SAVE THE DATE: Programming for World Art Day 2018 in Los Angeles – Thursday April 12th through Sunday April 15th

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Yes, the international day to celebrate art is April 15th– Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday – and although it is also Tax Day, we prefer to celebrate the beauty of ART on that day!

Established in 2012, World Art Day was first brought to our attention by the fab folks behind the monthly Downtown LA Art Walk four years ago, when DTLA galleries decided to join the celebration with internationally themed exhibits, special lectures, and receptions. World Art Day was created by the International Association of Art ( IAA) which supports, promotes and encourages the celebration of art in all mediums around the world on that day.  The U.S. chapter of the IAA happens to be headquartered in Los Angeles and will be hosting projects (exhibitions, pop-ups, artist talks, performances, and installations) throughout the city in private and public spaces. Although World Art Day is officially celebrated each April 15th, participants will present their projects starting on April 7th, and ending on Sunday, April 15th, 2018.  Here in Los Angeles, the holiday happens to also fall within MoPLA Month of Photography LA, so there are events happening all over the city celebrating art, photography, and world culture.

For World Art Day 2017, Cindy Schwarzstein, founder of Cartwheel Art, organized programming for Cartwheel Art by presenting a free self-guided tour of over twenty-five events at galleries throughout Los Angeles on World Art Day. We were recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation by 14th District Councilmember Jose Huizar on behalf of the City of Los Angeles. However, this year, we are looking forward to checking out the events, rather than being an organizer. That said, here is what has been organized so far:

On Thursday, April 12th from 6-10PM, the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk lounge returns to its original location at 634 S. Spring Street, where they will host a group exhibition curated by Anne Martin, Owner/Curator at Sugar.Press, and President of IAA-USA.org (International Association of Art, USA).

The largest installation celebrating World Art Day, and one you should not miss – is the newest incarnation of “The Mandala Project: The Wall,”  happening in the center of DTLA.  The Mandala Project is an evolutionary art installation and participatory art piece created and performed by German-born, L.A.-based artist Lilli Muller. The interactive work will be created by Muller at Pershing Square, daily from April 7- April 15th, to conclude on World Art Day with a closing public celebration in the park.  For 10 hours per day, Muller will live plaster cast the hands and feet of visitors and bystanders, mounting the finished pieces onto “The Wall,” symbolizing a border fence. The massive public art installation is 120’ long and 8’ tall, dividing Pershing Square. The project promotes interactivity with the community, bringing attention to social causes through art and activism, and includes multi-media performances, music, spoken word, and public receptions to stimulate an ongoing dialog about DACA, immigration, and the current political crisis involving our sanctuary state.  A previous version of the Mandala Project was recently hosted at the Venice Biennale in Italy, where Muller created a boat with cast outstretched arms symbolizing the refugee crisis.

Upcoming public events at The Wall Include:

  • Sunday, April 8, 3-7 PM – Lee Boek presents: Storyphile at the Wall, Part 1: Spoken work and music with local talent.
  • Thursday, April 12th, DTLA Art Walk Night – DACA and Legal Aid Representatives will speak adjacent to the Wall installation for community dialog and information-sharing.
  • Friday, April 13, 6-8:00 PM – Artist & Donor Reception – Richard Montoya of seminal political theatre collective CULTURE CLASH will appear at the Wall with special guests, to sing a lament about the dehumanizing aspect of border crossing and refugees.
  • Saturday, April 14 – The LA Mud People will give the pieces away to a passerby, engaging with the audience in silent communication
  • Sunday, April 15, 3-7 :00PM – Closing Ceremony -Lee Boek presents Storyphile at the Wall, Part 2: Spoken word and music with local talent

All World Art Day events are free to attend and open to the public!For an updated list of World Art Day programming taking place April 12-15, please visit www.iaa-usa.org/events.

1 Comment

  1. Beverly Moore
    April 4, 2018

    Cindy
    Thank you for all the energy and commitment you make in your efforts to promote art in LA. We’re lucky to have you. Your Save the Date alerts get me excited about what’s happening in art and I now go Downtown all the time.
    Beverly Moore

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