The Artivist Collective presents its 8th annual Artivist Film Festival August 18, 19, 20, 2011 at the historic Egyptian Theatre in the heart of Hollywood, California.  This year the closing night awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, August 20th from 6:00 to 10:00PM.  Highlights include the Artivist Awards given to ten films and Artivist Award Honoree Kristen Bell, known for her film (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Burlesque, etc.) and television work (Heroes, Veronica Mars, etc.), as well as her philanthropy (Alzheimer’s Association, Invisible Children, PETA, SCPA, etc.).  Actress Rachel Bilson will present the award to Bell.  Also on hand will be Master of Ceremonies Dan Nainan and presenters Persia White and Marco Antonio Regil.  The closing night ceremonies are complimentary to the press and public (as is the entire festival) but seats are limited and must be reserved in advance.

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Re-Animator™ – The Musical, the horror-comedy based on the 1985 cult movie hit and earlier H.P. Lovecraft story, has extended its run due to popular demand through Sunday, August 14, 2011 at the Steve Allen Theater.  The new performance schedule for this funny, bloody and tuneful production includes three shows per weekend:  Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 8:00pm.  Additionally, the production that refuses to die will hold three special Midnight Madness shows with opening bands on Friday, June 24th, Friday, July 1st, and Friday, July 8th. Midnight Madness shows cost $15 and doors open at 10:45pm for the all ages preshow. Bands to be announced on the Re-Animator site. Ticket prices for 8:00pm shows are $30 for general admission, $15 for students (with ID) as well as all Center for Inquiry members.
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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. Read the rest of this entry »

Long Beach Museum of Art (LBMA) presents Ray Turner: Population, a solo exhibition of nearly 300 luminous portraits by American artist Ray Turner, opening Thursday, June 16, 2011. The series invites viewers to contemplate identity – individually as well as collectively. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 16^th from 6:00 to 9:00pm.  The exhibition will continue through Sunday, September 11, 2011. Curated by Art Critic Peter Frank and LBMA Executive Director Ron Nelson, the exhibit will also include a selection of photographic interpretations, works on paper, and three-dimensional pieces by Turner. Population will travel to museums across the country and internationally well into 2013 and continue to grow as Turner adds new portraits to the project from each community exhibiting the work.

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The Beacon Arts Building (BAB) continues its Critics-as-Curators series with TEL-ART-PHONE, a unique art exhibition that investigates the creative process by mimicking the classic children’s game of “Telephone,” opening Saturday, May 28, 2011. Curated by Coagula Founder Mat Gleason, TEL-ART-PHONE, kicks-off with an opening reception featuring live painting and catering by Literati Bar & Grill from 6:00 to 10:00pm on May 28. Among the 80+ artists contributing works to the show are Ray Beldner, Tim Biskup, Coop, Sean Duffy, Carlee Fernandez, Gronk, George Herms, Rosalind McGary, Dave Naz, and Robert Williams.  The exhibit runs for five weeks closing on Sunday, July 3, 2011 with a Critics-as-Curators panel discussion and brunch reception from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Artist panel discussions will also be held on three consecutive Sundays: June 12, June 19, and June 26 at 2:00pm. Read the rest of this entry »

Shakespeare by the Sea’s 2008 production of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream;" photo credit: Marilyn Edwards

Shakespeare by the Sea (SBTS) announces its 14th season of bringing free Shakespeare performances to the masses in Southern California, opening with the romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing on June 9, 2011 followed one week later, on June 16, with the opening of the ultimate family drama The Tragedy of King Lear. SBTS performances run for 10 weeks throughout Los Angeles and Orange County – over 40 performances in all – beginning with shows in San Pedro at Point Fermin Park from June 9th through July 2nd.  Starting July 6th the troupe hits the road on a tour that will reach a total of 21 public parks in 19 towns – from Pasadena to Laguna Niguel – into August.  The production wraps up back in San Pedro for two grand finale performances on August 12 and 13, 2011.  All performances are in the evening starting at either 7:00pm or 8:00pm.  Audiences are encouraged to gather with friends and family early to dine picnic-style under the stars to make the most of this classic entertainment experience.  Admission is always free!

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DEEP, LA’s premiere home for house and soulful electronic music for over 12 years, presents Dance Ritual Gets DEEP: A Meeting of the Tribes, on Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 9:00pm to 4:00am, at the Vanguard in Hollywood.  Dance Ritual Gets DEEP is a special collaborative event fusing two of the globeʼs strongest music communities – Dance Ritual (NYC) and DEEP (Los Angeles). It’s a celebration of worlds colliding that will feature some of the most premier international DJs, performers and artists. Including Grammy Award Winning Producer Louie Vega from New York City accompanied by Papo Swing on live percussion along with DEEP creator Marques Wyatt. Read the rest of this entry »

Track 16 Gallery is pleased to present Overs & Unders: Paintings by Bob Neuwirth, 1964 – 2009. Curated by Kristine McKenna, this retrospective exhibition will open on Saturday, May 14 and run through Saturday, June 11, 2011. An opening reception with the artist will take place on Saturday, May14th from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Read the rest of this entry »

Arts organization Create:Fixate celebrates nine years of infiltrating Los Angeles with curated events of emerging art and music for culture seekers of Southern California. After a brief hiatus in 2010, C:F returns to its downtown roots with a spring-themed show entitled RISE at the Premiere Events Center. The exhibit will take place on Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 7:00pm to 2:00am and features over forty local artists, DJs, and musicians with vibrant artwork and music.

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"Flock" by Michael Arata

Beacon Arts continues its Critics-as-Curators series with Arataland! A Mid-Career Survey of Artworks by Michael Arata curated by art critic Doug Harvey, opening Saturday, March 26, 2011. Arataland! will be the first museum-scale retrospective devoted exclusively to the work of this important Los Angeles artist, and the first monographic exhibit hosted by the Beacon Arts Building during its inaugural Critics-as-Curators series.  Drawing on three decades of sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, installation and performance work, Arataland! will transform the Beacon Arts Building into a theme park exploring the complex and idiosyncratic vision – darkly humorous, playfully erotic, conceptually quirky, and often confrontational – that animates Arata’s oeuvre. The exhibit will run for eight weeks closing on Sunday, May 22, 2011 with a Critics-as-Curators panel discussion from 1:00 to 4:00pm.
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