Friday, April 17, 6:30-8:00 pm: ‘If the SHU Fits‘ (Voices from Solitary Confinement)
Compiled by Melvin Ishmael Johnson and Andy Griggs
READING by members from LAPD and Dramastage-Qumran
Ron Allen FRIED POETRY prize
Tuesday, April 21, 3-5 pm: poetry workshop by Melvin Johnson
Tuesday, April 28, 3-5 pm: poetry workshop by Carmen Vega
Friday, May 8, 6:30-8 pm: poetry readings
Friday, May 15, 6:30-8 pm: poetry readings
Friday, May 22, 6:30-8 pm: poetry readings + PRIZE + party
Saturday, May 2: 1st RENT PARTY will feature Skid Row’s own Alex Rodriguez Quartet and Prof. Kenneth Marcus from the University of La Verne will touch on the history of Rent Parties, which developed during the Harlem Renaissance, and discuss the music scene on L.A.’s Central Ave. during that time.
Monday, May 4, 6:30 PM Skid Row activist General Jeff and cultural and political theorist Fred Dewey, who was involved in the beginning of the neighborhood councils movement, talk about the formation of the Skid Row Neighborhood Council.
Thursday, May 14, 7:00 pm ‘Global Gentrification? Hipster Los Angeles in Johannesburg’
A presentation by Melissa Tandiwe Myambo, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor in the International Institute at UCLA.
Saturday, May 23, 7 pm TALK
Rob Ochshorn talks about interacting with digital archives in the physical world and his process designing the Blue Book / Silver Book exhibition.
Friday, June 5, 7:00 pm MOVIE NIGHT
Two films on the Native American experience in Los Angeles. First, a rare opportunity to see Kent Mackenzie’s THE EXILES (72mins), a 1961 film about young Native Americans living in L.A.’s Bunker Hill district. This will be followed by a short film by Pamela J. Peters, LEGACY OF EXILED NDNZ (11mins), which documents the lives of young Native Americans currently living in Los Angeles.
Post-screening, Ms. Peters and Skid Row advocate Kevin Michael Key will engage the audience in conversation on issues such as possible similarities between the Bureau of Indian Affairs controversial Urban Relocation Program and current gentrification efforts in Skid Row.
Saturday, June 6, 7:00 pm RENT PARTY
* with Dr. Michael Alexander and Guitarist Jason Golday. Intellectual stimulation: The Dao in Downtown, an evening with Dr. Michael Alexander, UC-Riverside Religious Studies professor and author of Jazz Age Jews. Alexander will present, “The Great Thoroughfare: A Spiritual Adventure from the Time of Genghis Khan” from his work in progress, Paths of Joy: Adventures in Spirit and Therapy.
* Aural sensation: Guitarist Jason Golday will perform in conjunction with Alexander’s talk. Golday received his MFA in Jazz Guitar Performance from California Institute of the Arts. He has toured nationally, recorded and performed with members of the Black Keys and frequently performs locally at The Echo, Satellite, The Santa Barbara Museum of Contemporary Art, The Hammer Museum, and other venues.
* Gastronomical titillation, gratification and satiation: Cooked up by rent party cult chef Arthur Africano and his band of assistants. Admission is by donation ($15 suggested), with all proceeds directly supporting the museum.
Monday June 15, 6:30 pm ‘BLUE BOOK / SILVER BOOK … THE NEXT BOOK’
A presentation of “Our Skid Row”, a community plan for neighborhood improvement, followed by a conversation about housing and community development with Tom Grode, Skid Row Advocate, Steve Diaz, Los Angeles Community Action Network, Theresa Hwang, Skid Row Housing Trust, and Sara Hernandez, Council District 14.
Friday, June 19, 7:00 pm ‘WE GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE’
Screening of an excerpt from this documentary in progress by Jen Araki and Brook Whitmore and a conversation with three young adults who are followed in the movie while navigating their way out of the foster care system in Los Angeles.
Saturday, July 11: 7:00 pm RENT PARTY
* L.A. Rebellion filmmaker and arts educator Ben Caldwell will discuss his 30 years operating the legendary KAOS Network in Leimert Park and it’s renowned weekly open-mic Project Blowed, which helped launch rappers such as Aceyalone, Medusa and Jurassic Five.
* The Burt/Williams Project will perform in conjunction with Caldwell’s talk. Fronted by Hylen Burt, guitarist and vocalist, and Bobbie Williams, alto and tenor saxophonist, the quartet has performed at VA Hospitals for various functions, and in a number of clubs in the Los Angeles area and around the state.
Tuesday, July 14: 2;30 pm
Etgar 36: 50 students + teachers visit the museum to learn about LAPD’s work.
Friday, July 17: 7:00 pm: MY HARLEM – Screening followed by a conversation.
Since record-high prices in the New York City borough have forced many residents out of the neighborhood, the documentary “My Brooklyn” is an open invitation to discuss the extremely contemporary topic of gentrification.
August 5–31: EXHIBIT – LA History Keepers: storied objects from collections across the region @ Pio Pico House, El Pueblo, Los Angeles.
On display are: a Fact Sheet and a Flier for Tent City Homeless Protest at LA City Hall, Homeless Organizing Team, December 1984.
August 8, 7pm: RENT PARTY
Poet and National Book Award finalist Fred Moten and the The Tommy Newman Jazz Trio.
September 8-November 21: EXHIBIT – Inside/Outside: Prison Narratives
LAPD’s 3-hour film of 184 Californians reading the entire 184 page decision of 9th. Circuit Court of Appeals, which we created during our project State Of Incarceration, is part of this exhibition at the Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art, Chaffey College, 5885 Haven Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737.
September 18, 7pm: CREATING CULTURAL SPACES IN SKID ROW.
A report from the July convening at the ARMORY and a continuation of the discussion, facilitated by Jeff Cain. It’s a public meeting and everyone is invited to attend.
September 21, 6:30pm: COOKING DEMO by food justice non-profit Community Services Unlimited (CSU). CSU will bring fresh produce from their network of South LA urban farms and share simple recipes for delicious, healthy meals. Learn more about their work combating food deserts and the cultural significance of their particular crops.
September 19, 7pm: RENT PARTY
Robby Herbst, founder of the Journal of Aesthetics & Protest and organizer of the Llano del Rio artist collective ldrg.wordpress.com/guides and the Jason Golday Trio.
October 10, 7pm: RENT PARTY
UC-I professor, artist and curator Yong Soon Min speaks about Asian American artists in LA art history and Alex Rodriguez Jazz Quartet.
November 7, 7pm: RENT PARTY
Acclaimed John Fante biographer Stephen Cooper will lead a discussion on Fante’s Bunker Hill days as well as one of the author’s short works. With the New Men Jazz Trio.
November 30, 7pm: A Skid Row community discussion facilitated by Charles Porter – 16 year Skid Row worker (UCEPP)/African American indigenous issues and Tom Grode – Skid Row resident/honorary member of San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, Native name Woorypot Moompet.
The Skid Row History Museum & Archive is activated by performances and community meetings and serves as a literal and artistic ground, a welcoming space for angelenos to meet and mingle and explore civic issues together.
The Ron Allen Fried Poetry Prize is given in honor of the humanity and creativity of Ron Allen, an inspired be-bop surrealist poet, musical and theatrical force. The Ron Allen Fried Poetry Prize is produced by LAPD and Drama Stage Qumran.
