Green Galactic PR » Westside

Bottom Floor Welcomes Kai Alcé to Bar Pico 6/30/11 [Santa Monica]

lynn-hasty — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:37:07 +0000

Bottom Floor, the West Side’s champion of the deep house sound, will treat Los Angeles to a rare appearance by the revered Atlanta-based-but-Detroit-rooted DJ and producer Kai Alcé on Thursday, June 30, 2011 from 9:00pm to 2:00am at Bar Pico in Santa Monica. The date will mark the completion of six months of weekly events for Bottom Floor and the transition to a series of monthly events featuring out-of-town guests. Bottom Floor creator and resident DJ Morgan Alexander will also DJ.

For Immediate Release: May 31, 2011

Bottom Floor Welcomes Special Guest DJ Kai Alcé
To Bar Pico in Santa Monica
Thursday, June 30, 2011

SANTA MONICA, CA – Bottom Floor, the West Side’s champion of the deep house sound, will treat Los Angeles to a rare appearance by the revered Atlanta-based-but-Detroit-rooted DJ and producer Kai Alcé on Thursday, June 30, 2011 from 9:00pm to 2:00am at Bar Pico in Santa Monica. The date will mark the completion of six months of weekly events for Bottom Floor and the transition to a series of monthly events featuring out-of-town guests. Bottom Floor creator and resident DJ Morgan Alexander will also DJ. Bar Pico is located at 2819 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend. The entrance fee for this event is $10. For more information, please visit www.thebottomfloor.com.

Ratcheting up the uniqueness of the occasion, is the fact that Alcé has not performed in Los Angeles in over 10 years. “I’ve been working at least one of Kai’s records into my set each week, so he was right up top when I thought about who to bring in for our 25th event and to kick off the ‘Bottom Floor Welcomes…’ series. So many of his productions truly embody the sound I’m attempting to showcase here,” says Founder Alexander.

Alcé’s formidable string of productions on highly regarded labels such as Moodymann’s Mahogani Music, Omar S’ FXHE Records, and Brett Dancer’s Track Mode Recordings, have long elicited a knowing nod between DJs and fans favoring a mature and sophisticated set of house music. His start at Detroit’s now infamous Music Institute – first as a 16 year old coat check and then working his way up to running the lights – achieves fairytale status by the fact that his time there was initiated by distant cousin and house music luminary, Chez Damier. Alcé has the distinction and good fortune of being the only other person present in the DJ booth, while working the lights during Derrick May’s 3AM set on the final night of the club’s operation. His participation in such a seminal time and place for dance music, led to Alcé curating a series of 12” releases, coinciding with the Music Institute’s 20th anniversary. The 3rd installment just dropped during Detroit’s Movement Electronic Music Festival over Memorial Day Weekend.

NDATL, Alcé’s own label – named for his hometown influences of New York, Detroit, and Atlanta – has projects slated for 2011 from the likes of Patrice Scott, Brett Dancer, Chez Damier, Alton Miller, Apple Jac, Roland Clark, Jovonn, Omar S, MK, Abacus, Theo Parrish, Loosefingers (Larry Heard), Azulu Phantom, Phil Asher, Damon Lamar, Robert Owens, and of course Alcé himself.

Since its inception, Bottom Floor has hosted weekly guest DJs, including numerous appearances by LA heroes John Tejada (Palette Recordings), Santiago Salazar (Planet E), DJ Dex (Underground Resistance), and Lars Behrenroth (Deeper Shades of House), each delivering on the request to explore the deeper side of their record collections.

Also along for the ride, is electronic dance music community based nonprofit NextAid. Proceeds from the modest door fee benefit their ongoing projects to provide sustainable relief to vulnerable children and youth in Africa. For more information, please visit www.nextaid.org.

Kai Alcé (from a review/bio posted on NDATL.com) –
Observing the crowd from a dark corner in one of Atlanta’s premier Saturday night hot spots, a tangible fever suddenly permeates the dancing bodies. The origin of the change in the texture of the evening is understood: DJ Kai Alcé has stepped up to the decks. Positioned behind the tables, Alcé wields the mesmerizing powers of music upon the club-goers and sends them in to a trance of deep house rhythms. Whether his innate ability to elevate the souls of the people stems from his Haitian roots or his extensive house-related upbringing is a question most easily answered as a well-blended cocktail of the two.

Born in New York, Kai Yuri Alcé spent his early years on the island of St. Croix amidst the sounds of the Caribbean. His parents moved back to NY just in time for young Kai to experience the birth of hip-hop, a movement he associates with the beginning of his relationship with music independent of that of his parents. While seeing Kurtis Blow perform at a nearby school may indeed have influenced him to delve further into what was slowly becoming his passion, the strains of his Mother’s soca and his Father’s jazz can still be heard in the tracks Kai spins today. Still, as a true child of the ’70s this DJ’s penchant for airy vocals and soulful sounds exposes his disco roots.

After moving to Detroit in 1980 Kai began listening to ‘Electrifying Mojo’ on the radio, as well as The Wizard AKA Jeff Mills. When the ‘Music Institute’ opened in Detroit in 1987, it quickly became the city’s premier underground dance music location. Kai began working there at the age of 16 and subsequently witnessed the evolution of house alongside its most formidable DJs: Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, D. Wynn, Alton Miller, and kin Chez Damier. Among the benefits of working at the club was Kai’s easy access to the studios as they created such hits as Innercity’s “Goodlife” and Rhythim is Rhythim’s “It Is What It Is.” Surround by such mastery one can’t help but be inspired.

After completing high school, Kai moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College. Having maintained contact with relatives in Florida, he was prepared for the obscurity of the house scene in Atlanta. Whether out of saintly benevolence or mere concern for his own sanity, Kai set out to cultivate it. He began spinning at Club Velvet while still attending college, and it was simply a matter of time before he had set the vibe at Atlanta’s Traxx, Kaya, 688 Madhouse, Oxygen, Nomenclature, and Ying Yang music café, which paved the way for people such as India Arie, and Donnie. He now is the main resident at DEEP: Saturday nights at world famous MJQ concourse, which is now in its sixth year, hosting the likes of Phil Asher, Tedd Patterson, Jovonn, and King Britt to name a few. It was at the latter that he decided to solidify a direct link between the South and D-town roots by creating “Deep Detroit House Sessions.” So far Alcé has hosted the likes of Chez Damier, Alton Miller, Brett Dancer, Moodymann, Mike Huckaby, and Theo Parrish. The success of these parties is acknowledged not only by the crowd, but also by the DJs themselves, who often ask to come again soon. To learn more, please visit www.kaialce.com.

Morgan Alexander –
Morgan Alexander began building a sonic home in house music in the early nineties. Career highlights include a residency with LIFE, Boston’s largest deep house night, traveling with Mountain Dew’s entertainment presence for the X Games, regular features on the West Coast, and hosting “Wednesday Revolutions,” the deep installment of Boston’s revered electronic dance music show on WERS 88.9FM. Alexander volunteers a healthy portion of his time to a board appointment with NextAid – the dance music community’s response to helping vulnerable children and youth in Africa. 2011 finds him very much at home in sunny Santa Monica, producing Bottom Floor. The venture, formed with Halo of CityDeep Music, provides a multi-faceted platform for DJs and producers prolific in their ability to squeeze soul out of machines – www.soulmusement.com.

NextAid –
NextAid is a Los Angeles-based humanitarian nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of music to support sustainable development projects that serve vulnerable children, youth and women in Africa. Through music events and public education initiatives, NextAid provides empowering opportunities for concerned individuals to make a difference.

# # #

For more information, photos or to set up interviews please contact Green Galacticʼs Lynn Tejada (née Hasty) at 213-840-1201 or lynn@greengalactic.com.

Beacon Arts Building Loft-Style Art Community Workspaces for Lease in Inglewood Arts District

lynn-hasty — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:58:14 +0000

Beacon Arts Building 2nd Floor Studios (photo credit: David Teel Photography)

Highwood Properties announces completion of renovations at Beacon Arts Building, an artists community with warehouse-style studio spaces available for lease to working art professionals. The Modernist cast concrete building, which features stunning 11’6” ceilings and “open capital” columns, first opened its doors to the local art community in October 2010 with the Beacon Arts contemporary art gallery on the ground floor of the facility. Open house events, when studio spaces will be open for viewing, will be held on Thursday April 28, Saturday May 7, and Sunday May 15, 2011 from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Studios may also be viewed by appointment. The Beacon Arts Building is located at 808 N. La Brea Ave., Inglewood, CA 90302. The property sits prominently on La Brea Avenue, located just 11 minutes south of the 10 Freeway (I-10). Ample on-site parking is available as well as on the adjacent streets.

Beacon Arts Building 4th Floor - "Open Capital" Columns (photo credit: Renée Fox)

For Immediate Release: April 7, 2011

Highwood Properties Announces Completion Of
Beacon Arts Building Renovations
Transforming Iconic 1950s Storage Facility
Into Loft-Style Art Community Workspaces
Now Available for Lease in Flourishing Inglewood Arts District

Open Houses: Thu. 4/28, Sat. 5/7, & Sun. 5/15

INGLEWOOD, CA – Highwood Properties announces completion of renovations at Beacon Arts Building, an artists community with warehouse-style studio spaces available for lease to working art professionals. The Modernist cast concrete building, which features stunning 11’6” ceilings and “open capital” columns, first opened its doors to the local art community in October 2010 with the Beacon Arts contemporary art gallery on the ground floor of the facility. Open house events, when studio spaces will be open for viewing, will be held on Thursday April 28, Saturday May 7, and Sunday May 15, 2011 from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Studios may also be viewed by appointment. The Beacon Arts Building is located at 808 N. La Brea Ave., Inglewood, CA 90302. The property sits prominently on La Brea Avenue, located just 11 minutes south of the 10 Freeway (I-10). Ample on-site parking is available as well as on the adjacent streets. For additional information, please visit http://www.beaconartsbuilding.com.

“Our goal is to serve as a catalyst for compelling experiences that engage the hearts and minds of Los Angeles art audiences,” says Beacon Arts Creative Director Renée Fox, “With that objective in mind, we are embracing smart, risk-taking curators and artists with new perspectives and fresh ideas.”

Beacon Arts Building 2nd Floor Studios (photo credit: David Teel Photography)

Beacon Arts Building -
The Beacon Arts Building, owned and operated by Highwood Properties, is an iconic, four-story, solid reinforced concrete monolith representative of classic 1950s architecture. Cast in-place, the structure is as much a singular sculpture as an inhabitable building. Outside and inside of the building, signs of its creation are evident — from the wood grain impression made by the plywood that was used to build the forms to the air bubbles in the poured concrete. The massive 32,400 square foot structure is self-supporting by design, with strong, “open capital” columns — a modern reference to the columns found in early Egyptian ceremonial temples.

The one-time Bekins Moving and Storage facility is located in the heart of the burgeoning Arts District in North Inglewood. Having stored inanimate items for close to sixty years, this dramatic 1951 edifice is now transforming into a springboard for artistic expression. In addition to ground floor gallery and retail spaces, the building provides a gorgeous New York warehouse-style environment for professional artists, with spaces in various sizes up to 8,000 square feet with high ceilings and polished concrete floors. Remodel efforts have entailed reusing existing materials and structural elements, as much as possible, in order to highlight its inherent beauty.

Beacon Arts Building Remodel (architectural renderings by Rees Associates)

Beacon Arts Building Amenities -
The Beacon Arts Building provides:

• Private studios in sizes from 425 to 8,000 square feet
• 24/7 access
• Gated parking
• Wi-Fi
• Common area with kitchenette, washer/dryer, eating area, wash sink, men’s and women’s bathrooms
• Shared outside work area
• Flexible lease options at competitive prices (month-to-month or yearly)

Highwood Properties is in the process of curating new tenants for the Beacon Arts Building. Occupants must be productive fine art professionals who will contribute to the “life force” of the building. Additional info on building amenities, photos, a floor plan, and application process details are available at http://beaconartsbuilding.com/studios. For further information about availabilities in the Beacon Arts Building, please contact Scott Lane at 310-576-3543 or scottlaneco@yahoo.com.

Beacon Arts Building Open House Schedule -

• Thu. Apr. 28, 1:00 – 4:00pm
• Sat. May 7, 1:00 – 4:00pm
• Sun. May 15, 1:00 – 4:00pm

Studios may also be viewed by appointment by contacting Scott Lane at 310-576-3543 or scottlaneco@yahoo.com.

Beacon Arts -
A brand-new, risk-taking fine arts enterprise, housed within the iconic Beacon Arts Building, the venture offers innovative art programming to enrich the cultural landscape of Los Angeles. Its primary directive is to provide and maintain the integrity of an exhibition space for contemporary art by Southern California artists working in all media, including painting, sculpture, installation, video, and performance art. Works by both emerging and established artists are presented in an effort to provide a variety of ideas in different forms that both challenge and inspire. As a catalyst and advocate for new ideas, the endeavor enriches public understanding and appreciation of contemporary fine art by creating conversations through special events, lectures, symposia, and panel discussions with intellectual commentary on exhibitions. Exhibiting artists are encouraged to forge new relationships and learn from arts professionals through programming such as the gallery’s inaugural Critics-as-Curators series – consecutive shows conceived and curated by art writers and critics. This series runs through the first year of the space, from October 2010 to October 2011. Regular gallery hours are from 1:00pm to 6:00pm Thursday through Saturday, Sundays 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Additional background and programming details on Beacon Arts can be found at http://www.greengalactic.com/pages/clients/beacon-arts/.

Renée Fox, Beacon Arts Creative Director -
Renée Fox, a contemporary artist working in mixed media painting and drawing, was tapped to run the Beacon Arts gallery space based on her success organizing Inglewood Open Studios. The Open Studios project grew quickly from 7 to 39 participating artists, attracted large crowds, and garnered great press in just a few short years under Fox’s leadership, providing a nexus for the blossoming art community in the area. The firecracker mover-shaker was born in Frederick, Maryland, attended the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington D.C. and graduated from Otis College of Art and Design in 2002. She is an experienced curator and owner of art-related businesses (archiving and decorative painting). She has participated in and curated art exhibitions in Washington DC and Los Angeles. Fox currently directs the new Beacon Arts gallery space in Inglewood, CA and continues to organize Inglewood Open Studios.

Scott Lane, Beacon Arts Building/1019 West Projects Manager -
Scott Lane is responsible for the creation, development, and leasing of Highwood Properties’ Beacon Arts Building and 1019 West projects. A graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) School of Business, with graduate studies at the Annenberg School of Communications at USC, Lane has over twenty-eight years of commercial retail real estate experience in California, the Pacific Northwest, and Southeast United States. His professional background includes corporate real estate positions with May Department Stores’ Payless Shoe Source, Burger King Corporation, La Mancha Development Corporation, and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Throughout his career, his contributions have resulted in the successful development of over one hundred thirty (130) shopping centers and commercial properties throughout California. He also served as Director of Synergy at Clear Channel Communications and Vice President of Business Affairs/Partner of Intercomcon LLC, a broadcast media consulting company.

# # #

For more information, images, and interviews please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Tejada (née Hasty) at 213-840-1201 or lynn@greengalactic.com.

Beacon Arts Building (photo credit: Dave Teel Photography)

Beacon Arts Backgrounder

lynn-hasty — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:55:21 +0000

The Beacon Arts Building is an iconic, four-story, solid reinforced concrete monolith in Inglewood, California representative of classic 1950s architecture. Cast in-place, the structure is as much a singular sculpture as an inhabitable building. Outside and inside of the building, signs of its creation are evident – from the wood grain impression made by the plywood that was used to build the forms to the air bubbles in the concrete. The massive 32,400 square foot structure is self-supporting by design, with strong, “open capital” columns – a modern reference to the columns found in early Egyptian ceremonial temples.

Beacon Arts Building
Backgrounder

Beacon Arts Building –
The Beacon Arts Building is an iconic, four-story, solid reinforced concrete monolith in Inglewood, California representative of classic 1950s architecture. Cast in-place, the structure is as much a singular sculpture as an inhabitable building. Outside and inside of the building, signs of its creation are evident – from the wood grain impression made by the plywood that was used to build the forms to the air bubbles in the concrete. The massive 32,400 square foot structure is self-supporting by design, with strong, “open capital” columns – a modern reference to the columns found in early Egyptian ceremonial temples.

Beacon Arts Building Fourth Floor - “Open Capital” Columns (photo credit: Renée Fox)

The structure is located in the heart of the burgeoning Inglewood Arts District. Having stored inanimate items for close to sixty years, originally as the legendary Bekins Moving and Storage Company, this dramatic 1951 edifice is now transforming into a springboard for artistic expression. In addition to ground floor gallery and retail spaces, the building offers a gorgeous New York warehouse-style environment for professional artists, with spaces in various sizes up to 8,000 square feet with high ceilings and polished concrete floors. Remodel efforts have entailed reusing existing materials and structural elements, as much as possible, in order to strip down the space to highlight its inherent beauty.

The Beacon Arts Building provides:
• A community for professional working artists
• Private studios in sizes from 425 to 8,000 square feet
• 24/7 access
• Gated parking
• Wi-Fi (included)
• 11’6″ ceilings
• Oversized safety glass doors
• Common area with kitchenette, washer/dryer, eating area, wash sink, men’s and women’s bathrooms
• High rear-loading facility sheltered by a 20’ x 60’ steel canopy
• Large freight elevator
• Shared outside work area
• Sprinkler system throughout
• Building alarm system
• Extra storage availability
• Utilities included
• Natural and daytime fluorescent lighting
• Ventilation
• Professional building management
• Flexible lease options at competitive prices (month-to-month or yearly)

Plans for a ground floor vestibule are in the works.

The property sits prominently on La Brea Avenue, located just 11 minutes south of the 10 Freeway (I-10). On-site parking is available or found on the adjacent streets.

Beacon Arts Building Remodel (architectural renderings by Rees Associates)

Beacon Arts Building is in the process of curating new tenants. Occupants must be productive fine art professionals who will contribute to the “life force” of the building. Artist-tenants currently have a unique opportunity to participate in the design of their own studio spaces in order to meet their specific art-making needs. In addition to beautiful new secured studio spaces, ranging in sizes from 425 square feet to 1,200 sq, ft., the Beacon Arts Building also currently offers open floor plans that can allow the possibility for tenants to choose the size of individual workspace up to 8,000 sq. ft. For further information about availabilities in the Beacon Arts Building, please contact Scott Lane at 310-576-3543 or scottlaneco@yahoo.com.

Beacon Arts –
A brand-new, risk-taking fine arts enterprise, housed within the iconic Beacon Arts Building, the venture offers innovative art programming to enrich the cultural landscape of Los Angeles. Its primary directive is to provide and maintain the integrity of an exhibition space for contemporary art by Southern California artists working in all media, including painting, sculpture, installation, video, and performance art. Works by both emerging and established artists are presented in an effort to provide a variety of ideas in different forms that both challenge and inspire. As a catalyst and advocate for new ideas, the endeavor enriches public understanding and appreciation of contemporary fine art by creating conversations through special events, lectures, symposia, and panel discussions with intellectual commentary on exhibitions. Exhibiting artists are encouraged to forge new relationships and learn from arts professionals through programming such as the gallery’s inaugural Critics-as-Curators series – consecutive shows conceived and curated by art writers and critics. This series runs through the first year of the space, from October 2010 to October 2011. Regular gallery hours are from 1:00pm to 6:00pm Thursday through Saturday, Sundays 1:00pm – 4:00pm.

Critics-as-Curators Series –
Critics-as-Curators is the inaugural art exhibition series at Beacon Arts. In recognition of the gallery’s first year, esteemed art critics and writers — recognized locally, nationally and internationally — have been invited to conceive and curate shows of their choosing at the Beacon Arts Building in conjunction with discussions, lectures, catalogues, or other ways to reveal the thought process behind why exhibition works are chosen with insight into their importance to the curator. The individual expertise and personal taste developed by the curators’ world-view will be on exhibit throughout Beacon Arts’ first year. Critics-as-Curators strives to enrich appreciation of contemporary fine art by critically engaging in art. This series of shows provides a wonderful opportunity for artists and art audiences to learn what individual critics look for, how they think about the art they choose to focus on, and what catches their eye. The series kicked off in October 2010 with Ghost Stories: Happenings, Hauntings, & Curiosities curated by art writer Shana Nys Dambrot.

Ghost Stories performance in the Beacon Arts Building (photo credit: Damon Wellner)

2010 – 2011 Exhibition Schedule at Beacon Arts -

• 10/14/10 – 11/7/10 – Ghost Stories: Happenings, Hauntings, & Curiosities curated by Shana Nys Dambrot*
http://www.greengalactic.com/2010/beacon-arts-ghost-stories

• 11/13/10 – 11/27/10 – Inglewood Open Studios Group Show
http://inglewoodopenstudios.blogspot.com/2010/10/inglewood-open-studioscelebrates-fourth.html

• 12/10/10 – 1/30/11 – Densities: Line Becoming Shape, Shape Becoming Object curated by Peter Frank*
http://www.greengalactic.com/2010/beacon-arts-densities

• 2/5/11 – 3/20/11 - Pieceable Kingdom curated by David Pagel*
http://www.greengalactic.com/2010/beacon-arts-pieceable-kingdom

• 3/26/11 – 5/22/11 - ARATALAND: A Mid-Career Survey of Artworks by Michael Arata curated by Doug Harvey*
http://www.greengalactic.com/2011/beacon-arts-arataland/

• 5/28/11 – 7/3/11 - TEL-ART-PHONE curated by Mat Gleason*

Future BAB exhibitions TBD

* Critics-as-Curators series

1019 West -
Just minutes away from the Beacon Arts Building is its easily accessible sister project, the 1019 West, located on the penumbra, within short driving distance to the trendy, but decreasingly affordable, areas of Venice and Culver City. 1019 West is located just west of the 405 Freeway on the northwest corner of Manchester and Hindry (one intersection west of the iconic LA landmark Randy’s Donuts and the 405 on-ramp). 1019 West is an artists’ compound offering a vast array of studio, showcase, and work spaces of various sizes in a private, secure, yet inviting environment. The unique economic and geographic benefits of 1019 West are fast attracting the interest and attention of highly talented emerging artists and established professionals. Construction is currently underway to further build out studios, upgrade the unique existing spaces, and enhance the privacy, security, and compatibility with artists’ objectives. The property was previously the location of the first Volkswagen automobile dealership in Southern California.

The 1019 West compound and studios features a wide variety of uniquely sized studios and work spaces, ranging from 430 to 6,500 square feet, for rent offering amenities including:
• Soaring 30’ high Bow Truss ceilings
• Skylights
• 24/7 access
• Concrete floors
• Large roll-up doors
• Outdoor work areas
• Ample gated and secure parking
• WiFi (included)
• Common area wash sinks
• Utilities included
• Eating and lounge areas
• Men’s and women’s bathrooms
• Storage facilities
• Frequent trash pick up
• C-3 and M-1 zoning (ideal for welding)
• Professional building management
• Flexible lease options at competitive prices (monthly or longer term leases available)

The property is located at a signalized corner on a well-traveled commercial boulevard. 1019 West is just 16 minutes from Santa Monica, 11 minutes from Venice, 13 miles from downtown Los Angeles, and proximate to the 405, LAX, Loyola Marymount, and Otis College of Art and Design. For further information about available spaces at 1019 West, please contact Scott Lane at 310-576-3543 or scottlaneco@yahoo.com.

Renée Fox, Beacon Arts Creative Director –
Renée Fox, a contemporary artist working in mixed media painting and drawing, was tapped to run the Beacon Arts gallery space based on her success organizing Inglewood Open Studios. The Open Studios project grew quickly from 7 to 39 participating artists, attracted large crowds, and garnered great press in just a few short years under Fox’s leadership, providing a nexus for the blossoming art community in the area. The firecracker mover-shaker was born in Frederick, Maryland, attended the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington D.C. and graduated from Otis College of Art and Design in 2002. She is an experienced curator and owner of art-related businesses (archiving and decorative painting). She has participated in and curated art exhibitions in Washington DC and Los Angeles. Fox currently directs the new Beacon Arts gallery space in Inglewood, CA and continues to organize Inglewood Open Studios.

Scott Lane, Beacon Arts Building/1019 West Projects Manager –
Scott Lane is responsible for the creation, development, and leasing of Highwood Properties’ Beacon Arts Building and 1019 West projects. A graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) School of Business, with graduate studies at the Annenberg School of Communications at USC, Lane has over twenty-eight years of commercial retail real estate experience in California, the Pacific Northwest, and Southeast United States. His professional background includes corporate real estate positions with May Department Stores’ Payless Shoe Source, Burger King Corporation, La Mancha Development Corporation, and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Throughout his career, his contributions have resulted in the successful development of over one hundred thirty (130) shopping centers and commercial properties throughout California. He also served as Director of Synergy at Clear Channel Communications and Vice President of Business Affairs/Partner of Intercomcon LLC, a broadcast media consulting company.

Beacon Arts Building (photo credit: Dave Teel Photography)

Our goal is to serve as a catalyst for compelling experiences that engage the hearts and minds of Los Angeles art audiences. With that objective in mind, we are embracing smart, risk-taking curators and artists with new perspectives and fresh ideas. – Renée Fox, Beacon Arts Creative Director

BEACON ARTS BUILDING 808 N. La Brea Ave. Inglewood, CA 90302
1019 WEST 1019 W. Manchester Blvd, Inglewood CA 90301

http://beaconartsbuilding.com/

ACI-LA – Gesha Michael Roach & Lama Christie McNally 2/20 & 2/21/09

lynn-hasty — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:31:30 +0000

The Asian Classics Institute of LA (ACI-LA) is thrilled to present two rare talks by world-renowned spiritual teachers, Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally. On Friday, February 20 and Saturday, February 21, 2009 they will present “Where is Your Spiritual Partner?” from 7:00 – 9:30pm. Join Buddhist monk, Geshe Michael and Lama Christie as they use ancient spiritual texts to explore how to make love work in the 21st century. Learn how to find the perfect partner for you and reach a higher level of happiness with them. Following the teaching on Saturday night, stay for the Los Angeles release party and book signing for their new book, King of the Dharma: The Illustrated Life Of Je Tsongkapa, Teacher of the First Dalai Lama (www.jetsongkapathebook.com). ACI-LA, located near LAX, will hold both night’s events at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church in Westchester (6700 West 83rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045). The events are free but you must RSVP at www.aci-la.org/SpiritualPartners.html. These teachings are jointly hosted by the Asian Classics Institute of LA and the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church in a spirit of shared wisdom between all faiths of the world. Both nights will be webcast live at www.ustream.tv/channel/SpiritualPartners. For more information on ACI-LA please visit www.aci-la.org.
For Immediate Release: January 30, 2009

Asian Classics Institute of LA Presents
“Where is Your Spiritual Partner?”
Two Rare Talks With Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally
Plus LA Release Party For Their New Book
King of the Dharma: The Illustrated Life Of Je Tsongkapa, Teacher of the First Dalai Lama
Friday, February 20 & Saturday, February 21, 2009

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Asian Classics Institute of LA (ACI-LA) is thrilled to present two rare talks by world-renowned spiritual teachers, Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally. On Friday, February 20 and Saturday, February 21, 2009 they will present “Where is Your Spiritual Partner?” from 7:00 – 9:30pm. Join Buddhist monk, Geshe Michael and Lama Christie as they use ancient spiritual texts to explore how to make love work in the 21st century. Learn how to find the perfect partner for you and reach a higher level of happiness with them. Following the teaching on Saturday night, stay for the Los Angeles release party and book signing for their new book, King of the Dharma: The Illustrated Life Of Je Tsongkapa, Teacher of the First Dalai Lama (www.jetsongkapathebook.com). ACI-LA, located near LAX, will hold both night’s events at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church in Westchester (6700 West 83rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045). The events are free but you must RSVP at www.aci-la.org/SpiritualPartners.html. These teachings are jointly hosted by the Asian Classics Institute of LA and the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church in a spirit of shared wisdom between all faiths of the world. Both nights will be webcast live at www.ustream.tv/channel/SpiritualPartners. For more information on ACI-LA please visit www.aci-la.org.

Geshe Michael and Lama Christie explore ancient wisdom on finding and keeping a Spiritual Partner. A physical relationship is fine. Love is even better. But throw in the soul, and the other two move to a whole higher plane. The Spiritual Partners teachings draw on thousand-year old texts from India and Tibet, and the New Testament. One of the main texts to be used will be that of Je Tsongkapa (1357 – 1419), teacher of His Holiness the First Dalai Lama. These teachings explain how you can help turn your relationship into a spiritual one, or help you find your spiritual mate. Both wise and applicable, these instruction on how to make relationships work here in the 21st Century will inspire and educate.

Geshe Michael and Lama Christie’s new book, King of the Dharma: The Illustrated Life Of Je Tsongkapa, Teacher of the First Dalai Lama, illustrates the inspiring life of this seminal spiritual teacher born in the 14th century, by presenting and preserving a set of scroll paintings known as the Tsongkapa Eighty. Brought out of Tibet by the family of the present Dalai Lama as they fled the Chinese on March 10, 1959, this set of 15 scroll paintings, in more than 200 intricate scenes, depicts the life story of a person that many people believe will become just as important to the world as Jesus or Moses or Mohammed.

The present Dalai Lama’s family gave the scrolls to Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin, founder of Rashi Gempil Ling, the oldest Tibetan Temple in the US – where they hang to this day. The entire sticker price of King of the Dharma goes to support this Temple, located in Howell, New Jersey, and its monks in order to maintain this historic legacy for the benefit of future generations of spiritual seekers. Retailing for $108.00, this 472-page, 12 x 15″, coffee-table book, fifteen-year in-the-making, seems incredibly priceless. Learn more about this extraordinary book at www.jetsongkapathebook.com, and celebrate its release following the second night of Geshe Michael and Lama Christie’s Spiritual Partners talks in February. It will be available for purchase both nights.

Lama Christie McNally is a translator and professor of ancient sacred texts at Diamond Mountain University. She has published the popular Essential Yoga Sutra with Doubleday/Random House, and in 2003 became one of the first Americans to complete the traditional Tibetan 3-year silent retreat.

Geshe Michael Roach is the first American Tibetan Buddhist monk to be awarded the title of Geshe (equivalent to a PhD), after more than 20 years of study in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. He is the author of the international best-selling book on managing your life and your business, The Diamond Cutter.

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For more information, images or to set up interviews with ACI-LA spokesperson Lindsay Crouse, please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Hasty at 213-840-1201 or lynn@greengalactic.com.