FROM KATE

William Pate from Detroit is visiting US on Cape Cod.  He is my brother, a sculptor and painter who was Joel Shapiro's studio assistant in the 70's. Our uncle Maurice Pate, who was the founder of UNICEF, had a home here and we visited many times in the summer. Maurice's  work in the world influenced my whole family. He was nominated along with U Thant for the Nobel Peace Prize for creating UNICEF. 

My brother, 60 years old, is a Cum Laude graduate of Princeton in Fine Arts, he studied with Tony Smith and made environmental sculptures like Richard Serra and others back in the 70s.  He now has PPA, an awful form of dementia, and and no longer can drive or talk--so brilliant and so young to be in such a way.  But he is here making art with me for three weeks.  We watched the Buena Vista Social Club and I read your blog to him.  Amazing how the story of Cuba touches people in a deep way.   

We both keep thinking of what he might think of Cuba as we saw it.  We pored over the many images of people to people and spent the afternoon playing around with images that caught our attention. It is amazing how the impact of this journey lives on.  So many amazing artists, writers and activists who shared the trip with us.  It continues to impact people because it is such a compelling story.  We painted all afternoon experimenting with thoughts that came from the many photographs.  

Viva Cuba. yes? Love Kate and Steve.

FROM TRICIA...

Greetings To All…. i hope everyone is close to 100% …….

I had to wait to share ……  My Biggest personal news… I have been awarded a California Community Foundation Mid-career Artist Fellowship  centered on my contributions to LA through the arts….

…..this of course has contributed to my spirit being elevated and most importantly allowing direct support for the creation of an interactive website to serve as a pictorial platform/map of my 20+ years in the trenches/streets challenging and yet nurturing policy for interdisciplinary civil equity through equality…..

……where is the support both generationally, politically and financially for this work to continue….?  At this juncture I think the only way we provide for the public in America ….is through private investment…..

My desire is that a discussion will follow and allow for a natural editing of information, and a small concise book will emerge….

Does anyone know a creative, patient website and code designer/developer…?  now with the fellowship… it affords me not having to work with phd students… not that it’s an unpleasant experience… just that you are at the mercy of their time commitments…. so an issue of you get what you pay for arises…. 

Recommendations taken… thanks to all…

I want to have a celebration in the near future… I will keep all posted… I did like the idea of us all meeting at one of the new downtown spots… Zinc is one Peter and Ellie recommended… belonging to their friends

The CCF fellowship website is a place where the public can view the work of current fellows.

The Kim Abeles announcement (click on the link, below) describes her newest, poignant and inclusive public art piece, in which I am honored to have my shoes included as a local leader of community building through the arts, sharing my story and  allowing everyone to “walk a mile in my shoes”…… Please visit.  you will enjoy having an urban experience to couple with Isabelle’s downtown offering of new Los Angeles.

……this has come at a time that has elevated my sense of accomplishment and encouraged me to move on to walk a mile to  discover my new endeavor… bestest to all my new friends, sending good thoughts... 

FROM ISABEL

DTLA Arts District is my office

My daily life is kind of crazy, but tons of fun! On any given day I average at least three meetings that take me all over greater L.A., from the North to the South; from the East to West, meeting artists, gallerists, educators, politicians, and the community at-large. Given the heavy traffic and the distance from point A to point B, I have recourse to meet people half way and mostly in Downtown Los Angeles. To be more exact, the DTLA Arts District.

Luckily for me, DTLA is burgeoning with new cafes and restaurants that serve as the best places to hold meetings that accommodate all budgets. Handsome Café, Urth, Stumptown, DailyDosage, Novel Café, Pie Hole, Demitasse, and Eat Drink Americano, are, among many others, the places were I hold my meetings and to people-watch while I wait for my next meeting. I love immersing myself in the culture that makes LA one of the most interesting cities in the world. I have met some of the most fascinating people while waiting for my next meeting.

At the recommendation from Peter Clothier, confirmed by René Goiffon, I added Zinc Café to my list. Zinc...

... is located at 580 Mateo Street, in the growing arts district. It has an excellent menu (vegetarian), great ambiance, and an impressive wine list. 

Zinc would be the perfect place for all of us to meet once again!

Downtown L.A. is definitely on rise as a place to work and to eat. And it's without a doubt one of the best spots in town to hold meetings!

So next time you are in need to meet someone or to show off LA to out of town family or friends, visit DTLA Arts District. You’ll be happy you did!

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FROM KATE

We had a beautiful tropical Cuba sort of humid summer evening with a breeze like the night we all went to the Fort for the cannon firing.  It was perfect for an opening of the remarkable work of Dale Bradley and his daughter Sarah.  

Dale is the inventor of the massive large scale platen press originally built in the Beaver Mill in North Adams, around the time of the building of Mass MOCA. He was originally an anthropological illustrator for Williams College and went on in his early career to become an accomplished etcher, working with wildlife images.  As time progressed he became a contemporary artist creating experimental ways to use printmaking.  

In the last four years he has created three state-of-the-art pneumatic presses that allow him to vacumn seal large works, often wood cuts, to canvas, so they do not have to remain beneath glass.  His subject matter is related to Cuban culture, magic, animal spirits and the Haitian culture in the Dominican Republic.  His daughter who created art alongside her dad for thirty years has become a mixed media sculptor in Santa Fe.    

The evening was beautiful, with our Cuban music playing. Marie Canaves, our art history professor from Cape Cod Community College, who did a show with us three years ago about her childhood in Havana Cuba, came to the opening with homemade flan--in fact it was a very special flan whose magical qualities I can't articulate; "nectar from the Gods," she says.  

So Cuba seems to be with us in a big way still.  We hope it has remained with all of you.

FROM SARAH

Hello fellow Cuba travelers--

I am winding up my journal entries on Cuba. My latest, a peek into Santeria, is on line now (there is a photo of Isabel in it, and a photo credit to Peter Clothier)  

The next entry (Thursday) I will upload photos of Fuster's house and some interior (not street) art, and then I will wrap up my Cuba diary (entry # 9) with photos of the necropolis, next week.

If you are around Eagle Rock/Elysian Park this weekend, I am one of the artists in Cactus Gallery's Birds show, part deux (held over by popular demand). It's a fun gallery, and the NELA art walk is nearby, same night, as well as NOMAD books anniversary event, just down the street from Cactus on Blake (Nomad is a funky, arty bookstore)

Next week, on the 17th, I will be a featured artist in the Montana Avenue Art Walk, showing my paintings at Urban Hardwoods' very beautiful showroom. 

Also, my family and I would like to invite you to join us for a boat trip, just around the harbor for a few hours. (The boat is in Long Beach.) We'll save Catalina for a later date.  Let me know if any weekend days this summer suit your schedule? (Gail, Kate and Steve--you may need to fly out for this...)

Cheers,

S

ISABEL IS BUSY!

Culturally vibrant DTLA, July 4^th!

We Angelenos are kind of new at using public transportation. After all, we are part of the car culture so perfectly conveyed by Frank Romero in his 1984 Going to the Olympics mural on the 101 Freeway. But this has changed dramatically thanks to the younger generation. Our youth ride bikes and use the Metro throughout greater L.A. They move easily from their bikes to the Metro while going to school, attending art openings, lectures, our mural tours, bars, and restaurants. I must confess we used to do this with my husband until the end of the 1990s. We were known for parking our cars in Santa Monica, riding bikes to Paradise Cove for brunch and then winding down the hill after having dozens of oysters and a cool Chardonnay by the ocean side.

So on July 4^th, Stephen (my husband) and I decided to take the Metro to Grand Park in DTLA. We parked our car at the South Pasadena Station, charged our TAP cards (cheaper for senior citizens) and jumped on the Metro...

... to culturally vibrant Downtown Los Angeles. We both enjoyed the ride as we moved through South Pasadena, Highland Park, and Chinatown, to arrive in Japanese Town (corner of 1^st & Alameda). We happily walked to Grand Park, the fabulous 13 acres of beauty, our own Central Park, created in 2012 ($56 million price tag) where a variety of events are offered everyday.

It’s amazing how much one can see when walking and not driving. We passed MOCA/Geffen (Mike Kelley’s exhibition is free every Sunday during July), the Japanese American Museum...

... the Far Bar (one of our favorite outdoor bars in the Summer) and many great sushi places. We walked by the LAPD and The LA Times buildings, both overlooked by Disney Hall at the corner of First & Grand.

It took us a half hour from the time we parked to our arrival at Grand Park by 7.30 p.m. Everyone arriving was checked, same way as it happens when one travels internationally. There were thousands that joined the festivities, which began at 1 p.m. There were food trucks everywhere & no alcohol. It was fantastic to see so many people singing, dancing, and having a wonderful family time at the Park.

We were happy to celebrate the 4^th of July for the second time since Grand Park’s creation with thousands of awesome Angelenos!

FROM KATE..., JULY 4

(Thanks to Kate for another submission!  Keep 'em coming! -- PC)

We are having a hurricane party.  Ha. 

Hope everyone is back to normal, that was a tough bug whatever is was. Do you have Oscar's email. Sendmeanywhere@...?   (It's actually sendmeanywhere2009@yahoo.com--PC))  We would love to thank him. 

It sounds like the Mural Conservancy is doing just great work.  We were so thrilled to be included.

Really enjoyed and came back in love with all things Cuba.  

Our new Director at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, Deede Tonelli, who worked at UCLA and knows Al very well is working to bring Al, Peter and Ellie here for our docents and artists. Would be so great and we are working on it.   

Summer is well under way, art, sports, great time with grand kids and too much work of our own making.  Love hearing from all.  Thanks to Peter for his wonderful blog and Sarah Stone for the great photos and travel notes, wonderful to read and look back.  

Take care, Love Kate and Steve

Nice picture of Steve!  And their clan...

I HEAR FROM... OSCAR!

I wrote to our friend Oscar a while back, to thank him and bring him up to date with our communal bug.  Here's what I heard back yesterday afternoon (with no editing from me):

HI PETER,THANKS FOR WRITING AND KEEPING IN TOUCH I AM OK THANK GOD BUT NOTHING TO DO IN THE OFFICE NOW, ALSO THANKS FOR TELLING ME ABOUT THE MISTERIOUS INTESTINAL BUG RIGHT AFTER YOU LEFT I HAD SOME DISORDERS TOO BUT NOTHING SIRIOUS AND ONLY LASTED COUPLE OF DAYS I RECOMMENDED YUDY THE CUBATOURSTRAVEL REP IN HAVANA TO DUOBLE CHECK ALL THE PLACES WHERE WE ATE SHE DID NOT SEEM TO BE THAT CONCERNED SO IT WOULD BE GOOD IF YOU WRITE TO THE TRAVEL AGENCY IN THE STATES MAY BE SHE THOUGHT I WAS JOKING AS USUAL, HOPE U ARE OK NOW HUGS OSCAR

Let's send him some good vibes!

FROM AL...

... this notification of plans for a trip to next year's Havana Bienal.  Hope he's planning to work with a different connection to and from Miami!

DEFINITELY DRINKING FOR A GOOD CAUSE!

 (From Isabel...)

I knew bartenders were fun, but I was in awe witnessing the creativity and performance skills of top LA bartenders as they mixed the most delicious concoctions at Sadie House in Hollywood.  The House was crowded with hundreds of beautiful and mostly young people. I quickly forgot the age difference as I walked into the place. Indoor and outdoor bar and food stations throughout offered delightful drinks to quench the thirst of the happy crowd. The World Cup game between Costa Rica vs Greece was playing at the cozy bar inside. Hundreds were cheering for one team or the other as incredible drinks were poured back and forth and delicious bar bites were served. The all-inclusive ticket to benefit The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles, included cocktails, art, entertainment, and hors d’oeuvres from Sadie and Guelaguetza.

The fundraising event by Art Beyond the Glass (ABTG) was to benefit MCLA’s next mural restoration. In a Huffington Post article, writer José Martinez stated on June 23, “Sadie is once again donating its space, staff and food. Art Beyond the Glass lll will be raising funds for the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles, an acclaimed arts nonprofit that works to restore, preserve, and document the murals of Los Angeles. Proceeds from ABTG lll will help restore Luchas del Mundo (Struggles of the World), a landmark mural created for the 1984 Olympics by famed artist Willie Herrón lll.”

When Daniel Djang, one of the co-founders of Art Beyond the Glass approached me to have this fundraiser, I knew our passion for what we do had touched people’s hearts in the LA community and worldwide. Djang told me that, “restoring one of the freeway murals from the 1984 Olympics will be appreciated by future generations of Angelenos. It's something that everyone can look back on with pride."

MCLA’s recent fundraising trip to Cuba with a fabulous group of people, followed by the one by Art Beyond the Glass confirms that we are doing something right and made June an spectacular month in my life. We forged life-lasting memories with the friends we made going to Cuba. New friends were made Sunday at Sadie.

Isabel, making new friends!  

I’m so lucky to live in vibrant and culturally diverse Los Angeles, a place where our history is written on the walls!

FABELO

From Peter

For some thoughts today on the Roberto Fabelo show at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, please click here...

Love to all!