"Navigating LA"

The Studio for Southern California History is pleased to announce --"Navigating LA"-- the culmination of a semester's worth of work in the Cultural Studies course "Welcome to L.A." taught at the Claremont Graduate School Cultural Studies Program. The exhibition offers reflections on the region as a complex, cross-cultural space where community, borders, migration and bodies interact, shift, change and are contested daily and through the region's history. The students have organized a dynamic show and programs to reach a broader audience. This is a premiere collaboration between the Studio for Southern California History and CGU. The exhibition features rare books authored by Leo Politi on loan from The George G. Stone Center for Children's Books; two books featuring work by Ed Ruscha and Edgar Arceneaux from the Dennison Library & Honnald Library at Claremont University, respectively; archival documentation from Regeneración, an artist collective based in Highland Park during the 90s, and works by artists from Mobile Mural Lab, Pocho Research Society, Sandy Rodriguez, Antonio Garcia, and others working in Southern California to name a few highlights.

Additionally, the students have created a website for "Navigating LA" that includes an in depth catologue with links to resources generated as part of this exhibit.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, May 6, 7—10 pm: Opening Reception
Join us for the opening of the Navigating L.A. exhibit that highlights communities, borders, migration, and bodies within. L.A. Enjoy a special performance by Lysa Flores!

Saturday, May 7, 10 am—Noon: Chinatown Walking Tour
This walking tour explores the different generations and re-generations of communities comprising this vibrant and now Chinese neighborhood. This neighborhood also hosted Italian, Croatian, French, Mexican & Vietnamese American communities throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries. Free but reservations are required.

Saturday, May 28, 6—10 pm: Poetry Reading with Gloria Alvarez
Come hear poet Gloria Alvarez read and share about her experiences navigating LA through language. Her poem "Contrastes/Contrasts" is available on the show's website under "Lesson Plan" (reprinted with permission from the artist). Immediately following her reading, please join us for a screeing of the documentary, "Los Angeles Now," and stay for drinks and discussion.

Thursday, June 9, 6—11 pm: Downtown LA Art Walk Event
Join us for a special evening in celebration of art and the city! Enjoy live music, food trucks, silk screen printing, and a panel discussion highlighting LA artists from local art collectives, including Regeneracion, a 90's based art collective highlighted in the exhibition.

Saturday, June 18, 10 am—Noon: Leo Politi Panel 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
“Remembering Leo Politi” celebrates the work and life of Leo Politi. The panel focuses on how Leo Politi represented different neighborhoods (i.e. Olvera Street, Chinatown, Bunker Hill) in his works, especially his books and paintings.  Participants include:
Harry Yan, George Yan, Frank Yan, and Mary Yan Joe (“Moy Moy”), featued in Leo Politi’s children’s book Moy Moy;
Ellen Daigle, artist and Politi family friend;
Fabricio Cervantes, LA historian writer, and director;
Ann Stalcup, author of Leo Politi, Artist of the Angels.
Several original works by Leo Politi will be on display at the Studio to complement this panel, as well as to illustrate how Leo Politi was impacted by the city. You must RSVP for this event by calling the Studio at 213-229-8890.

The exhibition is supported in part by the Friedman Grant, the School of Arts & Humanities at Claremont Graduate University, and The Studio for Southern California History, a nonprofit resource center in LA's Chinatown.