Contemporary Art

Mark Bradford’s 150 Portrait Tone, a mural-size composition that contains elements of both abstraction and realism, is based on an idea for a work that the artist conceived after the fatal shooting of Philando Castile by a police officer in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in July 2016. Castile, a nutrition services supervisor at an elementary school, was shot after being pulled over in his car—an incident that was livestreamed on Facebook by Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was sitting in the passenger seat next to him.

The painting features excerpts of Reynolds’s dialogue from the video. The title, 150 Portrait Tone, refers to the name and color code of the pink acrylic used throughout the painting. Like the now-obsolete “flesh” crayon in the Crayola 64 box (renamed “peach” in 1962), the color “portrait tone” carries inherent assumptions about who, exactly, is being depicted. In the context of Bradford’s painting, the title presents a sobering commentary on power and representation.

Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) presents Spring 2024 Open Studios Day on Saturday, April 27th from noon to 4pm!

Over 40 local artists will open their doors to the public for a peek into their art practice. The free event includes a Ceramics Sale, Community Class demos, Family Art Workshop, Peruvian food truck Mikhuna, and Gallery Openings for new exhibitions, soundplay southbay and Direct from the Classroom.

Open Studios Day is a free, all-ages event that provides the public a glimpse into the process, art, and lives of local artists who create at the Center. AGCC hosts one of the largest studio artist programs in the region with a diverse range of artistic disciplines including ceramics, photography, printmaking, writing, sculpture, videography, music, and painting. This self-guided tour of artist studios provides a unique opportunity to interact with the artists and purchase contemporary works of art.

To learn more about Open Studios Day, visit our website: https://angelsgateart.org/events/annual-events/open-studios-day/

Registration is not required, however, those who register on Eventbrite will receive reminder emails leading up to the event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-studios-day-at-angels-gate-cultural-center-tickets-876162334127?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

IMAGES: Left – Photo of Open Studios Day Fall 2023, photo by Jordan Rodriguez. Right – Studio of June Edmonds, photo by Jose Cordon.

This event is generously supported by Department of Cultural Affairs City of Los Angeles, California Natural Resources Agency for the Museum Grant Program under the California Cultural and Historical Endowment, LA County Department of Arts and Culture, and Perenchio Foundation.

Soundscapes, LAND’s programming series dedicated to experimental music and sound-based practices, continues on Saturday, April 27 with The Gold Fish=, a performance by multidisciplinary artist Alan Poma curated for LAND by Paulina Lara. The GoldFish= reimagines the birth of a mythical creature from the wetlands adjacent to Lake Titicaca, situated on the border between Bolivia and Peru. Near Lake Titicaca, there are artificial basins called ‘The Fountain of the Incas.’ The man-made agriculture systems stem from indigenous technology that has a landscape that connects various times and cultural traditions. Utilizing field recordings, Alan will capture sound from natural habitats at both dawn and dusk at Augustus F. Hawkins Nature Park.

The GoldFish= combines music, costumes, singing, and traditional Andean dance from the perspective of Andean Futurism. The composition itself draws inspiration from the sonic communication in wetlands, emphasizing wildlife and urban sounds to underscore the intangible essence of the landscape interaction between the wetlands and the urban environment; these spaces serve as natural and public areas within an urban setting, hosting both wildlife and community members.

On Saturday, April 27, Alan will play eight field recordings on cassette, rescore, and live mix the works on site at Augustus F. Hawkins Nature Park.

The exhibition brings together artists Michael Massenburg, Aiseborn, and Mr. B Baby to explore the intersections of family,
culture, and community. Curated by Guillermo Aviles-Rodriguez, PhD., the works will be on view Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from April 13 to August 2024, with a reception/artist talk and performance by Nedra Wheeler Trio taking place Sunday, June 9 at 1:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Cover image: Helping Families Grow, by Michael Massenburg, Aiseborn, and Mr. B Baby located at Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling and Learning Center

The exhibition brings together artists Michael Massenburg, Aiseborn, and Mr. B Baby to explore the intersections of family,
culture, and community. Curated by Guillermo Aviles-Rodriguez, PhD., the works will be on view Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from April 13 to August 2024, with a reception/artist talk and performance by Nedra Wheeler Trio taking place Sunday, June 9 at 1:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Cover image: Helping Families Grow, by Michael Massenburg, Aiseborn, and Mr. B Baby located at Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling and Learning Center

The exhibition brings together artists Michael Massenburg, Aiseborn, and Mr. B Baby to explore the intersections of family,
culture, and community. Curated by Guillermo Aviles-Rodriguez, PhD., the works will be on view Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from April 13 to August 2024, with a reception/artist talk and performance by Nedra Wheeler Trio taking place Sunday, June 9 at 1:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Cover image: Helping Families Grow, by Michael Massenburg, Aiseborn, and Mr. B Baby located at Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling and Learning Center

The exhibition brings together artists Michael Massenburg, Aiseborn, and Mr. B Baby to explore the intersections of family,
culture, and community. Curated by Guillermo Aviles-Rodriguez, PhD., the works will be on view Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from April 13 to August 2024, with a reception/artist talk and performance by Nedra Wheeler Trio taking place Sunday, June 9 at 1:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Cover image: Helping Families Grow, by Michael Massenburg, Aiseborn, and Mr. B Baby located at Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling and Learning Center

Mark Bradford’s 150 Portrait Tone, a mural-size composition that contains elements of both abstraction and realism, is based on an idea for a work that the artist conceived after the fatal shooting of Philando Castile by a police officer in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in July 2016. Castile, a nutrition services supervisor at an elementary school, was shot after being pulled over in his car—an incident that was livestreamed on Facebook by Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was sitting in the passenger seat next to him.

The painting features excerpts of Reynolds’s dialogue from the video. The title, 150 Portrait Tone, refers to the name and color code of the pink acrylic used throughout the painting. Like the now-obsolete “flesh” crayon in the Crayola 64 box (renamed “peach” in 1962), the color “portrait tone” carries inherent assumptions about who, exactly, is being depicted. In the context of Bradford’s painting, the title presents a sobering commentary on power and representation.