LongBeachCulture.org CenterStage Blog

We’re collecting information for transmission to the Arts Council’s Strategic Planning Committee. Below, please find a survey. Feel free to cut and paste into a word document and send back to me via e-mail at creativitynetlb@aol.com:

THE LONG BEACH CREATIVITY NETWORK
SURVEY 

What would you list as the top three priority issues facing the Creative Community in Greater Long Beach?

What are the three most critical issues specifically facing you as an individual, artist or Creative organization?

It was a good crowd of some 25 people who turned out for another stimulating Salon at C1D Gallery,441 E First Street(Thanks to Enrique Chiu for hosting us). Co-sponsored by CID and LongBeachCulture.Org, the Salon got down to business with talk about the upcoming Strategic Plan for the Arts Council for Long Beach. There’s been one done earlier this decade along with a Citywide Cultural Plan done in the early nineties. So, a foundation already exists. Arts Council Board Member Henry Taboada staked out the big issues and reminded the audience that the process will be an open one. Community input is welcomed. More importantly, no one wants another plan that is going to sit on a shelf somewhere. A planning meeting is scheduled and as soon as information becomes available, we’ll post it here.

The Salon moved on to a spirited discussion of the Arts Exchange Project (you can find more information on this elsewhere on LongBeachCulture.Org). The good news is that no matter what happens with the Broadway and Long Beach Blvd. project, there is a real desire to see Arts be a vital element of the City’s planning. Mark your calendars. The Redevelopment Agency is planning a community meeting to discuss the future of that parcel of land, along with the Art Exchange proposal and others, on June 22 in the evening at the First Congregational Church. Details to follow.

We didn’t get an opportunity to address other issues raised on 3X5 cards but we promise to tackle some of them both here at LongBeachCulture.Org and in future Salons. And speaking of the next one: June 26. This one will be more “fun”. We promise a “Summertime Salon”. Details to follow:

1. The city’s role and attitude towards the Arts
2. What are the obstacles to Unity and Open Collaboration and how can we overcome them?
3. The future of K-Jazz Public Radio
4. More opportunities to show Art
5. Art as business
6. “I think as a community, we seem to feel as though we are inferior to other surrounding communities and communities of artists. Why is that?”
7. The lack of community facilities that are capable of supporting and encouraging the digital arts while, at the same time, providing exposure to the traditional forms of expression.

The 2nd District Candidate Forum, held last night in the lobby of the Cooper Arms, was a smash success by any standard. The candidates were in good form, the event was well organized and attended, and interesting issues were addressed.

While I was there I took a number of pictures but didn’t use my flash, as I thought it might be disruptive. Some of the pictures are blurry, but I think they have a certain interest, and do convey the scope of the event. I hope you enjoy them.

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We’re fortunate to have many wonderful performance venues here in Long Beach. The Carpenter Center is certainly one of them. They recently announced their ’06-’07 lineup:

The new season captures the magic, beauty, and exhilaration of the world’s cultures, and theatre’s ability to transport us to far away places. Celebrate with us the resilience of the human spirit, and the awesome power of imagination…

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by Sander Roscoe Wolff
Executive Director
LongBeachCulture.org

Plans for development of a number of properties along the East side of
Long Beach Blvd between Broadway and 3rd are moving along, and the
Redevelopment Agency’s commitment to dedicating a portion to the arts
remains strong. They’ve reached out to the community, asking for input
about how best to use the arts portion of the development. One group,
The Art Exchange Task Force, stepped up to the plate with an ambitious
and far reaching proposal which will be outlined by them, below.

There are other proposals on the table, and we hope to present them
here as well. For now, for your consideration and understanding, here
is what they’ve shared:

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By Greggory Moore

I may not be in the loop. I may not be hip. I’m quite certain I’m ignorant of a great many things. Still, I feel safe in guessing that there’s no place in Long Beach (at least) that regularly features as eclectic a mix of musical and other performers as {open}. In fact, I imagine much of the stuff Shea Gauer books at his bookstore wouldn’t play within the city limits were it not for his efforts. Tonight was another case in point, with two acts (and their self-descriptions): Grimace—”What we are is an improv/sonic exploring live loop duo. And we’re also snappy dressers (well, not really)”; and The 9?—”Good ole fashion old timey free improv with a dash of smelling salts and a subscription to Popular Electronics.”

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The Captiva Collection
Polaroids by Naida Osline
In the Project Room: Jenna Gallemore
May 20 – June 23, 2006
Reception for the Artists: Saturday, May 20, 6-8pm

The Office
An Art Space
5122 Bolsa Ave. Suite #110, Huntington Beach, Ca 92649
Phone: 714-767-5861
Email, office@theofficeart.com
Web site, < http://www.theofficeart.com>
Blog, < http://www.theocartblog/typepad.com>
Hours, Tuesday – Friday, 1-5 p.m.

About The Exhibit
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The event will be taking place September 6-10, 2006. Enter all genres of feature films, short films, video art, documentaries and screenplays into this highly reputable film festival with a true focus on independent films. Awards include theatrical presentation, distributor screenings, cash awards, software and more. Regular Entry from April 2 to June 3, 2006; Late Deadline from June 4 to July 1, 2006.

SoCal Independent Film Festival

www.socalfilmfest.com

info@socalfilmfest.com

19744 Beach Blvd. #221

Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Call it an excuse to meet people. Like and unlike yourself. Interested in arts, culture, music, design, anime, writing, throwing rocks at old and stale ideas. Climbing over old and stale ideas. architecture, urban planning, what makes a great dress or a suit, or how do we hold on to some traditions and forget about others. We network. We discuss. We challenge. We ask questions. and search for answers. But mostly, I hope we look each other right in the old eyeball and figure out how we can make the creative industry in Long Beach more vibrant. How can we work better together?

Networking is not just about exchanging business cards and telephone numbers. It’s about finding that one great greasy spoon that make the greatest burrito or pizza or bbq and you just have to share with it a few hundred of your best friends. Well, it’s the same here. We’ve discovered great art. Great music. Great writing. You name it. And we want to work with them. For them if we have to. Because it’s just too good not to share it with everyone else.

The Long Beach Creativity Network is not an organization. And the Creativity Salons are not a meeting. They’re meant to celebrate. Educate. Commiserate. And sometimes just BS. But that’s okay too. And there’s plans for a website. And online forums to continue the networking and talking. And LongBeachCulture.Org is a good friend and sponsor. There’s alot more ahead.

If you have a little time and want a little information, call Antonio Pedro Ruiz at 562-430-8637 or an e-mail will do also. creativitynetlb@aol.com

Host: The Creativity Network, LongBeachCulture.Org and C1D Gallery

Location:

C1D Gallery
441 East First Street, Long Beach, CA View Map

When: Monday, May 22, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Phone: 562-244-3142
THE CREATIVITY NETWORK, In association with LONGBEACHCULTURE.ORG and CID GALLERY,
Invite you to a special edition of The Creativity Salon.

Enjoy “CONNECTIONS”, a group exhibition of four international and national artists showing their own way to connect with the universe as WE connect with each other.

Monday, May 22, 2006
6:30-8:30pm

Meet and network with other members of Long Beach’s growing creative community. Chat, exchange ideas and business cards, drink some wine, eat a little food, chart Long Beach’s creative future.

Topics to be thrown down for discussion include the Proposed Art Exchange Project and the upcoming Strategic Plan for the Arts Council for Long Beach.

Bring your favorite wine or refreshment and we’ll supply the chairs, glasses and snacks.

Please RSVP by Friday, May 19. Send your confirmation to Creativitynetlb@aol.com.

For more information, call Antonio Pedro Ruiz, 562-430-8637

CREATIVITY……IS ACTION!