TigerHawk

Downtown L.A's Art Walk..a must do!!

Summer is in full swing and many exciting fun events to take our minds off the political and economic issues.In fact , we here suspect a corporate conspiracy in L.A where everyplace presents FREE Live music and entertainment.Is this a sophisticated social'pressure-cooker valve like Trinidad and Brazil where Carnival gives the favela and Laventille denizens fantasies of rulership and equality?As a San Francisco conspiracy researcher says, food for thought, grounds for further research.We will add the list of happenings here as confirmed .We never want to let a good,Free party go to waste.

Talking about parties,yesterday, the second Thursday of the month, we here experienced a fun and surprising L.A street Party going on.The venue is the hard-core Down-town Los Angeles which in recent years was deemed 'skid row'.The wonders of developer tax abatements and gentrification. Buildings formerly closed and disrespected, now have a face-lift and sport the lease ads for 'Lofts'.Many so-called hipsters now navigate their canine companions through streets formerly deemed a Demilitarized Zone, fit only for armed LAPD and their worthy criminal nemeses.More lights, new restaurants,more 'Public Safety'personnel on bicycles.Look Pops, I can walk the streets with no mace!

These very refurbished concrete towers now house a generation of Art galleries.Yesterday was the monthly L.A Arts Walk. We had a blast.50 plus galleries open their doors to the uninitiated and connoisseurs alike to sample the global cutting edge  art, particularly Digital Art.

Artists of Impact

We viewed a lot of art, particularly in early afternoon to beat the after 7 p.m wine guzzling party set.A few we decide to mention for their deliberate use of art as a tool of social and political empowerment.After all , we are TigerHawk.Synchronicity was as often in play.A few years back we met a gentleman at Barnsdall Art Park who demonstrated a European-made camera-phone , which he used to create digital video .He was since flown to Paris to represent Los Angeles' Digital Art community. Yesterday that gentleman Rex Bruce was in the curator seat of The Los Angeles Center for Digital Art,as we entered his 5th street gallery.There was a vague recognition which became concrete with salutations all around.After a few years we finally got to his place. 'Limbo' was the theme of featured artist Hector Mata.Embracing Catholic ideas of displaced souls, Mata digitally photographed the marks of the US/Mexico border and numerous items left in the Arizona desert by Mexican migrants attempting the dangerous trek northbound.Mata's intention is laudable:To put a human aspect to the faceless travellers whose precious belongings are clues and evidence of their individual efforts.We spoke briefly to Peruvian Mata and he explained that he took 2 years and much miles to research and document these stories. A bald-headed man of intense energy, he definitely saw the art as a vehicle to raise awareness to this contemporary South West narrative.

By this time a mysterious very red-headed woman in white shorts and a toy-like camera,became our walking companion along L.A's streets. We  first crossed here path at Bert Green Fine Art Gallery at corner of 5th and Main streets.Bert Green is the director/curator.The artist we most viewed was Barron Storey.A series of illustrations almost comic book like featured 'Çard-board Zombies who come for our Piggy Bank'.A comment on the on-going economic melt-down and its human/social dislocations.A sober and attention-grabbing series of frames.Our red-head fellow traveller whom we call Ms.R accompanied us to the new Rowan Gallery.Here we met painter Andrew Cortes and his photographer brother David.The bed products firm HUG for Home Urban Gear had contracted Andrew to design their bed linen and such. Senor Cortes, a slim and pleasant student of Cal State University Long Beach impressed us. Unpretentious and open , he reflected his layered paintings and their depth.Brother David was there to assist and network.Ms.R having lived in Prague,Czech Republic was impressed with Korean-American Kate Hers who did a video work in German with English subtitles.Kate signed a contract in German to only communicate in german while in Berlin for a stipulated period.The subject of the displayed video.Ms.Hers was presented at the Compact Space on 6th st.

Robert Vargas uses Charcoal

It was nearing 6.30 p.m and we had promised our friend Robert Vargas who had earlier co-incidentally' walked by, to return to his charcoal portrait session.Robert is a special person.He once sketched TigerHawk using charcoal at the counter of a trendy Los Feliz eatery and got numerous paid requests for same.A former Conga Room music booking agent, Mr.Vargas is a major force in Los Angeles' exposure to World music the past 15 so years.Of Lakota heritage,Robert is a powerful and mesmerizing persona .Robert was surrounded by a crowd, more than half women as he sketched a sitting lady. On his hands and knees several persons were amazed by his accurate portrayals in charcoal , including Ms.R. While a three piece rock/reggae band and DJ performed.

As the evening moved on  Robert captivated more sitting models, male and female, including TigerHawk once more.the crowd grew larger , coming from Main St now promoted as 'The Old Bank District'. The streets took on a Carnival vibe with dancing in response to the DJ playing Michael Jackson, James Brown and other funky tracks.All the galleries were packed, all hot and much0 vino.The office crowd showed up and the traffic reflected L.A's multi-cultural mix.Many Asians,Whites,tourists,Latins.Formerly skid-row street mainly showed black and some brown faces. Restaurants with their side walks patrons were packed.Were we really in Los Angeles? Or in Europe ?It all seemed so surreal.

Over a late night dinner,which Robert generously sponsored, the multi-talented man revealed the social and politcal dynamics of the new art scene in downtown Los Angeles,where he has lived for 5 years.Suddenly, the link between his physical hard work on his knees and the street poor and working classes became clear.Mr.Vargas was making a powerful statement of 'Walking the Walk' by example.Work, physical demanding work is his life.We here say to Senor Vargas...Saludos y Mucho Gusto.(Subscribe to the RSS feeds for updates).

TigerHawk Music BONUS...Our Summer 2009 Artist Pick...Maxwell!!...He's Back Y'ÁLL

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