I am not so blinded by my own history that I cannot see, appreciate or understand the complex journeys of others. What’s happening now was foreshadowed so very long ago but only now some have chosen to wake up. I know this realization doesn’t make today less hurtful, but I find myself wondering how and why the decisions … Continue reading Ellis Island- 125 Years Later
After Rio’s shiny, spectacular Opening Ceremony on Friday I came across this sobering picture that quickly brought me back to reality and filtered my view of the Olympic games. Brazil’s honest portrayal of the slave trade and the upbeat, energetic favela portion of the ceremony obscured some of the horrific present day realities behind the historical and … Continue reading Behind the Walls: The Art of the Favelas
When I started Culture Shock Art in 2010, my goal was to explore street art and graffiti in Los Angeles, after I stumbled upon street artist JR’s work completely by accident. The process of discovery through investigating the origins of one of his murals led me to his 2010 TED talk after which I purchased one of his lithographs. That … Continue reading Artist a Day Challenge 2016-28: Shinique Smith
Last year I went to a meeting at the CleanTech Incubator near the L.A. river and I was surprised to see how much development has gone into the Arts District. Over the last few months I’ve been getting acquainted to L.A.’s latest gentrified, “it” neighborhood. Here’s what I LOVE about it: The energy is phenomenal (I … Continue reading Wandering: DTLA’s Arts District
For the past 10+ years my office has been a supporter of our local YMCA in Downtown Los Angeles, and every year we sponsor the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Brotherhood breakfast. I have been asked to attend this event no less than 6 times and each year I curiously look at my fellow attendees invited to the breakfast. The … Continue reading Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Reflections on Service, Sacrifice and Self
I’m trying something new. Here’s my Friday round up of my absolute favorite posts from last week in Fashion, Music, Art, and Food. All posts are inspired by Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. So let’s jump in! 1. Kara Walker-Indypendant Article The Kara Walker Domino Sugar Factory exhibit has closed, and I have to say I had mixed feelings about this particular … Continue reading Weekly Rewind Vol. 1
Storytelling plays such an essential role in our lives because they create a level of connectedness that’s achieved through relatable or shared experiences. Great stories provide the bridge between our imagination and reality in remarkable ways. When I have a strong emotional response to art it is usually associated with a story that I immediately attribute to a piece. … Continue reading The Art of Storytelling: Havana and the Wrinkles of the City
The New York City Ballet has teamed up with French artist JR to present a collaborative performance/large-scale art installation on January 23, February 7, and February 13. JR is a well-known underground street artist who has taken his message globally via large-scale installations featuring the voices and untold stories of people via their wheat pasted photographic … Continue reading JR x NYC Ballet
It’s not every day that you can celebrate Paris in New York and LA at the same time, but thanks to the Paramount Studios NY backlot, you can! Paris Photo Los Angeles made its debut this weekend. For 17 years Paris Photo has cemented a strong presence in the photographic art fair market and it … Continue reading Paris Photo LA
I have been thinking about this phrase for a long time. This 1988 piece by Glenn Ligon was an adaptation of a legendary photo taken in 1968 by Ernest Withers. The original photograph is from the ’68 Sanitation Worker’s Strike in Memphis, TN which was initiated in response to the egregiously deplorable working conditions workers … Continue reading 2013 Inauguration/MLK Day Reflections
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