C I V I C , C U L T U R A L , E N V I R O N M E N T A L

ARTifacts:
News and Announcements from the
Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division

PICO ARTISTS AT WORK The secret is out—Pico Boulevard is a hotbed of creativity! See for yourself on Sunday, October 14, from 12 noon to 5 pm. Leave your car at Virginia Avenue Park, grab a free Big Blue Bus day pass and ride the bus up and down the boulevard. Between Centinela and Santa Monica High School, a burgeoning arts community awaits you—galleries, frame shops and designers, as well as classrooms and individual artists’ studios displaying painting, glass blowing, ceramics, photography and more.

AIRPORT PARK’S REVOLVING ART PROGRAM That solitary rectangle of concrete in the grassy lawn of Airport Park is not the world’s smallest landing strip. And no, it wasn’t set out in anticipation of an alien vessel’s arrival. Starting in October, that little strip of concrete will play host to a series of temporary public art installations.

First up is Air-Racer by Chris Wilder. At first glance you might believe you have actually spied that spaceship or perhaps an alien insect has landed in the grass. Or, maybe it’s an enormous rubber eraser fashioned into the shape of an insect by a particularly imaginative, giant child. Whatever fanciful thoughts it might bring to mind, you will enjoy this playful, new (and) temporary addition to the city’s art collection.

HAPPENING AT MILES MEMORIAL PLAYHOUSE The calendar at the Miles is packed with terrific evenings including Stepping Out—a whole weekend in October dedicated to giving everyone the chance to dance. Put on your dancing shoes for a night of square dancing, line dancing, swing and other American folk dance styles. Please visit www.milesplayhouse.org for more details.

DOWNBEAT RETURNS TO THE MILES Every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, high school-age performance artists are invited to take the stage and explore new material in a safe, encouraging environment, where peers help shape confidence-building experiences.

Sign-up begins at 7 p.m. and the doors open at 7:20 for a lineup that includes poets, rappers, singers, rock bands and more. High-schoolers are invited meet other performing artists from all over the city, listen to some of the best young talent out there and be part of the action! Check myspace.com/downbeat720 for more information, or come on down to the playhouse at Reed Park, 1130 Lincoln Blvd.

BERGAMOT STATION—A HOT SPOT FOR SENIORS! Art aficionados may be well-acquainted with the Santa Monica Museum of Art and Bergamot Station’s extensive array of galleries, but for many, the site remains a mystery. On Wednesday, October 10, local seniors are invited to attend a special presentation at 1:00 p.m. at the Main Library’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., to learn how the location was transformed from an abandoned water heater factory into an important center of the West Coast art world. Gallery owners, artists and a representative from Santa Monica Museum of Art will shed light on this important community resource. Please call (310) 804-7667 for details.

GO FLY A KITE . . . 
 BUT NOT AT CLOVER OR AIRPORT PARKS!

Santa Monica’s bright blue skies and sunshine beckon kite flyers from all over most any time of year. A couple of things to keep in mind before you unfurl that line:

• Flying kites at Clover and Airport Parks is prohibited due to the proximity of the Santa Monica Municipal Airport.

• When you do fly a kite, make sure you are in an open area, away from electric and telephone lines.

• Do not try to remove a kite if it catches on an electric wire or pole.
• Do not use metal in kite making.

• Do not fly kites on or near a public roadway.

• Never fly a kite in wet or stormy weather.

And a cautionary note to model airplane enthusiasts: Remote-controlled model planes are prohibited in all city parks, beaches and beach parking lots (SMMC 4.08.190).

 

SANTA MONICA CELEBRATES DISABILITY AWARENESS IN OCTOBER Join us as we honor local artists and agencies serving people with disabilities in Santa Monica! The city’s Disabilities Commission will host its second annual Disability Awareness celebration on Saturday, October 20, 1 to 5 p.m. in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium at Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. (Disability-related accommodations, such as an assisted-listening device or sign language interpreter, may be requested by contacting Janet Hand at 310-458-8701 [TTY/TDD 310-458-8696] or e-mail: janet.hand@smgov.net.)