Wallpaper like WOW!

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

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

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

"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

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?