What is the Culture of Chaos?
An older black man swept up heaps of shattered glass from the floor of his nail salon. The glass front door of his business had been smashed in the uproar of protesting for justice in the killing of George Floyd that led to property-destructing outbursts in downtown Santa Monica, late Sunday afternoon.
A Forte of Sacred Geometry
Normally in Venice, CA or in the Bay Area, Dillon Forte etches the ancient miracle of the world's design on an expectant tattooees to the sound of Buddhist prayers, or trap music. That is, when California isn't under statewide self isolation.
Put "Always Tomorrow" on the Quarantine Queue
The band kicked off the tour for their fourth studio album "Always Tomorrow" with back to back southern California shows.
"Calling All Earthlings" to Stay Indoors
Life’s a beach. Or, it was for Californians before social distancing- defined for the first time this month by Merriam’s Webster as “the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection.”
Now Playing, On a TV Near You
What does twenty bucks buy in the COVID-19 economy? Well, it can buy 23.8 rolls of toilet paper. While it’s probably smart to stock up on those, another Andrew Jackson can be used to stream one of several major motion pictures - still in theaters - at home.
Disabled Artists Shine at Tierra Del Sol Gallery
John Maul is the solo artist of his own sold-out gallery exhibition in Los Angeles (LA). He also happens to be in his mid-sixties and have non-verbal learning disability (NVD). “Well, it’s not that he’s completely non-verbal,” explains Page Wery.
Straightwashing: An Epidemic
The first time I watched "Breakfast at Tiffany’s", I thought it was a bore apart from Audrey Hepburn's performance as Holly Golightly. And the cat. The second time I watched it, I got it.
A Warrior Who Fought With Her Words: Toni Morrison
A collage is used to show the metamorphosis of the late Toni Morrison's physical self, from refined young, striking beauty to gorgeous, giggling gray-haired matriarch. The way her collage-like Black Book served as a shocking, artfully true compilation of American blackness, the documentary The Pieces I Am is just as true for the writer's life.
Vanity's Fairest At Their Finest
Whoopi Goldberg is bathing in milk right next to late comedian Richard Pryor, the priest. A little to the right is actress Ali Wong as Marie Antoinette. Welcome to Vanity Fair: Hollywood Calling – The Stars, the Parties, and the Powerbrokers. Beginning Feb. 8, the photography exhibition is hosted by the Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City.
Reduce, Reuse, Relocate
On June 15, 2019, the Santa Monica city government released a statement on their website about the closure of its recycling center located at 2411 Delaware Ave.
The statement gave the following reasoning for the center’s closure. “The City of Santa Monica’s contract with Allan Company, the operator of the Buyback Center, was not renewed by City Council. This means in the foreseeable future separation of Santa Monica’s recyclable materials will occur off-site. Staff will return to City Council this fall with a recommendation about how to move forward with a long-term approach to provide recycling services, including potential Buyback Center options. All curbside recycling collections will continue without interruption to our customers and the City remains fully committed to our Zero Waste goals.” The promised fall statement from the City Council has yet to occur.
Of Cults and Culture
The word “cult” is like the word “love”; both have been overused to the point of senselessness. Everyday, people say they “love” things that they certainly wouldn’t marry or die for. Pop culture elements that tout a dedicated group of fans are quickly dubbed as a “cult” following, though the fans likely wouldn’t drink poisoned Flavor-Aid to show their devotion to, say, Rocky Horror Picture Show. To be fair, with Rocky Horror fans, you never know.
Eduardo Chavez Screens his "Hailing César" at SMC to Explore and Honor his Grandfather's Legacy
César Chavez was a famed California farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist. His son, Eduardo Chavez screened his feature documentary, "Hailing César," on Thursday, Sep. 26 as part of Santa Monica College's (SMC) Social Justice series.