The Blog of Studio Fuse » Culture

ARAM Show

Aless — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 23:48:35 +0000

I don’t play League of Legends (LoL) myself, but I know many people who do. (It’s much too exciting for me, I’m content with playing nice, low-key games such as Words with Friends, and refreshing the page to see if someone played any words back on Words with Friends, etc.) I also happen to know many people who work on and help create this world-popular fantasy PC game, most notably my fellow Ringling graduate, JP, a tech artist. It’s because of that connection to this gaming community that I was invited to the opening reception for the ARAM show (All Random All Mediums) two friday evenings ago. This weekend-long art show was held at Gallery Nucleus and featured personal work by Riot Games artists.

The artwork was spectacular – but of course it was… what else would you expect from the people who create the cool concepts and amazing visuals that bring LoL to life? Not only did we get to see what these artists do for personal expression, we were able to take a piece of their talent home. Creations from the Riot artists were available as part of the evening’s silent auction to benefit the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, an organization that funds research for a cure. The event coordinator, also a Rioter, holds a very special place in her heart for this cause, as do all of the artists who participated in the event.

“Unseen” by Edmundo Sanchez

Highlights of the show and auction were a sweet yet sinister-looking illustration, “Unseen” by Edmundo Sanchez (senior concept artist), which is reminiscent of classic large skull illusions, and a giclee print entitled “Rusty”, by Justin Albers (concept artist), which features a small robot character hiding behind a large tree being pursued by a rider atop a monstrously huge T-Rex-like creature. I bought a copy of the the former, while the latter was JP’s auction win. What sold the piece for me was that this giclee print on wood had been custom-cut into a puzzle! So I’ll have to earn the right to hang it up as it did in the gallery, no matter how many hours, days, or even years it may take me. (UPDATE! Aless unceremoniously completed it one night.)

“Rusty” by Justin Albers

A little more about the gallery itself: Nucleus is a combination art/event/boutique shop space in downtown Alhambra, CA, and is always open to the public. The store front features apparel, books, toys and neat little accessories as well as prints from previous shows for sale. JP and I each actually ended up with additional prints: He with a neat, polygonal deer illustration, “Deer” by Laura Bifano, and I with an adorable watercolor piece “Dogs Being Dogs” by an artist who just so happens to be the next upcoming show. “If Dogs Run Free” by Scott C celebrates his latest book release of the same name. The opening reception welcomes both humans and dogs, complete with free refreshments for both species, and dog adoption opportunities with event partner What’s Up Dog! L.A.! Almost makes a good excuse for me to get a dog just to bring him to this show, doesn’t it? The show itself runs until September 15.

Check out Gallery Nucleus’s website for more future exhibitions, and level up your exposure to some art and culture why don’t you? @alessfuse

Thursday Night Throwdown

Grace — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 00:23:02 +0000

Being lucky enough to live in or around the Los Angeles area gives one ample things to do on any given night of the week. Last week I took an afterwork adventure to Koreatown to experience a subculture new to me – the competitive world of latte art. Why? Well, I’ve been navigating LA without a car for the last 3 months (and until further notice), so when offered the opportunity to ride in a car for an outing I’m there.

IOTA Brew Cafe was buzzing with activity when we arrived. The amount of people showing up for a ‘coffee competition’ on a week night was surprising. How special was this event? How exciting could pouring steamed milk into an espresso shot contained in an 8oz. cup to create patterns be? Flanked by my barista roommates I was about to find out.

As the clock struck 7:30pm, the DJ lowered the volume of the fill music and the MC began to chat with the already sizable crowd. The audience then took this as their cue to surge forward towards the coffee bar and huddle en masse as the first challengers made themselves comfortable behind their espresso machines. My roommates and myself being of the shorter variety clamored as close to the front as possible to get a better look at the action. One thing I can guarantee you, if anyone even whispered the word ‘Starbucks’ they would have been immediately pitched outside.

Two baristas face off competing head to head in pouring a design-by-request. The rounds go as follows: hearts, tulips, rosettas. Whoever’s latte is chosen as the winner advances to the next round. Each round lasts between five to ten minutes as the baristas steam and pour their milk, awaiting the judges’ decision. The three judges, selected for their coffee-making prowess, look for aesthetic qualities such as the contrast of color, the consistency of color, crispness of design, proportion of design, cleanliness of pour, the ‘ripple’, and if the beverage meets the top rim of the cup. If the winning cup is questioned by the audience, the judges give the crowd the reasoning behind their choice.

Being entirely unfamiliar with this ‘sport’ and its festivities I was pleased to spot complimentary macaroons and beer while the crowd of baristas and on-lookers thickened. According to my roommates, these ‘throwdowns’ are taken very seriously because you represent the cafe and fellow staff members that you work with. Some competitors are so dedicated that they come prepared with their own steam cup, so as not to be thrown by using unfamiliar materials. But really, the best part of the entire night was being able to consume complimentary lattes since they don’t want to let them go to waste just in the name of competition.

These coffee enthusiasts have definitely found the best way to espresso themselves through the art of competition, and I must say I learned a latte from this unique experience and plan on attending more. Who wouldn’t love a night of watching people hone their craft while consuming a million free lattes? If you’re interested, the next TNT is September 12 at Republic of Pie. Visit lacoffeeclub.com for details. @GraceAhlizabeth

The crowd gathers at IOTA Brew Cafe. Photo by LosAngelesTNT

Rosettas. Photo by nuttynomads

LACMA Muse ArtWalk

Scott — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:53:13 +0000

Hey lazy legs, aren’t you tired of always sitting around, not looking at art? You are? Good! Fortunately, you can resolve both of your life’s failings this Saturday with LACMA’s annual ArtWalk.

If you can throw on a pair of shoes (perhaps like the ones in the invite we designed), you can take advantage of FREE admission to LACMA, the Craft and Folk Art Museum, and the Architecture + Design Museum, as well as more than twenty galleries along the Miracle Mile. From 12 to 8 pm, there will be dance performances, live music, and interactive art projects—and just regular old art too.

That’s not all. You can also join in on the ForYourArt aMUSEment Hunt. Get a sticker for each of the museums and galleries you visit and redeem them for prizes—from original prints to memberships.

Still want more? Sheesh, I might have to start calling you crazy legs… You can also head back to LACMA for the ArtWalk After Party from 8:30 to 11 pm, featuring the Joshua Light Show and music by Dublab and Silent Disco. @scottfuse

Saturday, June 16

LACMA + Miracle Mile | Info

Saturday, June 16
LACMA + Miracle Mile | Info

ArtWalk
12 – 8 pm
FREE

After Party
8:30 – 11 pm
$15 – $25

“And now for something completely different…”

Guest — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:23:06 +0000

Going from one sun-drenched state to another doesn’t usually pose much of a culture shock—unless you’re going cross-country to do so. Which happens to be the exact thing I decided to do for my last true ‘summer vacation’. Once the break started, I quickly picked up my life and shuffled off to California to grow artistically anywhere else but where I was. The biggest difference for me was going from my comfortably small college town of Sarasota, Florida with the average population of 52,000 and the average age of 65, to Pasadena’s 137,000 strong and the average age being somewhere in the 30’s. Thankfully, being raised predominantly on this side of the US, I was already accustomed to many ways of the West Coast culture. Now I’m just left to figure out how to continue functioning in this city without a car. I count my lucky stars for ending up in Pasadena, because I don’t know of anywhere else in LA that is this walking accessible.

Just in residing here for a little over two weeks, I’ve already been enamored by the different things going on around me.

Deerfoot lamp from T.L. Gurley Odd and Unusual Antiques

After meeting Jenn and the crew for the first time, I meandered a little ways down the road to be completely surrounded by antique shops. Some even boasting “strange and unusual” items. This is something that doesn’t really exist in Florida, let alone the small town of Sarasota. Of course there are antique shops, but never with the variety of items I saw displayed in my three-hour stint (and again when I trekked to the Rose Bowl). I believe you natural-born Californians really take for granted how much better the resale shopping is when you have that extra 80,000 people contributing their things from grandma’s attic.

Jenn & Monica Buckner performing ‘Shifting Sands: Age vs. Time’

Jenn and Monica Buckner (wife of 2nd intern Daniel) performing ‘Shifting Sands: Age vs. Time’

By working at the studio, I’ve become more aware of the various cultural activities happening in the LA area, some of which team Fuse are involved with personally. For example, last weekend I attended Jenn’s dance performance (Works 2012) being put on in a newly converted space in a still functioning church. Not only was the performance fantastic, but also being in a new, and unconventional space added an extra sprinkle of awesome to the overall experience. There is definitely no church/dance theatre hybrid lurking anywhere in SRQ.  But honestly, the thing I’m most star-struck from by living here in Pasadena is the food. As a self-proclaimed foodie, I’m not ashamed to say that one of the reasons I was so excited in coming here was to have the option for a variety of meals again. Florida, but especially Sarasota is a very homogenized area and trying to get a meal that isn’t from a chain can be difficult—and healthy? Try somewhere else. But here, there is usually a separate vegetarian menu and practically everything comes with avocado! Which as you can tell, makes this person a very happy camper.

A vegetarian sandwich from Aux Delices French Bakery and Café

My overall goal for these next few months was experience, and because of the internship I was lucky enough to land and the area I am lucky enough to live in, it seems like getting myself involved in what’s going on around me shouldn’t be too daunting of a task. (This weekend you can find me at the Pasadena Chalk Festival and Make Music Pasadena. Art + 100 live bands, all for free! @GraceAhlizabeth)

Bolshoi’s Swan Lake at the Music Center

Jenn — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:38:25 +0000

The Bolshoi Ballet returns to the Music Center this week with their production of Swan Lake. This will be their first time on the Chandler stage since 2000.

Even if you’re not a bunhead or a balletphile, this is one to see. A familiar story yes, remounted time and time again and even Hollywood-ized in Black Swan, Yuri Grigorovich’s Swan Lake (revised from Marius Petipa’s choreography) is THE Swan Lake to see. The Bolshoi is unmatched in technical precision and performance quality and the sets and costumes are a testament to Russian elegance. Of course, I’d expect nothing less from a company with more than 200 years under their belt. @jennfuse

June 7–June 10
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Tickets: $34–$125 | More Info

Thursday: June 7; 7:30 pm
Saturday: June 8; 7:30 pm
Friday: June 9; 2:00 pm
Saturday: June 9; 7:30 pm
Saturday: June 10; 2:00 pm

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Tickets: $34–$125 | More Info

Anna Nikulina

“[Swan Lake is about] internal conflicts between ideal love, reality and the imperfections of human nature.”

–Sergei Filin, Bolshoi Ballet Artistic Director

  Photo by Damir Yusupov

  Maria Alexandrova as Odette. Photo by Damir Yusupov

My Secret Double-life

Jenn — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 01:27:55 +0000

I’ve been moonlighting for years, as a dancer. Get your minds out of the gutter. The economy’s had its ups and downs, but it’s not that bad. It’s modern dance people…“art”.

Several years ago I decided I needed more balance in my life. Now, people seek balance in a variety of ways; running a design studio and working as a professional dancer and executive director of a dance company on the side is probably not one of them. It may seem nuts to some of you, but it makes perfect sense to me. I’m a designer incapable of sitting still—dance is essentially “designed movement”…it’s kind of perfect.

Plus, my history with dance (and fine art too) happens to be why I got into design for the arts in the first place—to draw audiences to support the things I love. It never ceases to surprise me how often I get to tie theses two sides of my life together. From client work for Dance at the Music Center, where my knowledge of dance technique is the best tool in the box for art directing a photo shoot, to using my design skills to build an identity, costume dancers and market my dance company.

For the past few months my evenings and weekends have been dedicated to Nancy Evans Dance Theatre, the aforementioned “my dance company”. We’ve been busy building new work, and rehearsing, rehearsing, (and have I mentioned rehearsing?) for our annual show that opens this Friday, June 1st at Porticoes Theatre in Pasadena—a brand new performing arts venue we’re pleased to share with other local performing artists Arroyo Repertory Theatre and Pacific Opera Project. We’ll be presenting pieces from our repertory as well as premieres of five new pieces, the highlight being “Vigil”, a dance drama from NEDT’s Artistic Director, Nancy Evans Doede, that centers around the complex web of attachment between a death row inmate, his family, the family of his victim, and between the families themselves. Ok, it’s not a happy-go-lucky romp (we do have those in the show too), but it’s a stunning work that you can’t help connecting to regardless of how you feel about capital punishment. @jennfuse

Friday: June 1 (GALA)
Saturday: June 2
Friday: June 8 (Q&A follows)
Saturday: June 9

All performances at 8 PM
Porticoes Theatre

Tickets: $15–$90 | Buy here

It’s Christmas in Paris on Memorial Day in LA

Scott — Wed, 23 May 2012 22:30:32 +0000

As much as I may want to pretend otherwise, I can’t say I’ve ever actually lived like a bohemian—unless of course, you consider residing in the NoHo Arts District and avoiding the other inhabitants while working an office temp job to be bohemian. My apartment’s trash chute was often blocked and I did go without cable for awhile, if that helps. But I digress…

If you, like me, are at a place in life where you would prefer to experience the bohemian lifestyle from a comfortable seat in a temperature-controlled room, you may want to check out the return of LA Opera’s La Bohème to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. It’s a revival of the celebrated 1993 Herbert Ross production.

The intriguing difference this time, is that the two leads, Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello, are actually married, and therefore possibly really in love. Though I haven’t seen them perform, I have to wonder if their real-world chemistry might provide a sense of authenticity I’ve often found lacking in other operatic expressions of romance.

For those unfamiliar, La Bohème is the original Rent. Just swap New York for Paris, and AIDS for tuberculosis (yes, there’s more to it than that, but this isn’t one of those articles). More specifically, the story follows six young Parisians in the 1830s, who are financially destitute, but spiritually rich. It’s Christmas time as the young poet, Rodolfo, falls in love with a shy seamstress, Mimi. Providing contrast and context to their central love story is the on-again, off-again love affair of the painter Marcello and the cabaret singer Musetta. Against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Paris, including an unfinished Eiffel tower, the young artists experience passion, poverty, joy, suffering and ultimately (spoiler alert), death.

While I have not seen La Bohème, I’ve been to a few LA Opera productions in the past. They have always delivered gorgeous sets and costumes, and a grandiose sound that you cannot get from film or your corner NoHo theater (sorry, real bohemians).

Tickets are going fast, so don’t wait to get seats. If you’ve never been to an opera, this is meant to be one of the more accessible, so check it out. It’s the last production of LA Opera’s season. @scottfuse

May 23, 26, 31 and June 2
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Tickets $20–$270 | More info

Photo by Robert Millard for LA Opera.

The young artists celebrate not living in North Hollywood. From left: Robert Pomakov, Stephen Costello, Museop Kim, Artur Rucinski. Photo by Robert Millard for LA Opera.

Spouses Stephen Costello and Ailyn Pérez as Rodolfo and Mimi. Photo by Robert Millard for LA Opera.

Real-life couple Stephen Costello and Ailyn Pérez fictionally embrace as lovers Rodolfo and Mimi. Photo by Robert Millard for LA Opera.

Ballet Preljocaj Performs Snow White

Jessica — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:58:39 +0000

Full disclosure: I am not the dance lady at Studio Fuse. My brief flirtation with the dancy arts ended in the mid-90s, while Jenn continues to work tirelessly on her grand battements, both taking and teaching classes. Although I’ve long since traded in my tap shoes for roller skates, I appreciate athleticism, striking visuals and a good story. Fortunately for me (and you!), starting Friday, March 23, Ballet Preljocaj’s Snow White will be providing all three.

Drawing inspiration from the darker Brothers Grimm tale rather than the more modern, animated feature we’ve all come to know, Ballet Preljocaj’s Snow White can’t really fall into the typical “fairytale ballet” category of Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake or The Nutcracker. This more adult version of the story features costume design by Jean Paul Gautilier. If you are unfamiliar with the designer, I have three words for you: Madonna cone bra. The set design is minimalist but functional and surfaces are incorporated into the choreography, including a mine wall that spans the height of the proscenium. Rappelling equipment is involved and it is amazing. And at all times, even while suspended parallel to the stage, the dancers seem to always be in fluid, energetic motion. The endurance and control it must require to preform even one act of this ballet is pretty mind-bending.

Ballet Preljocaj, led by choreographer and artistic director Angelin Preljocaj performs the 2008 ballet at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center March 23–25. @jes_fuse

March 23–March 25
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Tickets $28–$110 | More info

  Behind the scenes of Snow White

  Behind the scenes of the development of Snow White

“I wanted to do something completely different, write something very concrete and offer something magical…”

–Angelin Preljocaj, (excerpted from an interview with Agnès Freschel)

“I wanted to do something completely different, write something very concrete and offer something magical and enchanted…because, like everyone else, I love stories.”

–Angelin Preljocaj, (excerpted from an interview with Agnès Freschel, March 2008)

“I wanted to do something completely different, write something very concrete and offer something magical and enchanted…because, like everyone else, I love stories.”

–Angelin Preljocaj, (excerpted from an interview with Agnès Freschel, March 2008)

LACMA’s 2012 Young Directors Night

Jessica — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:21:33 +0000

Studio Fuse has developed creative materials for LACMA Muse’s Young Directors Night since its inception. This coming Saturday, we’re looking forward to checking out the year’s crop of short films competing for the Art of Film Award.

The films, all under thirty minutes, span genres and touch on a wide variety of themes including death and love, illness and hope, and sushi and zombies.

At 7:30pm in the Bing Theater, watch all seven entries followed by a Q&A with the directors and the host committee. Drinks, music and the announcement of the 2012 Art of Film award will take place starting at 10pm in the lobby of 5900 Wilshire.

Come show these up-and-coming L.A.-local directors some love. @jes_fuse

Young Directors Night 2012 Program

A Sushi Story
directed by Mike Blaney

Contra El Mar/Against The Sea
directed by Richard Parkin

 In Captivity
directed by Michael Koerbel

Snow
directed by Isaac Ergas

The Last Rites
directed by Namina Forna

 Thembi’s Diary
directed by Jisoo Kim

To Rest In Peace
directed by Fawaz Al-Matrouk

 In Captivity

Saturday, March 10,
at LACMA’s Bing Theater

Update: Event has sold out!

 To Rest In Peace

“This story shaped my view of human dignity, and I feel so fortunate now to be able to share it with the world.

—To Rest In Peace Director Fawaz Al-Matrouk