From Art Center College of Design, Japanese American National Museum, the Autry, Skirball & UCLA
With the gloom and a bit of a chill descending on the metropolis just before the weekend, it may be hard to get some gas in the old tank to get up and go partake of activites. But there's plenty, including the annual Car Classic in Pasadena, a celebration not only of the automobile but also its underlying technology and especially the care, craft, thinking and design that goes into a great vehicle. Of course education itself can take some curious twists, as a scholar will explore in a converation about the ignominious history of American Indian boarding schools, which will be part of a busy Saturday in Griffith Park, where there also will be a big show and sale of vintage American Indian baskets. In Little Tokyo, they'll be rockin', jammin' and takin' in lots of jazzy sounds as the Asian American Music Festival blows into town today and Saturday, when docents will launch a two-day class on the comrehensive history of Japanese Americans. And by the way, Caldecott-winning author Allen Say (aka James Allen Koichi Moriwaki Seii) will be launching, selling and signing 'Boy in the Garden,' his latest, beautiful looking book for kids on Sunday in Little Tokyo. This might be a good weekend to scoot over to the Westside to catch up and maybe even contribute to the global 1000 Journals project and exhibition, a unique opportunity to enjoy and share outstanding examples of quality writing, art, poety and other stuff shared in a special, personal medium. And for thos who insist they can best rest when they're dead, here's a different look at how Korean shamans once escorted, danced and conducted ceremonies to get folks out of here.
