Peel Here 2010 “Brace Yourself”

Read my review for Peel Here 2007 here

Read my preview for Peel Here 2008 here

PEEL HERE is an unbiased forum for sticker and paste-up artist, we feature large scale sticker art in a gallery setting, along with interactive modules for our guests to slap stickers and add their tag. We will feature a MASSIVE STICKER WALL, STREET FURNITURE, STICKER TRADING ZONE, as well as “Open Call Submission” Sticker Installation.

This year our theme is “BRACE YOURSELF!” which is inspired by and focuses on the current social, political, economic and environmental climate we live in today. Brace Yourself! the urban underground speaks. It’s time to get sticky.

Saturday, July 17th, 6 p.m. to midnight. The Exhibit will run through July 31st at Self Help Graphics and Art

Featured Artists:
ROBBIE CONAL – THE LONDON POLICE – GERMS – SMEAR – ASHES57 – MAN ONE – OLIVE 47 CHAZ BOJORQUEZ – BRANDY FLOWER – ENIK ONE – TIMOI – VYAL ONE – ERNESTO YERENA – SAND ONE – FAVIANNA RODRIGUEZ – SHARK TOOF – CAT CULT – CHOICE ROYCE – TOOFLY- DR NUSE 89 – DMN – JESSEROBOT – SKET ONE – STICKY BANDITS – SPRFKR – BRIAN EWING – AKO – JAXIE JAX – MCA – DEWEY TAFOYA – KATHIA DUNGPLATA – DOUGLAS MILES – MAD ONE – EVOKER – SHARK TOOF – ROBOTS WILL KILL – MODERN DAY MONSTER – RAH TEN – FLYING FORTRESS – VINCENT VALDEZ – NOMADÉ

Brace Yourself Installation by PHANTOM STREET ARTIST

Live Art Paper Fashion by
DIANE GAMBOA

Live Screen Printing by
HIT & RUN CREW

BRACE YOURSELF! Installation by
THE PHANTOM STREET ARTIST

Come out and enjoy the live music and DJ’s:
DJ TOKS
DJ BROHMEINI
AC The PD

Bands:
THE SIRENS
THE LEAF BLOWERS
TURBO MEX
FOUR WAY HIT
ELECTRIC CURRENT ECCENTRIC KAOS

Admission is $5 – all ages
First 100 guests receive a free Stick Rick’s gift bag

Bring stickers to add the to the MASSIVE STICKER WALL and trade with new friends in the PEEL HERE TRADING ZONE!

OVARIAN PSYCHOS/CYCLES.. wombyn’s cycling krew

RIDE IT TIL’ DA WHEELS FALL OFF FRIDAYS

Sometimes our ovarian cycles make us turn into ovarian psychos. Come ride off the stress and work out while connecting with other wombyn on the streets of Los Angeles. OVARIAN PSYCHOS/CYCLES.. wombyn’s cycling krew.

We meet every first and third Friday of the month at:
Corazon del Pueblo
2003 East 1st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033

First meeting is this third friday JULY 16th at 6pm
(Corazon del Pueblo is providing child care for wombyn who need it!)

From the Bay to L.A. and AZ: Print Marathon at Self Help Graphics and Art

In a show of solidarity against the anti-Latino/a and immigrant sentiment in Arizona and the 30 days 30 actions campaign currently going on,  artist from here in East L.A. and the Bay area organized a 12 hour print-a-thon, silk screening more than 1,000 posters, some stickers and shirts with various designs for the July 29 action taking place in AZ against SB 1070. Joel “Rage” Garcia and Melanie Cervantes first got the ball rolling for the print marathon after discussing solidarity work with the AZ coming up. Garcia along his partner/artist FelicaMontes , musician Olmeca and Vyal have been working with artist in AZ for the last few months. Doing organizing, connecting with artist there and helping them get the resources not found in AZ. Cervantes and her partner Jesus Barraza at the same time have been working on the AZ campaign as well providing artistic resources and support with groups, orgs and individuals in AZ along with frequent partner and collaborator Favianna Rodriguez. Initially the plan was for everyone to go to AZ and do the work there, but contributing artist Ernesto Yerena warned them that the weather conditions and the AZ boycott would impede their productivity. Soon enough the conversation turned to printing here in L.A. and with the help of artist Dewey Tafoya, Self Help opened their doors to use the space and the marathon was on.

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Rambling On My Mind: I Like My Purples Deep and My Markets Black

Every time I return to México, Mexico City has to get involved. I just want to walk about in a small city like Querétaro or Silao, revisit old pals, discover new streets and do the everyday. I’m simple like that. Mexico City is not simple. It is titanic and perilous and invigorating. One time, a cabbie told me, “Podrías vivir aqui dos años y aun no ver todo, aunque esa fuera tu misión.” After some days in Querétaro and Cuernavaca, I decided to add some days to my trip and check out el DF. Why? Because I could. Anyways, this is about the last time I visited one famous part of that crazy city. Let’s hit the road. First, let’s say good-bye to Cuernavaca. Continue reading

The “Take Our Jobs” Campaign

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Arturo Rodriguez
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election Fox News

Last summer while I was visiting my family out in Utah I tried my hand at working at a farm picking raspberries. My family did it every season because it was good money and the farm owners needed the help harvesting. I put in a days work and I said to myself never again. Picking raspberries out there wasn’t as labor intensive and demanding as picking grapes, lettuce and other foods out in the valleys here in California. Or having to live out there and breathing in all that pesticide and chemicals used out there. But half way into the day my arms were scratched up, I was sneezing, I had watery eyes from all the pollen and my back was already aching from all the bending. There’s no machine or technique for this kind of work. It has to be done by hand and with care, other wise it all goes to waste.

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Boyle Heights Farmers Market

The first of weekly Friday farmers markets at Boyle Heights’ Mariachi Plaza launched last week to the sounds of boleros and sweet scents of fresh produce.  Vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables from Oxnard, roasted peanuts by the Tiny Peanut Factory, homemade soaps and oils, Chicano-themed art, aguas frescas and coffee were accompanied by live mariachi music and a deejay from 92.3 The Beat.  The vendors were small in number but the liveliness of the homegrown crowd were enough to keep the market in residence at the corner of 1st and Bailey.  Market organizer, Juan Romero, who also owns and operates Primera Taza coffeehouse – a pebbles throw from Mariachi Plaza – says number of vendors will grow in the next few weeks.  The market offers a great family atmosphere and an alternative in grocery shopping. Check it out!

Walking in (E)L.A.

Get your huaraches on and join the rest of the Walking Class for a cool tour of Boyle Heights!

Getting to Know LA: Boyle Heights

Sunday, July 11
11:30am – approx 1:00pm | | FREE (transportation and lunch not included)

Explore Latin American cultures in Boyle Heights beginning with a visit to our partner, La Casa del Mariachi, a shop that produces colorful and sparkling mariachi garments. We’ll then head on a walking tour led by urban planner James Rojas and explore the many creative ways in which the residents of Boyle Heights animate their front yards and streets to make this a truly distinct corner of Los Angeles. Directions to the meeting spot will be provided when you RSVP. Please RSVP by July 9th to (323) 937-4230 x50 or workshops@cafam.org


Tour details:

Walking tour begins at La Casa del Mariachi (1836 E. 1st St. – across from Mariachi Plaza)
We will view art work that has been placed at La Casa through the Folk Art Everywhere project. Then we will hear about the art of mariachi garments from the owner of La Casa. From there, we’ll move on to explore the neighborhood on foot: from murals and architecture to porches and fences.

The tour will involve walking approx. 1 mile roundtrip.

More info: www.folkarteverywhere.com

From the Barrios of LA to the Bay: Concierto sin Fronteras

I know Chimatli mentioned this already on Botanitas, but I have to plug it up again. Why ? Because there is an amazing line for that night. Musically and in spoken word. This is one of those events that you don’t wanna miss out on because if you do, you’ll be sorry when everyone else is telling you how much they had and how dumb you feel for not going.

SATURDAY, JULY 10TH
6PM to 2AM
-LA CASA DEL MEXICANO-
2900 Calle Pedro Infante
Boyle Heights, CA 90063

Tickets $8 pre-sale at Corazon del Pueblo (available SAT 07/03) * $10 at the door

Fox News and Chris Blatchford = Culeros!

Its one thing for people to use some of the pictures I put online for their own purposes. A link back is the nice thing to do, though they often forget these basic manners.  But its quite another when some lousy and supposed legitimate “news” racket borrows my stuff and they don’t acknowledge the source. And it’s even worse when its used for a purpose completely different then the original intent.

Take for example the pricks at Fox 11.
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What’s to Celebrate? That is the question.

With all the racism, fighting, finger pointing, accusations, pettiness, warring, spectacle-ism going on in the US (and everywhere), what the hell is there to celebrate this weekend?  Our overall family-macrocosm is pretty lame.  Across the land people are in save-yourself mode —throwing everyone who is weak and without resources off the ship.  Ok, well maybe we are not as bad as Belgian and France where freedom of religion is now an affront to “European culture”.  I guess I should not be surprised that that cunita of racism is on-cue and tightening the reigns.  In the 1930s Depression Los Angeles police positioned themselves at this state’s border to keep out starving poor white farmers from entering, there were massive deportations of Mexicans and their American born children,  millions of people lost their homes/businesses, any poor person was an enemy to American life.   Sound familiar?  Personally, I like to learn from mistakes, even if they are not mine and not repeat them over and  over like I’m punch-drunk.  If we are going to survive what is happening within our families, communities,  country and world with conscientiousness and honorability– we must think creatively, inclusively, differently, together.  And then, that would be something to celebrate.