SoCal Minds

Can citywide events draw in artistic Angelenos?

Its advocates say it is more than a happy pastime and insist it helps people be more observant, better learners and more socially and culturally engaged. In an effort to promote this art, a push modeled after a program successfully executed in London, there will be events in the next month scattered all across L.A. in some of its prime venues -- this weekend in San Marino, and in the days ahead, in Westwood, Exposition Park, downtown, Malibu, Pasadena and on the L.A. River. So sharpen those pencils and crayons and pull out the pens, charcoals and any other similar implements. Got the picture yet? The Ryman arts folks want one and all to join in for an October of  the 'Big Draw LA, a citywide celebration of the act of drawing.

Struggles with economic, racial, gender, religious divides

From UCLA, the Autry, Cal Poly Pomona & UCI

Poof. Shazam. Woo-hoo. It didn't happen, folks. Contrary to the weird, dream idealism that somehow conjured the twisted notion that the election of a gifted, mixed race president of African origin would somehow, by itself, eliminate all the deleterious inequities and cure the deep economic and religious divisions in U.S. society -- well, it hasn't happened. That's not occurring. And the realities of this crop up all over campuses and research, to wit:

How U.S. standards can impoverish California seniors

In Sacramento this morning, Bruin researchers will present their work showing the inadequacy and flaws of federal guidelines that help determine whether seniors are poor and need government assistance. It's a sadly familar comparative calculation conundrum that, unfortunately, leaves the Golden State's old in a vulnerable spot: because the U.S. sets its elderly poverty measures based on national averages, this data fails to account for the high cost of living in California and locks seniors in this state out of help that might be available elsewhere. L.A. seniors, for example, might need almost $23,000 on average to cover annual rent on a one-bedroom unit and to cover other basic living expenses, while the Social Security max payment is $10,440 and the poverty guideline is set at $10,830. Researchers from Westwood have proposed alternative standards that they deem more fair.

A push in Westwood, Sacramento for a new economic index for the elderly

Click here for full report, comparative data on elder index

Daily racial slights for Latinos, Asians; soaring suspensions for blacks

Two separate groups of researchers in Westwood find disturbing levels still of racial discrimination against Latino, Asian and African American youngsters harming their grades, health and leading to more suspensions, particularly in middle school, of black kids. Daily, race-based slights were experienced with a surprising frequency by Latino seniors in high school, while those of Asian descent had more negative such experiences than did their peers of European parentage, researchers found in examining the lives of more than 600 teens on the brink of adulthood. Meantime, in scrutinizing random samples of data from more than 9,000 middle schools, other researchers saw a disturbing increase in the rate of suspensions for black youngsters.

Latino, Asian teens found to experience daily race bias with harmful effect

Big gap discovered in rate of suspensions for black middle schoolers

Click here for full report on 'suspended education'

Actor George Takei speaks out about his 'human rights' activism

He's not just a familar face from a cult-popular television science fiction program. And he's certainly not the character he played there, the inscrutable Mr. Sulu. No, actor George Takei (shown at left in traditional garb at the Oscars with his husband, Brad Altman, who courteously provided the photo) long has been a progressive activist, he notes, pushing for social change to remedy the injustices he says he has seen as a Japanese American interned with his family during World War II, as an Asian American and now as an openly gay man. Here's a blog post that hits on his longtime activism as a curtain-raiser for his weekend public conversation on these topics in Griffith Park.

Don't mistake Star Trek star for famed character or recent conversion to causes

A weekend chat with George Takei about 'One Man's Journey'

A million reasons to unwind mystery of an academic gender gap

There are, of course, myriad scientific mysteries to be unwound and decoded. But for contemporary scholars one of the currently elusive of these continues to be why there aren't more young women flocking to study science, technology, engineering and math. Why is this so and why do some women succeed in these male-dominated fields? That's now a million-dollar issue in Pomona, where a federal grant will let researchers folow 400 male and female students for two years to get a better grip on the gender divide in these crucial areas of scholarly endeavor.

In Pomona, a two-year scrutiny on why more women don't study science, engineering, math

A timely tome asks tough questions on media coverage of religion

For all the yelling, screaming and sick public attention paid to a Florida pastor who proposed to burn Korans or to the incessant bickering over a plan to build an Islamic community center near New York's 'Ground Zero' site, well, does it all provide cause to wonder about the media's capacity to cover religion and matters religious? The folks in Irvine, with some key contributions from some terrific one-time Los Angeles Times scribes like Jack Miles and Stephen Burgard, have their timely take on this topic in a quick q-and-a. It includes the intriguing argument that, by its lack of any coverage at all, is Buddhism -- not Islam -- the world's least understood faith?

A fast Q-and-A on a burning topic in today's headlines: religion and society

On a sunnier, warmer weekend, lots of smart things to do

From Pepperdine, USC, Claremont Graduate University, the Autry, UCLA & the Getty

With the shivering gray weather promising to break, there's lots of reasons to get around the city, including:

• With all the sheer lunacy coming out of Florida and New York, the folks in Malibu at lunch time today offer a serious discussion on religious freedom in America with two legal scholars and an expert from the Nootbar Institute.

• The formal RSVP deadline is past but those interested may still want to ring to see if space is available still for a gathering today of policymakers, educators and public health advocates who all will be responding to a Trojan call for action on childhood obesity. The all-day summit will be conducted with the co-sponsorship of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

•  She's the darling of the Hollywood crowd, what with all the new attention she has garnered with an absolutely delightful, Emmy-winning portrayal of her astonishing life. And while there will be only a select rare standing-room-only spots, the author-professor-scholar Temple Grandin will offer her intriguing take on how 'Animals Make Us Human' at lunch time today.

• He not only became a noteworthy artist himself (his 'Garden for Sally' is shown at right) but he also deeply touched and affected his many students' lives and careers. So, besides announcing the receipt of a $1 million challenge grant to establish an endowed chair in his honor, the folks in Claremont, starting today and running through the weekend, will put on a whole program in memory of Roland Reiss, the late painter-professor-department chair and creative force.

• In the movie capital of the world, of course, there are showings going on all the time. But the folks in Griffith Park, tonight and Saturday night will offer a spotlight to some distinctive films as part of the American Indian Film Institute Film Festival with plenty of premiers of shorts (such as 'Shi-shi-etko,' a still from which is shown at right) and features by and about Native Americans. And it will be a weekend away, but set that home recording system now, as Turner Classic Movies formally recognizes the key industry role played by the Bruins' film and television archive with a back-to-back run of 13 films restored by the institution's talented artisans.

• Though tickets have already largely been snapped up, a few still are trickling out for the distinctive opportunity to see major acting talent take on theatrical classics in the unique setting of the Getty Villa. What's it like for the likes of Carey Perloff, Olympia Dukakis, Manoel Felciano, Bonfire Madigan Shive and Pamela Reed  to do Sophocles' 'Elektra' outdoors with a live audience?

Friday light, looking toward a weekend with lots to offer

From Pacific Asia Museum, the Japanese American National Museum, the Getty & the Autry

Whoa, this remarkable cool, comfortable SoCal summer can't last forever, can it? While SoCal Minds will enjoy the clime with a Friday lite posting, take it, too, as a sign for one and all to get out and keep moving around town to take in an array of mind-extending stuff, including:

• In Pasadena, the highly cultivated eye of curator Kalim Winata turns from books on what's made in India and China to how popular culture emerged in 'China Modern,' an exploration and exhibit that opens Friday. Traveling from the late Qing through Shanghai and all about the People's Republic, the show offers a graphic look at how the historic figures like Mao and modern southern beauties get mashed-up to popularize everything from politics to pomades.

How popular culture gets designed in 'China Modern'

• In Little Tokyo, it will be a busy weekend as the museum moves nearer to marking its 25th anniversary, partly by inviting some key players on Saturday to recall how an iconic exhibit got put together. The remembrances of the volunteers who recovered the intern barracks from the desolation and decay of their Heart Mountain, Wyo., site, then will be followed on Sunday by a paid-event that celebrates a century of good eating in the neighborhood, with a tour and tasting of noteworthy eateries.

Click here and scroll down, through for this weekend's events

• It may be aptly provocative in titular fashion. And certainly with the esteemed scholar involved it won't be a case of headline silliness. But the audience for the free Sunday talk up on the hill simply will have to decide if this question gets answered: Why did Italian artists draw? Go explore how the simple presence paper propelled the profound Renaissance revolution in art in the hands of titans such as Michaelangelo, Mantegna, DaVinci and Titian; space is limited, reservations are required. That's a 1518 Pontormo study shown on the right, by the way.

Click here to learn more about, rsvp for talk on 'Why Italian Artists Drew'

• In Griffith Park, courtesy of the folks at Bank of America, this will be a free museum weekend and a perfect chance finally to catch up Sunday afternoon with Laura Skandera Trombley, who not only serves as president of Pitzer College but also is one of the preeminent scholars on the legendary Mark Twain. She has appeared all across the region talking about her new book and its revelations about Samuel Clements' 'Other Woman.' Lots of attention to the famed western storyteller on this, the centennial of his death, including the much anticipated, upcoming release of the autobiography whose publication he barred until long after he was gone.

Click here for more info on Mark Twain lecture

Getty museum leadership program moves east

From Claremont Graduate University

A program housed at the Getty Center on the Westside for a decade soon will move east to Claremont under a three-year, $2.2 million grant that will let the leaders of tomorow's major museums earn academic credit while learning how better to manage the complexities of their crucial cultural institutions. The new Getty Museum Leadership Institute will open in January, though participants in the 2010 program next summer will work at the Brentwood center. The 25-year-old program, which began in New York and once was affiliated with UC Berkeley, counts more than 1,000 senior-level museum professionals, board members, academics, philanthropists and public officials as alums of its efforts to support and improve the governance, management and operations of top institutions around the world.

$2.2 million grant will move Getty Museum Leadership Institute to Claremont

Academic credit key to shift from Brentwood, KPCC reports

It's an LA week: chimps, gorillas, oil, deception

From USC, Cal State Fullerton, Zocalo & the Getty

Chimpanzees. Gorillas. Oil. Deception. No, those aren't the elements for a Marx brothers comedy. They are among topics that will be taken up by smart minds this week:

In Exhibition Park, legendary primatologist Jane Goodall on Tuesday will talk about her half century of work to study, understand and protect endangered species, particularly chimpanzees in Africa. At the afternoon event, she also will sign and sell merchandise and her book, "Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink," written with Thayne Maynard and Gail Hudson. Proceeds from the book and merchandise sales benefit Goodall's institute, which builds on her efforts to save threatened species, protect endangered environments and help people around the globe. Her program is free and open to the public but reservations are required.

Protecting primates, people with humanitarian Jane Goodall 

Click here for more information on the Jane Goodall Institute

In Fullerton, Ian Redmond, a tropical field biologist and conservationist, will discuss on Tuesday afternoon, why saving gorillas isn't just about preserving a species but instead protecting the planet. Actions to reduce global warming will benefit mankind and the earth and should be undertaken immediately -- and not just to protect large primates and other animals that need endangered, valuable tropical forest habitats, Redmond and others say, citing the role of gorillas, in particular, to serve as sentinels or indicators of environmental well-being and to rally activists. This lecture is free and open to the public.

Saving gorillas and the planet with biologist Ian Redmond

 In West Los Angeles, author Peter Maas, in a program Wednesday night, will take on all the troubling global consequences of our difficult relationship with oil. He'll talk about the problems that stem from Americans' gas guzzling, as well as the woes that have afflicted oil-rich nations such as Nigeria, Venezuela and Angola. Maas writes for the New York Times Magazine and has just put a new book, "Crude World." This session at the Skirball is free and open to the public but reservations are required.

Understanding the global 'Curse of Oil' with author Peter Maas

In West Los Angeles, famed filmmaker Errol Morris and Ricky Jay, an author, actor, scholar and sleight-of-hand-artist, on Thursday night will tackle the complex issues of reality and illusion, masterpieces and forgeries and art and perception. Morris (whose works include Standard Operating Procedure, The Fog of War and The Thin Blue Line) and Jay have delved into the topic of art and what we really know of ourselves in a New York Times blog. Their discussion is free and open to the public but reservations are required.

Probing reality, illusion, art, perception with filmmaker Errol Morris, author Ricky Jay

How an LA Workshop Drew Galaxy of Art Stars

From the Getty

It's a name-dropper's delight, now an iconic institution of modern art in LA that has worked for more than 40 years with the likes of David Hockney, Jasper Johns, John Baldessari, Ellsworth Kelly, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, Edward Kienholz, Nancy Reddin Kienholz, Ed Ruscha and Richard Serra. But if Gemini G.E.L. (Graphics Editions Limited) isn't immediately familar, here's a chance to learn more about it at a May 27 panel -- with promised appearances by artists Baldessari and Serra and Sidney Felsen and Stanley Grinstein, cofounders of the artist's workshop and publisher of limited edition prints and sculptures. Admission free, reservations required and they can be made online by clicking link below. 

Photo: Daniel Buren at Gemini / Copyright 2001 by Sidney B. Felsen

Exploring the Work of Pathbreaking LA Art Workshop
Gemini G.E. L. Catalogue Raisonne by the National Gallery of Art

Southern California Shows Off Its Rembrandts

From the Getty et al & Pacific Asia Museum

As more institutions boost their online displays of their collections, the viewable treasures get more amazing by the day. Just how many of the region's most significant institutions got online and what they learned in the process is part of "LA Art Online," a Getty initiative and study available in cyberspace. Ditto, a multi-museum project that has pulled together the works of Rembrandt in Southern California, which, despite its late-start, has the third-largest such assemblage in the U.S. [behind NY and DC] Through the powers of online, fans of the Dutch master have been able for a bit now to click around his works from the Getty, LACMA, the Norton Simon, the Hammer and San Diego's Timken museum. And if arts of Asia appeal, instead, there are multiple presentations of note featuring another museum [see links on the right-rail of its home page]. 

Rembrandt self-portrait from the Norton Simon Museum

Rembrandt in Southern California

LA Art Online -- a Getty Initiative

Click Here to See Asian Art Exhibits

A More Plastic Future for Valuable Art

From the Getty

Who knew? From all the rubbish on the beach, believe most of us thought that plastics were indestructible, the Dustin Hoffman, "Graduate" way to go because they had a limitless future. So, go figure: For artistic and conservation concern, plastics do degrade, get damaged and even disappear into a powder. They crack, warp and ooze. And for more than a quarter century, those worried about preserving and protecting art works with plastics in them have fretted about exactly what to do. New research, in a project called POPART (the acronym has its own clever etymology), aim to tackle this woe.

Getty Tackles Preservation of Plastic

Hunt's on for LA's Unheard of Historic Gems

From the Getty

With 85 percent of Los Angeles unmapped much less surveyed for buildings and neighborhoods that might be deemed historic, the Getty Conservation Institute and the city of Los Angeles' Office of Historic Resources soon will launch a new push to preserve important parts of the metropolis. They'll start with an April 4 forum, hosted by Larry Mantle of KPCC's "Air Talk," at the Central Library as part of the Aloud programs. Participants will be asked to reveal what they know about at least one historic gem in the city -- a building, area or neighborhood -- and information will be gathered for three years in the SurveyLA initiative.

A Day Highlighting a Push to Preserve Historic LA