The First U.S. Exhibition of the Visceral Realists
Federal Art Project – Downtown Los Angeles
10/3/09
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Independent curator York Chang investigates the relationship between catastrophe and creativity in the first U.S. exhibition of the Visceral Realists, a controversial Latin American artist collective active in Buenos Aires during the economic crisis between 1999-2002.  They felt it was a necessity to subvert mystification in art, memory and consciousness internationally. →

Mayer Hawthorne
Stones Throw
(2009)

The soulmatic, self- titled Mayer “Player” Hawthorne of Motor city Detroit has been gallivanting around Los Angeles as of late. From local hip hop shows to fashion premieres, the recent transplant is soaking up the city’s splendor, supporting his mates’ achievements and equally, crafting his debut album, A Strange Arrangement. In his latest effort, Hawthorne excavates through the smooth sound of retro-soul, and perches alongside Motown originators, adorning listeners with sappy love ballads and heartfelt confessions. →

The Art of Good Citizenship
826LA-Los Angeles, CA
09/12/09

826LA and the Echo Park Time Travel Mart are proud to premiere the second collection of original time travel themed posters designed by Los Angeles-based artist, Amy Martin, in collaboration with copywriters Mac Barnett and Jon Korn. This year’s collection is in collaboration with the The Federation for the Advancement of Time-because no matter when you live, it’s always the right time for good temporal citizenship! Each poster promotes a civic message for good citizenship in the far past or distant future, transforming the predictable aesthetic of the WPA poster with ironic sloganeering such as “Fire Good…But Also Bad” and “Robots! Clean Your Drives Daily”, coupled with clean, retro graphic design. →

What can be said about a film whose reputation truly precedes itself?  Though the name is more closely associated with the Death Wish action star in the US, those in the international community are quite familiar with the legend of Britain’s most expensive prisoner–or as the British press have dubbed him–”Britain’s most violent prisoner.”  Last week the Cinefamily provided a chance for me to discover why critics are calling Bronson the new Clockwork Orange. →

A conversation about our relationship to city and place…
Chung King Court- Los Angeles, CA
09/29/09

Big City Forum is hosting an event featuring Tom Marble, Zoe Crosher, and Will Wright, in a conversation focused on issues of place within an environment that is constantly shifting, in perpetual motion, and having dispersed “centers”.  How do we activate space and uncover points of engagement?  How does the shape of this environment give rise to new forms of inspiration?  →

P/Funk it Up
The Echo- Echo Park, CA
10/04/09

In commemoration of Dublab’s 10-year anniversary celebration, resident DJs Benny Shambles & Michael Stock of Part Time Punks welcome Dublab’s Ale, Hoseh, Kutmah and Marion for a Post-punk, Punk-funk, New Wave, No Wave, Hardcore, Indie-Pop, Twee, Electro, Minimal-Synth, Shoegaze, Baggy dance party sure to shake you. There will be a live performance from Oxnard’s exuberant pop band Maria and Post-Punk focused projections from Sam Cooper. →

Riverside Park, Manhattan, – ornamental cherry, spring

Legacy: The Preservation of Wilderness in New York City Parks
Aperture Gallery, NYC- NY
09/29/09

This is a unique opportunity to hear master photographer Joel Meyerowitz discuss his stunning new book commissioned by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to document, interpret, and celebrate the nearly 9,000 acres of parks in the five boroughs that have been left or returned to their most natural state. Through this stunningly rich archive of parks, shorelines, and forests, Meyerowitz’s Legacy transports the viewer into the heart of a lush wilderness while contextualizing these corners of nature as an inextricable part of city life today. →

Off of French electronic musician Joakim’s recently released Milky Ways, “Spiders” is a catchy piece of electro-pop disco that would work well as a sing-along. For that occasion, Joakim personally invites his fans to recreate the single in whichever manner possible and perform it on video. You can sing, play an instrument, perform air guitar, whistle, whatever. The competition leaves it up to your imagination. The winning submission will be part of the official music video for the song. →

If the mention of Crystal Castles or Glass Candy gets your blood going then start getting more excited.  You might have heard of her already via Neon Gold Records and the rest of the hype-music-blogging community that’s been fawning over her since spring, but if you haven’t, it’s time to start paying attention.  Ellie Goulding can sing with a beauty, honesty, and urgency that offers a genuine glimmer of hope in this pop revival.  Think Imogen Heap meets Lily Allen meets Bjork and there you have it: 21 year old Ellie Goulding.  What are you doing with your life? →

Off their latest record Sewn Together, the Meat Puppets have released a video for “Rotten Shame,” which features footage of the band performing live and well. If you haven’t already, check out the story of their tumultuous break-up and reunion in the ABC Amplified documentary. Decades after the Kirkwood brothers broke new ground in the eighties, they’ve come a long way. Now they’re on tour with new added dates with the Stone Temple Pilots. More information after the jump. →