ART NIGHT SPOTLIGHT: Beat poetry for the modern day.
WHAT: August DTLA Art Night (spoken word and surrealist interactive art edition!)
WHEN: August 1st, 6-10pm (performance at 8pm)
WHERE: Lucky Cat DTLA - 620 S. Main St, Los Angeles 90014
BRING: Walking shoes, a friend, and a ceramic dish or cup that you would like to destroy (yes, really.)
BACKGROUND: One of the best things to do at the biannual Brewery Artwalk happens after the walk is technically over on Saturday night. At sunset, resident artists shutter their doors, and most visitors make their way back to their cars after exploring a sprawling city block’s worth of live-work creative studios. But a few folks walk deeper into the complex down a narrow path encased in a jungle’s worth of twisting branches towards a door that has been hitherto closed, but now emanates a warm light and gentle laughter.
With no intro, the first performer takes to the stage and roars something fierce and clever and loud. This isn’t your average poetry reading — in fact, I believe the right phrase I’m supposed to use is “spoken word”, but even that doesn’t convey the lively exuberance of these evenings. The atmosphere is more like watching a breakdancing competition — one poet declares one poem, the room erupts in cheers, then the next one bounds up onto the stage as the first takes a victory swig of sake. “Ah, that one’s gonna be hard to top,” they say to each other with a wink and a nod, reveling in being among other writers at the top of their game, savoring the audience’s shouts and laughter and tears at particularly witty twists of phrase.
This Thursday, Lucky Cat Gallery will have the honor of hosting these fine poets, spittin’ fire at 8pm (sharp!) for DTLA Art Night. To go with this not-to-be-missed performance, we’ve got a fantastic selection of Brewery (and Brewery adjacent) artists displaying their work. Among my favorites are William Sandell’s kinetic sculptures, a big installation by Media Pollution, some subtly NSFW pieces from Richard Ankrom (of the guerrilla freeway sign installation fame), and a surreal living room with a footstool that’ll bite your butt by Jason Hadley… I could go on and list all 10+ artists, but I think this show is best experienced live and as a surprise.
NEXT ART NIGHT: Lucky Cat Labs Group Show.
Can’t make this one? Mark your calendars for September 5th for the next DTLA Art Night, for which we’ll be showcasing our resident artists’ work. If you’ve visited the gallery and clambered up to the mezzanine these last few shows, you know some of the brightest up-and-coming creatives in Los Angeles are working here; we all can’t wait to show off our best work (and, as usual, throw the best party on the block)!
Get involved!
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… we’re almost all out of month-to-month studios, so if you’ve been thinking of getting one, this might be your last chance. There’s still one small one for $475, two medium ones for $650, and a handful of big ones available. Reply to this email for more information.
Already got a place to make stuff, but want to show it off at one of our events? Reply to this email with samples of your work, and we’ll put you on our artist list.
Looking for a place to throw your art event, birthday party, game night, photo shoot? We rent by the day and by the hour, too. Tell us your dream, let’s make it a reality.
Hope to see you all soon!
Liana @ Lucky Cat