Storytelling

Nature / Nurture is a public, pop-up performance event that intersects a variety of art forms in a natural, outdoor environment that explores how we interact with nature (biology/family history) and nurture (community/surroundings).

The event will feature the sound of ambient music collective Academy of Light as they perform a long-form improvisation in response to their natural surroundings while also channeling their own unique expressions. This sonic landscape will be accompanied by a paper-folding performance by multidisciplinary artist Claire June Apana and a barley tea ceremony hosted by former LA Times Food photo editor Angeline Woo.

 Also Featuring:

Angelique Kalani Axelrode, artist and filmmaker, present her work, KAI HALI’A, dedicated to our kūpuna (“ancestors” in Hawaiian) who live with and through us, a tribute to the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Naomi Moser, abstract digital artist and dance theater, and film company Heavy Boots, performances breathwork and spoken word.

Two Performances 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 2, 2024 at Montecillo De Leo Politi in Elysian Park

The Unusual Suspects’ Youth Theatre Conservatory Program and San Fernando High School students will share a public performance of their original play, “When Can I Listen to Music Again?” on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room!

The story follows the friendship of three high school girls as they discover how to connect with each other and their families through their love of music. This free, in-person event will be followed by a moderated discussion with the student writers/performers covering their creative process and the themes of their play.

Plays written in The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company’s residencies come completely from the young participants. Participants are not censored, and instead, work collaboratively as an ensemble to create each character, story line, and bit of dialogue that makes up their original script.

The Crazy Superhero Vacation is a production by Ms. Neate’s class at Vena Avenue Elementary. Animation and editing are by Pieter Hardeman of Toy Story Lab. Southland Sings is a creative organization using the arts to unlock creative potential through live opera, musical theatre production, education assemblies, and music composition for all ages.

The 19th annual SEEfest is a competition festival presenting to Los Angeles audiences a large selection of feature, documentary and short films from 20+ countries of South and Eastern Europe.

This event begins May 1, 2024 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

In our continued work to create spaces for expression, engagement, and empowerment, Visual Communications (VC) is proud to present the 40th VC Film Fest (Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival) from May 1 to May 10, 2024 in Little Tokyo and the greater Los Angeles area.

The Festival will feature a robust lineup of in-person programming, along with virtual programming for our audiences at home in Southern California and beyond.

Since 1983, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival has presented over 5,000 films, videos, and digital media works by Asian & Pacific Islander artists, and features seminars, panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards. The Film Festival continues to be the largest festival of its kind in Southern California and is the premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific cinema.

To see the program and to purchase tickets, click here!

Please contact festival@vcmedia.org with any questions or more information.

Parking: The nearby parking garages are Aiso Parking Garage, City of Los Angeles, Lot 7, and Japanese Village Plaza. Handicap parking is available at all parking locations.

The Crazy Superhero Vacation is a production by Ms. Neate’s class at Vena Avenue Elementary. Animation and editing are by Pieter Hardeman of Toy Story Lab. Southland Sings is a creative organization using the arts to unlock creative potential through live opera, musical theatre production, education assemblies, and music composition for all ages.

The Crazy Superhero Vacation is a production by Ms. Neate’s class at Vena Avenue Elementary. Animation and editing are by Pieter Hardeman of Toy Story Lab. Southland Sings is a creative organization using the arts to unlock creative potential through live opera, musical theatre production, education assemblies, and music composition for all ages.

The Crazy Superhero Vacation is a production by Ms. Neate’s class at Vena Avenue Elementary. Animation and editing are by Pieter Hardeman of Toy Story Lab. Southland Sings is a creative organization using the arts to unlock creative potential through live opera, musical theatre production, education assemblies, and music composition for all ages.

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.

Arroyo Art Collective presents What Do You See – What Do You Hear, a collaboration of dance and musical instrument, set within the Audubon Center at Debs Park compound. Over the course of four days and 16 performances, musicians are asked to interpret their dance partner, while dancers respond and contribute to the music so that each elevates the other’s art.

This improvisational and alternating dance and music performances accompanied by workshops open to the general public. All events are family friendly and free. April 28th, May 11th, May 18th, and May 19th.

There is free parking available in the Audubon Center lot onsite, however spots fill up quickly. If the lot is full, please park along Griffin Ave. and walk up to the Center.