31/10 "Arts and Culture as an Economic Engine"

By Keith Lewis

I attended the "Arts and Culture as an Economic Engine" panel yesterday. Our Workshop Leader was Bob Maguglin, Director of Public Relations, Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Some others in our group were Joan from Arts Council Long Beach, Karman owner of Utopia restaurant, the founders of The Garage Theater, Long Beach Public Access TV, Brian Ulaszewski from LB Post, Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal, and about 10 others from various org's such as CSULB Arts Dept.etc.

The purpose of our panel was to ultimately come up with some points or questions that address encouraging the city to invest more in arts and culture and helping the city understand why doing so also increases revenue for the city. Those points will then be used next week during a town hall meeting being televised by charter for future airing.

What I learned:

Upside:
The numbers are already there for the city. Arts Council Long Beach has the studies.

There are a lot of people here in Long Beach that have a great vision for this city.

There are a lot of good ideas and passion for the arts in this city.

We have a lot of things available to us that we haven't utilized. Such as, the Arts Council provides a number of classes including Art as a Business. Which teaches artist and art related businesses how to succeed. They have a grant writing class. They also provide grants and two of the organizations that received grants last year and were scheduled to get grants this year will not receive their grants because either they are no longer in business or they moved away from the city. Apparently this is not unusual and they are always looking for an org to assist through grants.

The Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau website www.visitlongbeach.com has about 80,000 viewers. They accept and post press releases. Not for an individual store but for an event such as First Fridays.

During discussion First Fridays was held up as an example, stating that things like First Fridays don't go unnoticed. The City council can see the numbers of people out there an in essence calculate the revenues themselves without waiting for reports.

All in all it was a positive experience and gives one hope for Long Beach Arts.

Keith Lewis is an artist, entrepreneur and founding member of the First Fridays event. He is a Long Beach resident and ardent supporter of the Arts.

30/10 "NOIR"

Long Beach, CA – Christy's is pleased to present the latest work of Wim Griffith.



The intense and precise detail of Griffiths' work in this series transcends craft or technique. Each painting connects the audience to the characters. You reach to touch them and expect to feel the warmth of their body, it's that real.


With robust colors, finite details and shadowy patterning, Wim's canvas evokes the stylish Hollywood film noir classic period. His work captures the attitudes of the crime drama genre emphasizing moral ambiguity and sexual intrigue. This series of Men in Suits is sure to leave you wondering, "Which one is the bad guy? "



"NOIR" will run from October 1, 2007 to November 17, 2007. An appetizer and wine reception will by held Thursday, November 8, 2007 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm with the artist.

29/10 First Fridays, November 2nd

First Fridays turns 1 year old! Come out and celebrate the anniversary of this unique collaboration between art, music, business and community.

Four Olives Café

Jason Reavis will be exhibiting his art from November 1st to 30th at Four Olives Café during regular business hours.


An artist reception for Mr. Reavis will be held during First Fridays art walk on November 2, 2007 from 7pm to 10pm

Also, live music for the event will be provided from 7pm to 10pm
by The Scarlett and Dr. Bob Finney Jazz Combo


5-7pm
4276 Atlantic Ave
Long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 591-1135 www.fouroilvescafe.com


Richard Goad Theatre

We’re celebrating our acclaimed showing of selections from the Polish School of Posters, called by critics the greatest collection of poster art to come from the second half of the 20th century
And we’ll be celebrating in style with a Vodka Tasting!
Bring your friends to compare the complexities and nuances of a variety of international vodkas. Meet your neighbors over a sip of “the elixir of the masses.”


The weekend is also the closing weekend for our critically praised world premiere production of “The Maltese Falcon,” adapted from the classic Dashiell Hammett crime novel by Helen Borgers, in association with the Hammett family. If you’d like to stay for the performance after the tasting, we’d love to have you. But call 562-997-1494 now for tickets--$15, $10 students. Closing weekends are always sold out. Don’t be disappointed! This show is pure dynamite!

4250 Atlantic Ave
Long Beach CA 90807
Box Office: 562-997-1494
Contact Name: Vic Warren vicwarren@msn.com
562-437-1443 www.lbshakespeare.org


Nino’s Italian Restaurant

Nino’s is proudly featuring the acoustic music of Whitton this upcoming First Fridays in Bixby Knolls. Nino’s serves dinner from 4:00- Midnight and music will be 8:00-11:00.
Heralded as having the spirit of a gypsy and the discipline of a solider, WHITTON independently continues to constantly write and record new material and tour relentlessly. She brings a quirky fairytale sublime to the real and raw everyday

Nino’s will also feature Watercolor Artist Emilee Reed.



Emilee has been fascinated by color and light from a very early age; it must be due to the beautiful sunsets in Corona Del Mar where she lived as a child.
With her love of light and color, watercolor is what she fell in love with, and through watercolor, she attempts to capture the beauty of her surroundings.
She has won several awards and has numerous commissioned paintings in private collections. She can be contacted at emileeereed@sbcglobal.net


8-11pm
3853 Atlantic Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 427-1003


Chroma Glass Design

Chroma will feature its first retrospective show. Artists who have previously shown over the last year will present old and new works.


Femmescape by Paul Dopulos

Participating artists include: Craig Anderson, Travis Blue, Peter Buchan, Paul Dopulos, Peter Dopulos, Keiko Kojima, George Marshall, Ranmalee Perera Michael Shipman, Lisa Tuggle, Michelle Vavonese, Megumi Wallach.


7-10pm
4242 Atlantic Ave.
Long Beach CA 90807
(562) 424-6052 www.chromaglassdesigns.com

Tuttle Cameras

Tuttle Cameras will feature the panoramic photography of Bret Taylor.


4019 Atlantic Ave
Long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 424-8633 www.tuttlecameras.com

Jammin’ Music
Come to Jammin' Music for an evening of communal music-making at First Fridays! Bang a drum (we provide the drums) to accompany the Jammin' Music Players, our rockin' ensemble featuring top-notch Long Beach musicians. All ages are welcome to join in the fun!


7p.m.-9p.m.
3972 Atlantic Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90807
Contact: Kerri Hikida, (562) 490-0222. www.jamminmusic-lb.com

Gallery THOR

Gallery THOR will be showing Works on Paper and Canvas by local artist Caryn Lynne Baumgartner.



4122 Atlantic Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90807
562.981.3223

Mirage Café
Open mic night every Friday: Poets & Musicians!

Starts at 8pm
539 Bixby Rd.
Long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 424-4774

25/10 The Creativity Network

The Creativity Network is an informal network of creative community members including visual artists, television producers, musicians, dancers and other members of the performing arts. We are Gallery owners, arts administrators, and art lovers. Founded two years ago, the Network sponsors a Speakers Series, Salons, mixers at artful locations, and Community Forums in an effort to bring the creative community together for dialogue and creative action.

The Creativity Network

24/10 Fallopian Artropian Art Event

Hello All - greetings from the FALLOPIAN ARTOPIANS the LIVE COLLABORATIVE PAINTING TROUPE!
Looking for a different Halloween event?
We are performing locally on Sat. Oct. 27th at Viento y Agua in Long
Beach!


4007 E. 4TH STREET
more information needed?
www.fallopianartopians.com
or become a friend on my space at www.myspace.com/fallopianartopians3
Hope to see you there-!!

23/10

Happy October! There's alot of great shows happening
this month. Hope you can make one, or two...


"MEGA*GWIN CUSTOM SHOW"
Oct. 13 - Nov. 7
OPening Reception: October 13th @ 7pm
This one's all toys...custom toys. Pretty Sweet and
close to my LB folk!
www.alphacult.com
408 East First St. Suite #102
Long Beach, CA 90802

Coming Soon!
"SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES"
October 20th-November 17th
OPening Reception: October 20th @ 7pm
Over 50 Artists are in this one all with Halloween in
mind. If you can't make it, check them out online
www.windupgallery.com
126 W. Main Street
Mesa, AZ 85201

ONGOING!
MF GALLERY'S FIFTH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN ART SHOW
September 22 - Nov 4, 2007
Catch it online at www.mfgallery.net

NEXT WEEKEND:
No pieces for me in this one but I will definitley be
attending!
Burnout Magazine Presents "DEAD OR LOVE"
Featuring Wish...It's her first solo show!
Opening Reception: Sat. October 20th from 5-9pm
Gasoline Gallery
www.gasolinegallery.com
4234 Main Street
El Segundo, Ca 90243