Category: Downtown LA

DIRECTOR FOR NEW MUSEUM.In planning a new contemporary art and…



DIRECTOR FOR NEW MUSEUM.

In planning a new contemporary art and design museum, Tom Gilmore, a pioneer of real estate development in Downtown Los Angeles, has been focused on the architecture, commissioning futuristic — some say fantastic — building plans. Now, he’s turning to the art; he just hired as his museum director, Allison Agsten, curator of public engagement at the Hammer Museum. “We are especially interested in L.A. artists and finding new ways to support them,” Ms. Agsten said. It has not been determined whether the Old Bank District Museum, as it is unofficially known with a nod to its historic neighborhood, which is now packed with lofts and restaurants, will be a collecting institution or a kunsthalle, a flexible exhibition space. Plans by the architect Tom Wiscombe, under review at the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, show the project will span three existing structures Downtown on South Main Street. The idea is to preserve and reuse original bank vaults and pneumatic tubes from a 1905 neo-Classical-style building, while carving out new spaces.

At the Hammer, Ms. Agsten worked with artists on projects that didn’t fit the traditional exhibition models or galleries, from “microconcerts” in a cloakroom by Machine Project to Mark Bradford’s new community center in Leimert Park. Now, she said, “I cannot wait to let artists loose in the bank vaults.”

Mr. Gilmore, who is chairman of the board at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, nearby, estimated construction could run to $50 million and take four to five years. JORI FINKEL

Like Yesterday

It’s been a joy working with the Company of Angels Playwrights Group.  It was a nice transition from Lodestone to CoA and a natural fit… I’ll always remember Lodestone with fondness, but I really hate Burbank and it’s nice to collaborate with a theatre company based in Downtown… Actually, CoA is right across the street from my old gallery and right in the heart of Gallery Row and I sometimes wonder why I didn’t join sooner.

My new 1-act “Like Yesterday” premieres May 9th at Company of Angels as part of their group show, LA Views: pLAylist.

L.A.Views: pLAylist hits ‘play’ on some of the best L.A. Songs.  It’s a (playwrights’) mix-tape to Los Angeles, to its freeways and palm trees, traffic and culture, language and the Hollywood dream. It’s East meets West, It’s a mix of current day Hollywood Blvd evokes Hollywood past, Thee Midniters with a Morrissey clash or an Asian Girl Rapper to the MacArthur Park Undocumented, we mix-it up like that! This is “Dedicated to you…” So hit play and/or rewind to replay the feeling when someone gives you a mix-tape. Time to hit pLAy!

PLAYWRIGHTS:
Howard Ho, John Dubiel, Julie Taiwo Oni, Lesley Anne Asistio, Lui Sanchez,
Mando Alvarado, Mayank Keshaviah, Michael Patrick Spillers, Nic Cha Kim

DIRECTORS:
Armando Molina, John Miyasaki, Jully Lee, Justin Huen, Lui Sanchez,
Michael Patrick Spillers, Nadine Nonn, Rena Heinrich, West Liang

STARRING:
Alex Ximenez, Amy Urbina*, Bruce Lemon, Devanny Torres, Eva Ceja,
Gregory D. Alexander, Howard Ho, Javier Ronceros, Joe Robert Mejia, Joel Abelson,
Jully Lee, Michelle Young Cho, Robert Paterno, Rufus Burns, Shon Fuller*, Timothy Casto

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

Produced by Armando Molina, Amelia Worfolk, Lui Sanchez

Scenic Design: Art Betanzos
Lighting Design: Sarah Templeton
Sound Design: Howard Ho
Costume Design: Jackie Gudgel
Pianist: Duy Tran
Props: Amy Urbina
Stage Manager: Jennifer Perez
Assistant Stage Manager: Adam Gonzalez
Graphic Design: Xavi Moreno 
PERFORMANCES:
Friday, May 10 at 8pm / Preview / $10 
Saturday, May 11 at 8pm / Opening Night 
Sunday, May 12 at 7pm
Friday, May 17 at 8pm 
Saturday, May 18 at 8pm 
Sunday, May 19 at 7pm
Friday, May 24 at 8pm 
Saturday, May 25 at 8pm 
Sunday, May 26 at 7pm
Friday, May 31 at 8pm 
Saturday, June 1 at 8pm 
Sunday, June 2 at 7pm
Friday, June 7 at 8pm 
Saturday, June 8 at 8pm 
Sunday, June 9 at 7pm / Closing Night
Tickets: General $20Student $12 with IDSeniors $15 with ID
Opening Night – Saturday, May 11, $25 All seats
includes Post-show reception with cast & crew
Discounts for Groups of 10 or more contact xmoreno@companyofangels.org
Purchase your tickets online at www.companyofangels.org

Art Battle LA Trailer

Art Battle LA

In anticipation of an online streaming release, here is the new trailer for Art Battle LA, written/produced by Nic Cha Kim and directed/edited by Eric Heights.

LA Express Park

LA Express Park

LOS ANGELES, CA – On May 21, 2012, Nic Cha Kim participated in the LA Express Park video featuring Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. A project of LADOT, LA Express Park is a new Downtown street parking strategy using veri-message signs, wireless sensors, pay stations, smart meters, and smartphone apps.

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Art, Entertainment & Social Change at UCLA

LOS ANGELES – Nic Cha Kim, Founder/President of Gallery Row Organization, will be guest-speaking at UCLA on Nov 21, 2011. Recommended by Downtown Art Walk board member, Qathryn Brehm, Nic will discuss the emergence of Gallery Row and the Downtown Art Walk at an honors class called Art, Entertainment, & Social Change taught by Terri Anderson, Executive Director of AMP: Artists’ Meeting Place and Resource Collective.

Tragedy on Gallery Row

Last night, a terrible tragedy occurred on the streets of Gallery Row during the monthly Downtown LA Art Walk.  A mere one block north of where Niche.LA is located, this accident hits terribly close to home.  From what I understand off reports from BlogDowntown and LAist, a baby was killed when a car jumped a curb while parallel parking.  The driver mistakenly hit the gas instead of the brakes.  Drugs and alcohol are not suspected and the driver was not charged… but it still leaves a mother and community at an unspeakable loss.

I don’t know how to articulate exactly how I’m feeling.  Based on the current reports, it was an accident.  The driver was not under the influence, but was driving barefoot during the moment in question.  The mother was taking her two month old baby on a stroll during the Downtown Art Walk at 9 at night.  Then they met… and that changed everything.

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Niche.LA presents DT

Niche.LA Video Art presents DT
digital photography by Dave Bullock and Charlie Cho
curated by Nic Cha Kim

LOS ANGELES, CA – On February 12, 2009, Niche.LA Video Art presents “DT,” a digital photography show by Dave Bullock and Charlie Cho.  “DT” is an exploration of Downtown Los Angeles’ skyline, street culture, and industrial landscape.

 

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Niche.LA presents Negative

Niche.LA Video Art presents “Negative”
digital photography by Cole Thompson
curated by Nic Cha Kim

LOS ANGELES, CA – From September 11th – October 25th, 2008, Niche.LA Video Art presents “Negative,” a collection of digital black and white photography by Cole Thompson.

 

 

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