FROGTOWN ARTWALK, Fifth Anniversary!

FROGTOWN ARTWALK, Fifth Anniversary

A free, self-guided tour of the artist/artisan studios of Elysian Valley
Date: August 28, 2010, 5-10 PM

 

The artists and artisans of Elysian Valley, otherwise known as Frogtown, are pleased to announce our fifth annual Frogtown Artwalk, a celebration of the creativity and talent flourishing in the industrial buildings along the LA River. The event is a self-guided tour of the open studios in the neighborhood.

Last year visitors wandered in and out of studios along the riverpath, starting with letter press printing demonstrations at LALA Press on Clearwater Street and ending at the multi-faceted “Blake Studios” where local bands played all evening on a stage set up along the river path. A hula-hoop contest organized by Hip-Hoops kept the kids and plenty of adventurous adults moving to the beats spun by D.J. Rell in the courtyard at Tracy A. Stone Architect. Winners took home gift certificates from our sponsors for dinners at Home Restaurant and Tomato Pie in Silverlake.

Many new artists have relocated to Elysian Valley, and again, more than 30 artists and artisans will be opening their studios. New this year are artists Bill Lagattuta and his wife, Judy Starkman, who operate out of a newly renovated warehouse right along the LA River. Graphic artists Ariel Lark and Megan Scherer offer the "Mumble Twins": a collaborative project that includes a variety of print illustrations and mixed media art based on the theme of twins. RAC Design/Build, an architecture studio on Coolidge Street, will once again feature an exhibit of landscape paintings by renowned Echo Park artist Mary-Austin Klein. Local gallery owner Patricia Perez has organized an “Art and Drum Camp” for local youth, with classes running throughout the summer. They plan to celebrate with an art parade through the neighborhood during the artwalk.

This year, the artwalk will also include free movie screenings in a park on an inflatable screen. The Elysian Valley Arts Collective has commissioned a short film about the history of Frogtown, featuring photos and interviews with neighbors and artists. This will be shown in conjunction with Magic Pebble Media’s "Heather and Goliath", a 9 minute short film that focuses on the unique story of an Army Corps whistleblower, who alerted her congress representative - Henry Waxman - and the environmental activist community to the perilous decisions that were being made within her agency with regards to the LA River.

The boundaries of Elysian Valley (Frogtown) are the 2 freeway to the north, the 110 freeway to the south, the Los Angeles River to the east, and the 5 freeway to the west. The studios will be open from 5-10 PM. Free street parking is plentiful in the area. For further details, images, and a map of the tour sites, visit the Frogtown ArtWalk website at www.frogtownarts.com or call the office of Tracy A. Stone Architect at (323) 664-0202.

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