April 1, 2023 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Block Party Celebrates Pico Neighborhood

By Sam Skopp

 

Earlier this year, the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica hosted its first ever Pico Block Party, celebrating the Pico neighborhood and coinciding with the start of the Arts Center’s Culture Mapping 90404 Project, an oral history of the area. This year’s second Pico Block Party was held Sat., Oct. 14 and coincided with the Spanish translation of the Culture Mapping 90404 Project.

The event presented visitors to the Arts Center with interactive art projects, open artist studios, food, music and more.

“Really, it’s a neighborhood celebration,” said Program and Research Coordinator Betty Marin. “A mix of international and local artists have their studios open to the public today, and some of those artists are doing workshops for the public.”

Alexandra Walaszek was one of the international artists whose studio was open for the public to see, as she was in the midst of an interactive art project, during which she invited guests to stay within her studio/living space at the Arts Center. She would ultimately ask each guest to leave behind a souvenir, some of which were on display, with the culminating gallery also including sketches of each guest’s palm lines alongside their souvenir item.

“I’ve already had about 15 people staying with me,” Walaszek said.

Additionally, one of her guests, Edgar Guzman, will use Walaszek’s sketches to compose music, giving each item an accompanying piece. Walaszek also stressed interaction, with each souvenir inviting visitors to touch or even smell.

“Everything is touchable here,” Walaszek said.

Walaszek was one of the many artists participating in the daylong event, which also included live music by the band Cuñao, flag making, feminist card readings, t-shirt printing, experimental quesadilla making, as well as community groups like the Los Angeles Archivists Collective, presenting a project called Preserving Pico.

For more information on the 18th Street Arts Center, visit 18thstreet.org.

Music by Cuñao.
Children’s theater by Kids on Stage.
Photos: Sam Skopp.

Related Posts

Innovative Trash Interceptor System Withstands Damage During Southern California Storms

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

Dutch nonprofit the Ocean Cleanup’s Ballona Creek Trash Interceptor 007 catches thousands of pounds of garbage during recent storms that...

Child Abuse Prosecutor Jonathan Hatami Challenges Incumbent Gascón for LA District Attorney Position

March 30, 2023

March 30, 2023

Hatami, a prosecutor in the Complex Child Abuse Unit at the Hall of Justice in downtown LA, has been vocal...

Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Blaze at Baldwin Hills Apartment Building

March 30, 2023

March 30, 2023

Los Angeles Fire Department responds to three-story structure fire Monday A structure fire broke out on March 28th, 2023, at...

Kroger-Albertsons Mega-Merger Sparks Concerns About Competition and Jobs

March 30, 2023

March 30, 2023

Critics say the proposed merger, which is currently under review by the FTC, would create a monopoly in many areas...

Los Angeles Restaurants, Including Palms Eatery, in Contention for James Beard Foundation Awards

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Niki Nakayama’s n/naka only Westside’s restaurant among the finalists Los Angeles restaurants – including an acclaimed eatery in Palms –...

Readers Overwhelmingly Support Outdoor Dining Survey Shows

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Survey results reveal positive feedback for outdoor dining setups amid municipal ordinance changes Last week we asked readers for their...

Nigerian Chef Tolu “Eros” Erogbogbo Brings Ilé Bistro to Culver City

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Chef Tolu “Eros” Erogbogbo brings his popular underground Nigerian pop-up to Citizen Public Market in Culver City with a new...

Sage Plant Based Bistro & Brewery Closes Culver City Location After 10 Years

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Rising costs and government restrictions prompt shift to pickup and to-go model By Dolores Quintana Sage Plant-Based Bistro & Brewery...

Local Teens Get Hands-On Medical Training at Cedars-Sinai’s Women’s Guild Simulation Center

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Students gain hands-on experience with virtual reality tools, CPR training, and surgical equipment at Cedars-Sinai’s Women’s Guild Simulation Center For...

CCHS Robotics Team Wins LA Regional, Seeks Funds on Way to World Championship

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

Team will be headed to an international championship tournament in Houston where their 125-pound inventions will compete for robotics glory...

Elaine Gerety Warner Appointed as Culver City’s New Economic Development Director

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

Warner to lead economic recovery and business development efforts for Culver City The City of Culver City has recently announced...

Culver City Council Votes to Reopen Main Street on Weekends

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

Council members split over concerns for local businesses and environmental impact During a recent City Council meeting on March 13th,...

Westside Food Bank Struggles to Meet Increased Demand as CalFresh Benefits Expire

March 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

Local food banks urge community support as Southern Californians face heightened food insecurity Local food banks in Southern California are...

Valuations for Office Buildings in L.A. Drop 39%

March 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

Transfer tax and low interest rates contributing to decline in L.A. office sales By Dolores Quintana In the city of...

Erewhon Joins Tenants in Fully Leased $150M Culver Steps Development

March 26, 2023

March 26, 2023

Amazon Studios and a ground-floor retail center, including the celebrity and influencer-favorite Erewhon, anchor the 122,000-square-foot complex By Dolores Quintana...