"Notes from the Overground" - The Art of Walt Hall and Paul Torres

Playing All August and September at Cactus Gallery.....

"Notes from the Overground" - The Art of Walt Hall and Paul Torres

Opening Night Reception - Saturday, August 8, 2009 * 8-11p
Show runs Aug 8 - September 27, 2009

Back by popular demand, our next exhibition will feature new works from two of L.A.'s premium artists, Walt Hall and Paul Torres. Both at the forefront of the art scene in Los Angeles, their styles are as unique as their narratives.

Walt Hall's ever growing series, "Fenceposts for a Better Tomorrow," continues to steer us through other worlds filled with bear figures, worms with top hats, bird riders, trees, robots and processions. His images capture your imagination and his composition creates art pieces that spike interest in all who see them.

View Walt's work at http://www.thesappystudio.com

Naturally gifted with a keen observation, Paul Torres' art embodies a rich imagination and is laced with social commentary and a soulful interpretation of everyday life. His newest works depict various themes, among them aspects of L.A. nightlife. Paul's new high low brow contemporary rococo style takes aim at the cultural, religious, and sensory flavors and underpinnings of Americana and society.

View Paul's work at http://www.paul-torres.com

YERBA MATE :: The Guarani Legend

YERBA MATE: THE GUARANI LEGEND

"In this new beverage you will find healthy company, even in the sad hours of the cruelest solitude."

Guarani tribes of Paraguay worked the land and became excellent craftsmen. They believed that the tall, fair-skinned, blue-eyed, bearded God (Pa'i Shume) who descended from the skies, unlocked the secrets of health and medicine for them. Pa'i Shume revealed the healing qualities of native plants and taught them sound agricultural practices.

One of the most important of these secrets was how to harvest and prepare the leaves of the YERBA MATE tree. The MATE infusion was meant to ensure health, vitality and longevity.

Guarani would clear the forest, plant MANDIOCA (manioc) and CHOCLO (corn), but after four or five years the soil would be worn out and the tribe had to move on. Tired of moving, an old Guarani refused to on go. The youngest of his daughters, Jary stayed with her father. This gesture of love deserved a prize. One day, a shaman arrived and asked Jary what she wanted in order to feel happy. The girl asked for nothing, but the old man said, "I want strength to go on and to help reunite Jary with the tribe."

The shaman gave the old man a very green plant, perfumed with kindness, and told him to plant it, pick the leaves, dry them on fire, put the pieces in a gourd, add hot or cold water and sip the infusion. The shaman left saying "In this new beverage you will find healthy company, even in the sad hours of the cruelest solitude."

Thus was born the "ka-á" beverage (MATE) that the white people would later adopt and call YERBA MATE in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Paraguay. In Brazil, it is called chimarrao.

Sipping the green sap, helped the old man recover and resume their long journey towards his kinsmen. The whole tribe adopted the habit of drinking the green herb, bitter or sweet, that gave strength and courage.

MATE became the most common ingredient in household cures of the Guarani, and remains so to this day. In Argentina, a TGI consumer survey reports that 92% of Argentine households consume YERBA MATE. Given the consumption rate, it is clearly a phenonmenon that spans all socio-economic levels and is a very democratic national TRADITION. Its use has also been introduced into Lebanon and Syria, particularly among the Druze minority.

Girls! Girls! Girls!

HOT show ! Exciting new line up!

"Of Mankind, Womankind, and Other Kind" RECEPTION this Saturday, June 13th

"Of Mankind, Womankind, and Other Kind" has been extended through June 30th. Thirteen originals have found a new home. Reception THIS SATURDAY, June 13th from 7-10pm.

Layaway available on all art and art objects.

GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!

Cactus Gallery is very excited to announce the next big group show, GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! The show was curated by Douglas Alvarez and features new work by Cactus favorite, Kelly Thompson, as well as Douglas himself. This new, exciting line up to the Northeast L.A. area is sure to draw a big crowd. Over 20 artists will show who have never been featured at Cactus. Thanks for all your hard work Douglas!

Keep L.A. Beautiful // Eagle Rock BLOCK Party // NELAart.com Second Saturday Gallery Night

Cactus Gallery is pleased to invite you to visit and check out our new ART BIN. Our PAREJA CALAVERA (Skeleton Couple) is the newest addition to the Cactus Gallery. The skeleton couple was created by Mary Clark-Camargo of New Stone Age Mosaic Studio, who shares a space with Cactus Gallery. Read below to see how it all came about.

Almost one year ago, the Eagle Rock Association Beautification Committee (TERA BC), in conjunction with the Arroyo Arts Collective (AAC), and the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, invited artists to create ceramic mosaic panels designed to adorn trash receptacles to be placed throughout the Eagle Rock area.

The artist were selected and the mosaic panels are now being attached to 20 cast concrete trash receptacles gracing Eagle Rock's main commercial streets. The Eagle Rock Make Art Not Trash program unites the rich cultural heritage of the community with the creativity of 17 artists and 21 of Eagle Rock's civic minded businesses and organizations that maintain the trash receptacles. This project uniquely identifies the Eagle Rock community while providing a positive and practical solution to local litter.

Participating artists: Mary Clark-Camargo, Marcela Ciszewski, Valerie Daval, Marikit de Lara, Frances Garretson, Rebeca Guerrero, Linda Johnstone-Allen, Mary Jean Mallman, Luz Mack-Durini, Megan McHone, Dawn Mendelson, CJ Metzger, Suzanne Siegel & Helaine Melvin, Toros Tngrian, Kacy Treadway, and Kelly Witmer, as they showcase their work.

Funding for the Eagle Rock Make Art Not Trash Program was made possible through The Eagle Rock Association (TERA), The Community Beautification Matching Grant of the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Eagle Rock Community Preservation and Revitalization (ERCPR), Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce (ERCC), Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council (ERNC), and the Eagle Rock Kiwanis Club. Selected tiles graciously donated by Dal-Tile. Graphic Design donated by Corky Retson.

The Eagle Rock Association (TERA), Arroyo Arts Collective, and The Center for Arts, Eagle Rock, proudly invite you to:

Eagle Rock Make Art Not Trash Reception

@The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
2225 Colorado Blvd, Eagle Rock, CA 90041

Saturday, June 13, 2009 -- 4-6pm
Followed by a self-guided tour of the 20 art bins


AFTERWARDS you can GALLERY HOP your way through Northeast Los Angeles during (NELA) SECOND SATURDAY GALLERY NIGHT.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 -- 7-10pm

NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night is a free self-guided tour of the galleries, non-profits and artist run project spaces located in Northeast Los Angeles (NELA). NELA has a tradition in the arts that dates back to the early 1900’s when the USC College of Fine Arts was located in Highland Park and characters like Charles Lummis and Antonio Corsi were living in the area. The tradition continues with new spaces opening regularly. NELA is now one of L.A.’s most exciting destinations to view contemporary art.

ALSO NEW TO NELA....

The Eagle Rock Block Party is a monthly event comprised of local and independent retail businesses located in Eagle Rock, California.

Each Second Saturday of every month, merchants will be participating day and night attracting devoted and new customers with special promotions, live events, music, special discounts, classes and demonstration for both kids and adults. The evening hours will coincide with the monthly NELA Gallery Night which provides maps to local galleries and their current openings on that evening.

The ERBP illuminated cube will hang in front of every participating merchant as a visual marker for traffic and visitors. Each business is free to creatively energize the day in their own way. Dance performances, craft instruction, stand-up comedy and many other opportunities for celebration enliven the event. The ERBP is a special event that people will want to come back to again and again because it will constantly evolve, change and grow.

The ERBP is about creating local stimulus and reinforcing community spirit so that small town walking areas remain a part of the Los Angeles experience.

Ecos World - Eco Friendly for Kids

Please check out my friend Dan's project. Earthman Dan, his furry green space buddy, Ecos, and Solar Cindy bring environmental awareness and responsibility to our youngest generation.

http://www.ecosgreen.blogspot.com/

They will be performing this Sunday, May 10th at 12pm, 2pm, and 3pm in the North American Mammal Hall (Level 1) at the Natural History Museum in L.A.

The clay figures seen in the Ecos blog were created by Edgar Alvarez, clay animation and stop motion genius.  Check him out at http://plastilinacreativ.blogspot.com/