Category Archives: culture

DREAM Act Town Hall meeting this Thursday

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In order for this post and semi-rant post to make sense, please watch this clip from Democracy Now, in which the documentary, “Yo Soy El Army: America’s New Military Caste,” a film about the military targeting Latinos, is discussed. You can watch the first part of the clip by clicking here. After you watch the first part, play the video at the top and skip to 3:55 in which the discussion shifts to the DREAM Act being a back door military draft.
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How Does Your Garden Grow? Eastside Style!

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I know one of my birthrights is being one of the people  of the sun, but my DNA has definitely dealt me the “thrives in shady areas” genes.  No joke.  My grandfather Jose Delgadillo would walk to the store in 100 degrees (Lemon Grove, CA) with a long sleeve Dicky shirt & pants, a sombrero, umbrella and shades, because he had an allergy to the sun.  One of my favorite parts of the summer is attending friends’ backyard patio parties.  Especially because most of my friends are artists and create their outdoor spaces as if they are creating a great work of art.  Its perfect for me —-NO sun and a yearly changing green canvas.

I got inspired to do this piece after I spend the 4th of July at Artist Raul Baltazar’s house.  Raul is known for his murals, political performances, personal fashion style (he put the ‘Chic’ in ‘Chicano’), his furry Tochtlli 7 the Aztec bunny, and for being a source of much of my writings in the 90’s.   Yeah,  I don’t know why it took me so long to write about him on LAeastside.  Everyone knows he’s one of my muses. He grew up in El Sereno, now relocated to Echo Parque. On arriving to his July 4th BBQ this year, I see an unknown man tending luscious rows of various vegetable plants in Raul’s yard. As Raul is helping me unload my car, I whisper “Who is that?” looking towards the gardener—and Raul says matter-of-fact, “Oh, I started a community garden in my yard. All the neighbors come over to tend the vegetables.”     Continue reading →

Random’s Rundown: Puro Pinche Pari

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Except for my horrible farmers tan, I love summer. Hot days, cold drinks, long evening bike rides through Los Angelestitlan. The electricity in the air, waiting to spark a blaze of social upheaval. You can literally feel it in the air. Social unrest, riots waiting to happen. Not too worry though, we all need to relax and have a good time every once in a while, por que si no, it get’s ugly. So even though the week isn’t over, the weekend is already getting started.

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Libros Schmibros

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When I first met David Kipen, I had no idea who he was, except that he was “that Jewish guy that moved across the street” from Corazon del Pueblo a while back. Before I knew it, people that had talked and met him told me about his idea for opening a book store in the empty space on the corner of Cummings. I loved the idea of a non-corporate book store in Boyle Heights and when I finally met David around the way, he told me his plans, which is to create his newly rented space into a book-sharing store, so to speak.

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“Dream Catcher” Mural at Wabash Rec Center

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With close to two years of planning, procuring grants/funding and fighting through city legal red tape, East Los Angeles Community Corporation has taken the initial steps in making the Wabash Recreation Center a family park that is safe, clean and not full of gang bangers. Both a community clean up day and a mural painting session were held Saturday July 24, bringing out Boyle Heights residents, families and kids in full force. Through the various grants ELACC was able to attain, improvements to the sites facilities have begun, such as installing new basketball courts, bringing in new bleachers and general baseball field improvements,  along with a new mural designed by ELACC’s Wabash committee and designed by local east side artist Wenceslao Quiroz.

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Peel Here 2010 Fotos

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With approximately a thousand people coming through to Self Help Graphics, Peel Here 2010 was a gargantuan success. Peeps from all over L.A. and a few surrounding cities and states came through to get their sticker on. Stickers were traded, posted and seen in this one of a kind show, made possible by Sticky Rick, Zan, family and friends. Since I was having too much fun that night, I completely forgot to take any pictures. Course, that hardly matters since El Rafa was shooting pics the entire night. He took more than 900 pictures and uploaded more than 300 bad ass pics. So, even if you couldn’t make it out to the event, here’s your chance to see what you missed. Peel Here 2011 … brace yourself, again.

Peel Here 2010 “Brace Yourself”

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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

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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

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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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The “Take Our Jobs” Campaign

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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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