacks and long-sleeved shirts while every other girl (the great majority the unattractive size of Beth Ditto) wore fishnet stockings and bustiers four sizes too small.

Story to be continued...

As bad as it looks! The video and photo above shows Riff Raff directing "Rocky" virgins in their inaugural dance.

Dr. Frank-N-Furter plays with his own special "boy toy" Rocky in these pictures. In the picture on the left, you can see Janet ("Slut!") stranded awkwardly to the side.

Only certain people were clued in as to what happened during the Time Warp.

All photos and video by Barbara Navarro.

My Songs for Valentine's

2008-02-18T15:46:00.000-08:00

All photos taken from the Internet.

I rehearse in the shower and train in front of the mirror. But if I had a honey bunny for Valentine's I would keep those lyrics nearer.

Here are just a few of the songs that always inspire romance for me...

1 - Bjork, "Venus as a Boy"
2 - French Kicks, "Oh Fine" or "Close to Modern"
3 - Interpol, "The Specialist" or "Song Seven"
4 - Prince, "Pink Cashmere"
5 - Sigur Rós, "Glósóli"
6 - Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions, "On the Low"
7 - Bebel Gilberto, "Samba da Benção"

Valentine's is almost everyday for us romantic types. ;)

Valentine's Song List by the Daily Forty-Niner Editors

2008-02-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

It's been known that art and eros have been flirting for a long time. In fact, some studies have observed this phenomenon, how increased music experiences reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. The equation is then simple: more good music equals better health equals greater chances of enjoying life, being positive and finding romances.

Here at the Daily Forty-Niner, I went on a search to discover what puts my fellow editors into that romantic mood. And I discovered that most of the editors won't be singing the blues for Valentine's, even if, like Abbey Mastracco admitted, romance isn't exactly a part of their vocabulary. Even editor-in-chief Bradley Zint was stumped on what to pick for a romantic evening, but he was sure that he liked Beethoven anytime.

Chay Chhuon surprised me the most when he answered back with lyrics of his favorite Vanessa Williams track, "The Way That You Love." "It's more than emotion/ Lets keep this fire going/ Now we are lost inside our love/ Sweet surrender so tender." Woo! That's the spirit!

Here is a list of some of the other editors' favorite songs for Valentine's Day...

Kristen Crawford's picks: "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye; "I'll Stand By You" by The Pretenders; "Love Song" by The Cure.

Stephanie Minasian's pick: "Helplessly, Hopelessly" by Jessica Andrews.

Ann Austria's picks: "You and Me" by Lifehouse; "This I Promise You" by N'Sync.

Duke Rescola's pick: "I Love You, Baby" by Frankie Valli.

Erin McKenzie's pick: "Shelter" by Ray LaMontagne.

Niki Payne's pick: "More than Words" by Extreme.

Now, what's your favorite Valentine tunes? My picks will be posted on here tomorrow, so come back for some more inspiration. ;)

And the Grammy goes to...

2008-02-10T23:14:00.000-08:00

Amy Winehouse has just won the Grammy for best record. You can see her in the video below. (No sound, sorry!)

Video by Barbara Navarro.

Any thoughts?

This Week with Barbara

2008-02-09T20:54:00.000-08:00

1. 2. 3.
Photos taken from the Internet.

My revised budget philosophy: go for what's free, but of course looks good.

1. We Barbarians will be performing a string of Monday nights at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa for free. I've just discovered these men, but I really like what I hear. I recommend listening to their grungy/edgy "Yesmen and Bumsukers." Whatever that title means, I'm not sure. The lyrics are equally ambiguous. Still like it.

2. Anaïs Nin, ooh! Erotic, poetic and woman. The Hammer Museum will be celebrating this writer on Tuesday. It's a free event with Nin's friends as the speakers, actually.

3. "Atonement" is the most beautiful movie in theaters right now. I am going to indulge replaying my favorite YouTube clip and you should, too. James McAvoy is the most beautiful man in England.

What's your budget philosophy when it comes to going out?

New Details on Jewish Film Festival

2008-02-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

For those of you who plan to attend the Jewish Film Festival on campus this weekend, I've got new details about Sunday's line-up. The program’s continuation on Sunday will include one special 18-minute short by Tiffany Shlain called “The Tribe.” This insightful short gained her a "Women Shaping the 21st Century" honor by Newsweek. "The Tribe," a movie that studies the historical relation between Barbie and Jewish people, was the most-downloaded film on iTunes at one point. See her on YouTube: She discusses her filmmaking on a Sundance program; here's the trailer for "The Tribe" (a lot of Barbie dolls); and Shlain found the Webby Award, so watch her here.

Celebrating Film and Culture

2008-02-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

A two-day Jewish Film Festival will go underway this weekend at the University Theater. The event, which is co-sponsored by a number of Jewish cultural groups in the Long Beach community along with the school’s Jewish Studies Program, does not have a theme, but will focus on films of intimate personal dramas.

The line-up includes a range of independent films that are otherwise hard to miss, commented the festival organizer Jeffrey Blutinger, who is also the co-director of Cal State Long Beach’s Jewish Studies Program. The films have more to do with dynamic family relationships and have “very little engagement with politics,” he said.

This is the third year the Jewish Film Festival returns to CSULB by popular demand, Blutinger said. “These are terrific films. This is a chance for community, faculty and students to see modern Jewish life in vibrant and exciting ways.”

The first film, “Three Mothers,” will show Saturday evening at 7. The film is about Egyptian-Jewish triplet sisters who are in the midst of beginning their new lives in a modern Israel society.

“Souvenirs,” “Sweet Mud,” and Paul Verhoeven’s “Black Book” will conclude the festival on Sunday; the films will screen at 10a.m., 2p.m. and 6p.m., respectively.

Admission is $10 to attend an individual film or $36 for a festival pass to all the films.

The Considered Connoisseur of the moment said...
“Exploring the world through the eyes of another, especially in this medium, is invaluable. This film festival will offer me a cinematic look into part of my own heritage.” (Said Melissa Tanney, the Arts Commissioner for ASI, of the festival.)

Flyer images courtesy of Jeffrey Blutinger, from the CSULB Jewish Studies Program.

Coming Attraction: Collecting Collections

2008-02-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

While I realize that none of the art pieces from MOCA's upcoming "Collecting Collections" exhibit come from one of my favorite exhibits in recent years ("WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution"), I know they'll have plenty of great pieces to show off, especially with the competing BCAM $56-million gallery opening across town at LACMA.

Here's a photomontage from "Wack!":

Photomontage by Martha Rosler, Nature Girls (Jumping Janes), from the series Body Beautiful or Body Knows No Pain, 1966-72. Courtesy of the artist via MOCA.

Please be sure to read today's review in the Daily Forty-Niner on the retiring exhibit at MOCA Contemporary, © MURAKAMI, by clicking here. (It's writer Steven Sabetti's observation on Takashi Murakami's wearable, and rather ostentatious, art.)

What's been your favorite exhibit at MOCA?

47O6: Year of the Rat

2008-02-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

The Year of the Rat has come! In places all over the world today people are celebrating the Lunar New Year (better known as the Chinese New Year) in several exciting ways. From Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing, to London and Los Angeles, there will be red envelopes passed out, dumplings served and tangerines at the table.

Image taken from the Internet.

Locally...

One vibrant Vietnamese community, Westminster's Little Saigon, is known for its elaborate celebrations during this time—dragon parades and all.

Go to their Tet Parade 2008 on Saturday.
Capture their culinary spirit here anytime.

One Art

2008-02-05T18:52:00.000-08:00

Bigger picture: Installation view of Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas at MOCA Pacific Design Center, 2007, photo by Brian Forrest . Small Picture: Please click on pictures for credits.

Some people thwart the election process altogether. Their excuse is that politics are boring or whatever. But once upon a time there were everyday people who included style into everything they did, including their participation with politics, and they were, consequently, certainly getting noticed. That trend followed an ideal of being “one with the rest of them.” But it also gave people something to stand for and a way to have a voice. It wasn’t about whether they were doing it all wrong or doing it all right. It was a matter of whether they were doing it at all.

One man put his focus on the art and the messages he was sending out. It was his one main tool for communicating then, and today it’s the center of appreciation at the MOCA Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

It was during the 60s and 70s when Emory Douglas came to the forefront of dramatic, revolutionary politics with the Black Panther Party. Douglas was appointed the minister of culture and prolifically strung together collection after collection of collages that were equally explosive in their verbal arguments as in their visual themes.

Douglas was, to put it simply, a sort of Bertrand Langeron of his crew. Employing image-recycling, cartooning and his colorfully distinct illustration style, he contributed to a bigger vision.

I find this kind of artwork conveniently inspiring for this Super Tuesday. Douglas’s work, more specifically, provokes some kind of dialogue within me that I’m not sure I’ve experienced before.
We’re living in a generation that’s perpetually stimulated by what the eye sees, but I’ve concluded that there isn’t so much of an awareness or interest to details.

There is no emotion or spirit or excitement in the major political campaigns running for office today. “Image” or identity is not anything more than just a name; they are brands.

When will there be another Emory Douglas in our world of politics today?

Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas is showing through Feb. 24 at the MOCA Pacific Design Center.

Museum Guide

2008-02-04T19:07:00.000-08:00

Marta Minujín (Argentina, b.1943), "Plataia," 1988 Painted plaster and styrofoam, 96 x 84 x 84 in. (7 pieces)

My guide to local museums is coming soon!

Super Women at the Super Bowl XLII!

2008-02-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

Videos by Barbara Navarro.

Oh, no audio, but just imagine a soulful medley by Alicia Keys and an acrobatic performance by Paula Abdul accomplished only through lipsynching. Both women rocked the pre-show, however.

What are you most excited about for Super Bowl XLII?

It's the Time of the Season: Strawberry Cupcakes!

2008-02-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

Photos by Barbara Navarro. Yum!

Visit Long Beach's best cupcakery, Frosted Cupcakery, for all these sweet cupcakes and more. ;)

The Scene @ OCMA Tonight

2008-02-02T22:32:00.000-08:00

Notes on the crowd: An intimate gathering, overall. There were about 200 guests, tops, half and half of young and old; a comfy mix. Strangely, no programs were available, but management at OCMA allowed all the photography guests wanted, which is also rare and special when it happens. I'm very convinced I saw LA artist Mark Bradford in attendance, only with eyeliner and a polished suit. (He can't hide being so leggy at 7-feet tall. It must've been him!) The music was smooth (a DJ was spinning throughout the event in the main room where Martin Kersels' "Trouble Room" is installed). Hors d'oeuvre were served and Shirley Temples were only $1 (and tasty) at the cash bar.

Notes on the exhibit: Something about the new show ("Disorderly Conduct: Recent Art in Tumultuous Times") felt unfairly fussy. Perhaps that is the goal, hence the name. So, yes, it was appealing in a wacky, playful, artist-plays-the-whimsy-psychologist manner. I'd also return to get a closer glimpse of another show called "Art Since the 1960s: California Experiments." Above is a video of artist Mike Kelley's "Gospel Rocket."

OCMA's "Disorderly Conduct: Recent Art in Tumultuous Times" opens Sunday, Feb. 3.

Videos by Barbara Navarro.

Barbara's Weekend List

2008-02-01T18:42:00.000-08:00

1. 2. 3.

Photo Credits 1.-ART STAR: Robin Rhode, Color Chart, 2004-06, digital animation, 4:50 minutes; Orange County Museum of Art; 2-A TIME TO BE SO BIG: Louis Leplee (Gerard Depardieu), Edith Piaf (Marion Cotillard) and Momone (Sylvie Testud); Photo by Bruno Calvo; 3-AUTUMN BLOSSOMS IN SPRING; Photo via Darla Baker

This first week of classes: so overwhelming. While I recommend a lot of sleep to all of you, there are still so many more things to do. Here is my little list of what's happening.

1.
Global chaos and disorder are examined in a vast collection by various artist at the Orange County Museum of Art for their newest exhibit, "Disorderly Conduct: Recent Art in Tumultuous Times." Their opening reception is Saturday night, Feb. 2, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Expect to leave all sense of balance at the check-in door. From all the press material I've seen, it's looking to be a show that'll tilt your perception.

2.
"La Vie en Rose" is a beautiful film. This movie, from the very beginning, does an interesting hopscotch around Edith Piaf's life-map. Her emotions, history, pain and spotlight alike, were all so colossal and great and at the same time surprisingly low, it was so interesting to meet this woman from another era in today’s time through Marion Cotillard’s fine performance as the legend. I recommend you rent the DVD and watch this Olivier Dahan masterpiece with all the lights out. (This movie has a dark tone.) I also recommend you read Marion Cotillard’s interview with Newsweek, a piece that came out about a week after her grand Oscar nom for her act in “Rose.”

3.
Whether you're into Yohji Yamamoto or YSL, or simply "Project Runway," you've gotta know: the New York Fashion Week is officially on, starting Friday! I look forward to seeing what's ringing for fall season and I wonder who will give better coverage—The Moment or Teri Agins at the Wall Street Journal? But I'm almost more interested in seeing who is featuring American supermodel Darla Baker. (I've been following her career since her time on MySpace, a long time ago now. But her stardom on the catwalk has been so demanding she's disappeared from cyberland, maybe indefinitely.) Autumn is my favorite season, so I'm always excited to see what will be the trends later on.

What are you doing this weekend?

Hello to the readers...

2008-01-23T20:20:00.000-08:00

Hello again to the CSULB world! I'm Barbara Navarro, the new assistant editor of the diversions section at the school’s daily paper, the Daily Forty-Niner. There are so many exciting things on the horizon for this spring semester that's ahead.

If you've picked up the Daily Forty-Niner newspaper, already you've noticed the sparkling new design. The diversions section, specifically, has been upgraded in a number of ways. And now that I'm blogging, it opens the door for better communication with all of our diversions readers. Hare a few of the things you should look out for:

5 TO TRY: This new feature, created by design coordinator Allison Baldwin, will be updated every day the newspaper's out. And, because I write pretty much the bulk of them, I'll be posting them here, too.
CONSIDERED CONNOISSEUR: This blog-exclusive feature will highlight somebody new every two weeks to a month. It's my way to introduce to my readers people who are unique and important and intriguing to this ever-expanding Long Beach orb, regardless if they're found on campus or in the community that surrounds us.
EXCLUSIVE MULTIMEDIA AND GUIDES: I'll be keeping you updating on what to do and where to go. If I ever have extra footage, my pictures, videos and other content that won’t make it to the newspaper will most likely meet its time in the limelight here.

Ooh, spring... So many good things ahead. ;)
Barbara / asstdiversionsd49er@gmail.com