This weekend get out of the house for Latin American art (from Frida Kahlo to Salvadoran political art and activism), poetry, and a food event in honor of Jonathan Gold. So .. GTFO LA!
Friday, August 10
Porch Poetry
[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he Porch Poetry is an open mic night and fundraiser against gentrification that takes place right out on a porch in South L.A. That porch belongs to Mike Davis, the hood activist-poet bringing awareness to the issues facing South L.A. one stanza at a time. Designed as a spot for people to come together to eat, recite, and express, the space came out of Davis’s own struggles with gentrification. The fundraiser benefits the Davis family’s current struggle against eviction. Come recite the latest poem you’ve written. The poem could be about anything. This poetic get-together will also feature vendors and a pop-up healing shop. Pay $5 at the door to get in, but no one will be turned away if they can’t afford the entrance. More info here.
Saturday, August 11
Frida Kahlo Under the Stars Lecture
[dropcap size=big]Y[/dropcap]ou know her name and image, but do you really know her art? A special lecture this Saturday will showcase a portrait of the Mexican painter’s legacy. The lecture will be given by Mexican art expert Gregorio Luke. The former director of the Museum of Latin American Art has gained experience in Mexican and Latin American art and culture through his years working in cultural affairs and the first secretary of Mexico’s embassy in Washington D.C. He has given more than 1,000 lectures at museums and universities through the U.S., Mexico, and Europe. This event is a great for people knew to Kahlo’s art or any fan wishing to know more. More info here.
Salvadoran Art and Activism in L.A.
Los Angeles is hope to thousand of people from El Salvador who migrated in the 1980s to escape a violent civil war. Since then, Salvadorans have shaped the way Angelenos eat and experience culture through their food and cultural celebrations. Beyond food and culture, art and activism have been another way for people to not only preserve their identity, but to engage with society’s current events and advocate for their community. Learn more about this movement through a conversation at the Mistake Room, which currently has an exhibit called My Veins Do Not End in Me with Madeline Janis, former executive director of the Central American Resource Center; Beatriz Cortez, artist and scholar of postwar Central American literature and culture; and Eddie Aparicio, one of the artists in the exhibition. More info here.
Sunday, August 12
La Mujer Film Series Chavela
[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he Latino Theatre Company presents a cinematic portrait of late Costa Rican-born Mexican singer Chavela Vargas who has become known for her passionate take of ranchera songs and her gender-defying identity that powerfully rejected the norm. The film Chavela captures Vargas’ return to the stage after disappearing from the public eye for decades. I film features Pedro Almodóvar, Elena Benarroch, and Miguel Bosé. Before the flick, the theater will present The Trouble With Tonia, a short film by Juan C. Garza, about a freak accident that changes the life of Tonia, know as the meanest person in the world. One of the best parts about this event? It’s free. Reception begins at 4 p.m. RSVP More info here.
Monday, August 13
Together With Tacos On Pico
[dropcap size=small]C[/dropcap]elebrate the life of the late Jonathan Gold at Together With Tacos on Pico. The event will showcase the “Pico...Where I Learned to Eat” mural by Hattas Murals made to honor the beloved food critic that gave so much to Los Angeles’ food scene. The first 200 attendees will receive free tacos thanks to Trejos’ Tacos. Attending or not, you can help Jonathan Gold’s family with immediate expenses here. More info on the event here.
