Downey Arts Coalition celebrates Andrew Wahlquist and Lana Joy
Pat Gil, left, and Andrew Wahlquist. (Photo by Lorine Parks)
DOWNEY – Downey artists gathered for a reunion at the home of Pat Gil, and to celebrate Andrew Wahlquist for his contributions to the arts in Downey.
The weather cooperated with a warm and pleasant afternoon, after so many days of gloom. The Gil residence offers a patio that is a spacious outdoor living room, with an annex for picnic tables where guests enjoyed a potluck buffet of veggie crudités, chicken, and avocado/cucumber sandwiches. Sweets and pastries finished the meal, and beer, wine and sparkling water were on hand.
Old friends and colleagues greeted each other, relieved that COVID seems to be receding as a threat. Everyone was familiar with the other’s work and there was much excited catching up. As a bonus for attention, a hummingbird darted across the ceiling to where its tiny nest had been built, attached to the string of party lights.
Pat, a recent president of the Downey Arts Coalition, said that DAC is reassessing and planning its new structure as it re-enters the Downey scene.
Pat hopes to start a mini-salon on her patio, hosting music, film and poetry, and showcasing art. The enclosed area with its cacti in large ceramic vases around the high walls, makes a perfect venue.
Alistair Hunter, active in the city’s new Downey Arts Commission, said he met recently with Councilpersons Catherine Alvarez and Mario Trujillo, and Gabriel Enamorado from Stay Gallery. “We’re finding new voices,” said Alistair, “and we’ll be multi-discipline and multi-generational.”
“Whatever your interest,” said Alistair, “the Downey Arts Coalition is interested in you. You don’t need to be an artist to be involved, have fun, and contribute. It’s actually amazing what has been accomplished by a struggling tiny arts non-profit with no staff, no executive director. DAC embraces all the arts.”
“We look forward,” said Alistair, “to being a presence in the Downey Pride Picnic this month. And Monique is spearheading the Downey Crosswalk Murals in The Promenade. We’ll have major art exhibits at the Downey Civic Theatre during the Downey Symphony performances.”
Downey’s favorite mural artist Don Lamkin arrived. Don has been signing and selling lithographs of his collage of Downey logos that covers the wall of Porto’s parking structure on the Downey Avenue side.
“I’ve sold over 200 of those,” Don said, “and I never expected anything like this to happen. It’s humbling.”
The “girls,” his border collies, were waiting elsewhere. Don said they’ll be heading back to the wildly beautiful Oregon coast for another three months, where Don enjoys sunset ocean views and friends there.
Don Marshall, past president of the Downey Symphonic Society, was enjoying the potluck buffet. Don, also the past director of Poetry Magazine, said that thanks to COVID he has discovered the Agora Foundation, a great books discussion group on Zoom. Don taught that course at Pepperdine for years, but now he enjoys someone else leading him through Herodotus. Don’s got retirement figured out right.
The Downey Symphonic Society has partnered with DAC to have an art show the evening of its subscription concerts. Now that the alterations at the Downey Theatre are complete, the glass elevator makes the second level handicap-accessible, and DAC can use that level for display.
The Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sharon Lavery has set a date for their twilight pops concert in the park, August 11 in Furman Park.
Jorge and Carolina del Toro. (Photo by Lorine Parks)
Livening up any party, artist and poet Roy Anthony Shabla was seated on the sofa in the outdoor living room on Pat’s porch. Roy, debonair in black, said “write anything you like about me, just as long as you spell my name right.” Roy’s large-scale drip and brush canvases have been displayed in 2011, when DAC was getting started at the old Mari’s Wine Bar, and at Stay Gallery when Poetry Matters monthly events were held there.
To give an idea of the cross-pollination of the arts in Downey, Roy’s huge “Symphony” abstractions graced the side stages at the Downey Theatre – it took a truck and two movers to get them there - during a performance by the Downey Symphony Orchestra. Roy hosted the Green Salon in his garden for years until COVID finally put a stop.
Davis Devis, owner of the Epic Lounge, expects to reopen soon to full capacity. The Epic Lounge has showcased art shows, film festivals, and was the venue for Poetry Matters evenings with poets.
“The restaurant next door, LA Buns, is what kept us going,” said David, “and I didn’t have to lay off staff. We do delivery too. And we have a new patio for outdoor dining. It’s been hard, but we’ve made it. We’ll have a grand opening for live musical entertainment - maybe I’ll get the Blasters.” Super-fan Don Lamkin is the one to arrange that.
Look for Glennfest 2021 at Epic Lounge too. Glenn Stevens is planning his independent Downey Film Festival and hopes that Epic Lounge can be a venue. An avid believer in the live experience of movie watching, Glenn refused to go Zoom or use the drive-in formula during the COVID shutdown. He has his 2020 show, 9 Luft Balloons, plus an exciting lineup for 2021 in the works.
Among those representing the visual arts was mixed media Polaris Castillo, whose water colors convey impulse and liveliness. Polaris also makes visionary short documentary films that have been shown at Epic Lounge.
Frank and Carol Kearns arrived. Frank is busy with his boutique Nietos Press publications, and they divide their time between their new granddaughter here and their Joshua Tree get-away house.
“It’s wonderful there now” said Frank, “in the early morning, and desert evenings are delightful, even with this heat.”
Carolina Estrada-del Toro and hubby Jorge represented photography and the visual arts, and ceramics, respectively. Always Jorge’s biggest fan, Carolina showed me on her iPad Jorge’s newest works.
It’s important for a ceramicist to have his own kiln, and Jorge has two, big enough for most of his pieces. A handsome color-blocked abstract shape was made and fired as two separate parts, and then joined.
Aimee Callegari brought her college-age daughter and told about winning the AT&T documentary prize for “Singing in the Dark, about blind performer Ellis Hall, who lives in Pasadena.
“I’m eager to get back to producing documentaries,” said Aimee.
Monique Puccarelli with her signature red curls arrived. Monique is the contactor for the Downey Crosswalk Murals Project.
“The Promenade at Downey is sending out a call to artists,” said Monique, “to paint the five crosswalks on the shopping center property. The goal is to create a larger-than-life public art piece that reflects the spirit or history of the Downey area.”
A protective glaze will be applied. I asked Roy if he would mind the idea that his art would be walked on, and he said that art is ephemeral, as are we all, and he would welcome any kind of short-term immortality. Anyone who resides in Southeast Los Angeles area is eligible. Contact downeycrosswalkartists@gmail.com by June 25.
The guest of honor, Andrew Wahlquist, filmmaker and motion graphics artist, came with wife Lana Joy, actress and director. Andrew is the founder of the Downey Arts Coalition in 2011, along with Harold Tseklenis and some prominent local artists, many of them here at the party.
Andrew was the guiding spirit, with his ability to mediate between artistic personalities, and he led DAC to a strong local renaissance in the arts. Downey owes Andrew an enormous thanks.
Andrew, Lana and their three children just returned from an extended visit to Stratford, Ontario, Canada, home of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
“We love it there,” said Andrew. “So much going on in the art world, and it’s a world-class theatre center.”
Andrew, a Downey native, “born in Downey Community Hospital,” is a long-time employee of Walt Disney Productions as a media technologist. He’s known for his work on Pitch Perfect (2012), Boogeyman (2005) and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004).
Andrew is involved in the distribution of the Disney Film Library, through Disney Plus. Thanks to the marvels of technology, the direct-to-consumer job is done via Zoom and other electronic wonders.
The world of art goes on, in its wonderful multiplicity.