Join us for a discussion with Rob about his book and Twiteriffic experience and Allison Vanore, who will provide some insight into Twittering itself.

PLUS, to help all the twittering to go down easy, Art du Vin will be hosting a mini wine-tasting!

Sunday, August 8 // 4-6pm // free!

From LA RECORD:

“Hailing from Long Beach, the group plays downbeat—in contrast to upbeat—minor key songs. The groups sound was exemplified by their instruments: Fender semi-hollow body guitar with finger-picking by Aaron, low-end bass from Jeremiah, sparse and spooky Wurlitzer and Farfisa keys (like a Rhodes but not) and xylophone-esque bells and background vocals by Katie then and drummer Ramon who doesn’t play with sticks but rather mallets and a 26 inch vintage kick drum he inherited. Unique indeed. Even though I watched two individuals describe the sound as “funeral music” as they proceeded to leave the building, the band didn’t deny the resemblance; additionally, after discussing these early departers, we all decided that such a comment was a compliment since most avant-garde styles are rarely understood in their time. I suggest seeing the band or at least listening to them once before you die.”

About Housing Complex
This work explores the relationship between House and Home. A house is a shelter that we crave first for protection, and then for status. Notions of home may overlap with our mental image of a house, however our life’s path, circumstantial or chosen, will challenge us to redefine our home. Do we reach this sense of belonging through architecture, community, family, life-style, or personal meditation? Do we live in a home, or does home live in us?
I present two bodies of work in this exhibition. For nearly a year I have been getting to know the homeless community in Long Beach by doing quick charcoal sketches of them while they wait for their turn to take shower at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. These urban cowboys describe their challenge as the “Survival of the Fittest,” and have described home as “an emotional state,” their “soul,” or “the whole earth.” (Lonnie, Curtis and friend – Spring 2010).
Simultaneously, I have been creating small assemblages using a wide variety of reclaimed wood (relating to the architecture of “house”) and small objects/materials that filter daily through our houses, slowly imbuing them with a sense of home. Some of these are made in response to my own thoughts on house and home, while others are made in response to the stories I hear from the homeless community.

About Hilary Norcliffe

Born in Bristol, England and raised in Canada, Hilary Norcliffe received her MFA from CSULB and now lives and works in Long Beach, exhibtiing extensively in solo, two-person and group show across the region

2010: Handmade Slides and Non-Existent Drawings, A Downtown LA ArtWalk projection at MONA (Museum of Neon Art), Los Angeles, California

2009: Looking Into the Sun, DDR Projects, Long Beach, California

2009: Shock & Awe, Gatov Gallery, CSULB, Long Beach, California

2008: The Audacity of Rope, Marilyn Werby Gallery, CSULB, Long Beach, California. Works on Paper: Here & Now, Brand Library Art Galleries, Glendale, California.

2008: The Nature of Inquiry Part 2, The Loft, San Pedro, California

2007: Me and My Girl, Comer-Taylor Gallery, California State University, Long Beach, California

2007: The Nature of Inquiry, The Loft, San Pedro, California. Works on Paper, Long Beach Arts, Long Beach, California.

2007: Inspiring Change, Space 900, Chicago, Illinois.

2007: Eman On, SCA Project Gallery, Pomona, California.

2007: Darkness and Light, The Armory Center for the Arts, Armory Northwest, Pasadena, California.

2006: Collaborations, Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, California.

2006: Metropolis: This Other Eden, SCA Project Gallery, Pomona, California.

2006: Me and My Girl, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Long Beach, California.

2005: Los Angeles Juried Exhibition. Barnsdall Art Park, Los Angeles, California.

2005: Caged, The Armory Center for the Arts, Armory Northwest, Pasadena, California.

July 30 || August 6 || August 13 || August 20 || August 27

{open} is hosting a series of shows to raise awareness about the state of water on Earth, the state of the Earth itself, and the need for a new water and eco consciousness!
…
– According to estimates, demand for freshwater will exceed the world’s supply by over 50 percent in less than 20 years. We need to change. Now. This Problem affects every one of us, and to implement solutions we need help from every one of us. That means rethinking our individual water habits. It also means mobilizing communities and putting the brakes on a system that is hurtling us towards ecological disaster. We cannot continue our current rates of mass consumption and pollution or the increasing commodification of water. We need a new consciousness. We need to change the way we think about water.

From “Water Consciousness” by Tara Lohan –

FEATURING ALICIA MURPHY
http://www.myspace.com/aliciamurphymusic

+

JULY 30 – PRAYERS FOR ATHEISTS + AQUIFER ($5)
http://www.myspace.com/prayersforatheists
http://www.myspace.com/aquifermusic

AUGUST 6 – THE BLANK TAPES ($5)
http://www.myspace.com/theblanktapes

AUGUST 13 – SCREENING OF “HOME” (FREE)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_(2009_film)

AUGUST 20 – BEN SOLLEE ($8)
http://www.myspace.com/bensollee

AUGUST 27 – VERBS + SIRAH ($5)
http://www.myspace.com/verbsisthehomie
http://www.myspace.com/sirahone

—————

ABOUT PRAYERS FOR ATHEISTS (July 30)
From the Denver stop on PFA’s current tour: “Rhode Island’s Prayers for Atheists is a band with incendiary political convictions, the kind that can land dudes in jail. At the 2008 Republican National Convention, vocalist Jared Paul was arbitrarily arrested while covering the convention for quarterly publication The Agenda, and he and the rest of his bandmates have since made it a mission to voice their political frustrations with a fiery Zack De La Rocha-like delivery. On the act’s self-titled debut, Paul tells the story of the RNC arrest on the song “Psalm for St. Paul,” presenting himself as a martyr for the politically frustrated and socially unfulfilled.”

ABOUT AQUIFER (July 30)
Aquifer consists of two vocalists, one sound mixer, a drummer, guitarist, and bassist. These six dudes make up perhaps one of the most musically and lyrically talented group of guys I have ever seen. As I was watching these guys bust out thought-provoking rhymes about real life issues I seriously regretted not telling each and every one of my show-going friends to be there that night, because I knew that telling the story (or writing the words) wouldn’t be enough. One needs to experience Aquifer up close and personal

ABOUT THE BLANK TAPES (August 6)
From a recent show review: With a tight, compact, hippy sound and a pop style arrangements, this five piece band played soothing tunes, like lying around in a daisy filled field. Sweet harmonies, intricate guitar picking, and a happy vibe filled the room …

ABOUT HOME (August 13)
Home is a 2009 documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The film is almost entirely composed of aerial shots of various places on Earth. It shows the diversity of life on Earth and how humanity is threatening the ecological balance of the planet.

ABOUT BEN SOLLEE (August 20)
Ben Sollee is a Kentucky-based, genre-bending cellist and vocalist. His album Dear Companion out on Sub Pop now. He is currently on tour across the southern states… on bicycle!

ABOUT VERBS (August 27)
Fmly.com says about VerBS: He has toured with Murs, has who knows how many jams under his belt, kicks it with Professor Calculus, and of course he is a loved member of the FMLY. Spreading the positive hiphop vibes and being an all around chillster …

ABOUT SIRAH (Auguts 27)
From Sirah’s bio: At the age of twelve Sirah started battle rapping. Spoken word was a lovely change of pace, since her voice was hard-hitting and her conviction apparent; however she couldn’t stop there. Sirah spent this summer on Warped Tour, and is now working on her first album, which is as eclectic as she is. The nature of Sirah, which is the instrument that transcribes her music, could best be described as a young woman coming up in New York, with devastation biting at her heels, and the world in cupped palms.

Slow Animal + Moses Campbell + Fort Wife

About Slow Animal – Some have described them as a male Best Coast, or similar to Beach Fossils, and I’d agree with both of those.  Best Coast have done it and Slow Animal are doing it too; creating a lo-fi, fuzz-pop summer beach sound without actually going the stereotypical route of having waves and cascading harmonies, a la The Beach Boys or Souxsie Sioux (not really). – Listen Before You Buy

About Moses Campbell – “Teenage wunderkinds Moses Campbell — it’s a six-piece band, not some grizzled folk singer that the name might conjure up — seem to have bottled up the exuberance of youth and the dreariness of aging on one calamitous album. “Who Are You? Who Is Anyone?” (just out on the Smell’s olFactory Records) embraces the present as only kids can but also reinforces the notion that the best way to eye the future is to cast wary glances over one’s shoulder. Singer-guitarist Sean Solomon’s woozy tenor is perfect for such musings, and the sextet (including Pascal Stevenson, Miles Wintner, Daniela Jiminez, Pauline Lay and Andrew MacKelvie) frames them in bursts of unvarnished garage-pop, frayed folk and caffeine-spiked freakouts. You might have heard some of these chords before, but as playdough in the cherubic hands of Moses Campbell, it’s fun to see what shapes they can become.” – BuzzBands L.A.

About Fort Wife – Fort Wife’s songs were sweet and gentle (like pillows!), but not simperingly sweet, and they’re especially good for daydreaming. – OC Weekly

Join us for the book release party for Mindy Netifee’s

Rise of the Trust Fall

Details coming forthwith …

PRISM-index Release Party

Performances by: Castanets + Ohioan + Chris Schlarb
Projections and Presentation by PRISM-index editor Jeffrey Bowers.

Black Candy book release party

• music from Alyssandra Nighswonger
• poetry from Kyle Moreno and Raul Ruiz
• theatre sketch featuring Jasper Oliver + members of the Alive Theatre Co.

plus an art-and-craft storybook workshop!

FREE!

[Show as slideshow]