Summer film festival wraps up Saturday

Roy Anthony Shabla. Photo courtesy Downey Arts Coalition.

SANTA FE SPRINGS – The third and final evening of The Green Salon Short Film Festival 2018 is Saturday, August 25, at 7 pm, at the art studio of Roy Anthony Shabla in Santa Fe Springs. All are welcome.

The Green Salon is the longest-running monthly cultural event in the Downey area and it is free and democratic. It is funded by Shabla himself and always features live music, an open mic, a featured reader, and the exhibition of local artists.  

During the summer months (June, July, and August), it also includes short films by local filmmakers.

As a special treat, Donna Hilbert and Tamara Madison, two writers from Southern California, will be co-featured readers this month at The Green Salon..

Hilbert is a local sensation, lives and works in the City of Long Beach, and guides fledgling writers to fly. Her latest book is “Gravity: New & Selected Poems,” Tebot Bach, 2018. 
Madison is a “multi-lingual sea goddess and poet.” Her latest book is “Moraine” and her next is a manuscript about growing up three miles from Mecca.

The books of both poets will be available for purchase.

The featured filmmaker for this last evening of the festival is Jennifer Abod who will screen the short version of her documentary film, “The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen.”

Angela Bowen was a pioneer dance instructor, a pioneer Long Beach State Women’s Studies professor, and a pioneer equal rights activist whose reputation reached across the country and back again.  She died one month ago.

Live music for the event is supplied by Eldorado Collective, a martini-jazz quartet influenced by Herbie Hancock and Santana.  At the end of this summer evening, Eldorado Collective will improvise music with Esmoladera’s Gabriel and Steven Armenta, and other guest musicians.

A small art fair accompanies the film festival with local artists exhibiting their work.  Also, local poets and writers will offer their books for sale.  Arrive early to appreciate everyone’s work.
Roy Anthony Shabla will exhibit his series, Ordinary Time – small paintings and sculptures from found and recycled materials influenced by Louise Nevelson, Christo, Grandma Prisbrey, and many others.  It is the first time this series has been shown.

Studio GalleRoy is located at 11210 Greenstone Avenue in Santa Fe Springs, near Florence and Bloomfield.