Weekend: LB Museums Celebrate Women

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

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

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

1.

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!)

2.

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.

3.

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.

4.

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.

5.

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?

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

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)

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

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'

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

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

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

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)

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

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. ;)