We’re Turning 5!
I started LAartlab in 2009 as a response to what I perceived were a number of challenges facing our city’s youth magnified by an economy in crisis. Some of these challenges included high unemployment, a shortage of art programs for public schools, and limited opportunities for teens to become actively involved in shaping the arts community in Los Angeles. Since I was continually being told that resources to support programming were nonexistent, I decided to see if I could create an arts program without requesting funding.
Kept busy with my fulltime job as Director of Arts Education for LA’s BEST, I used vacation time to start LAartlab, and continued as a volunteer during my off hours. With the help of friends, what was originally intended to be a five-month experiment, somehow developed into a project celebrating its 5thand final year on April 30. Today, LAartlab remains an independent, self-funded, all volunteer project helping 9th through 12th grade students from all academic achievement levels engage in various facets of the Los Angeles art scene and the global creative economy by
I want to take this opportunity to thank some very special people who helped LAartlab succeed. Clement Hanami, Fabrizio Flores, Linda Gamboa, Paola Davila, Elizabeth Morin, and Rick Klotz at FreshJive, for supporting us at the very beginning. Jane Paterson, Lincoln HS and ARTlab HS for helping us work with so many students. Ximena Minotta and Cendi Dale from LA Plaza De Cultura y Artes for making our scholarships possible. My colleagues at LA’s BEST for their encouragement. The amazing Larry Mowery, for inviting LAartlab into Lincoln HS, supporting every project, and his ongoing dedication to providing students with the opportunities they deserve. And finally, a huge thank you to all of our partners since 2009, without their continued support none of this would have been possible
We pulled together a list of the LAartlab projects that have taken place since 2009, the numbers were even bigger than we expected. Most of these projects were led by LAartlab from start to finish, and weled or supported parts of others.
1. On The Spot – Impromptu Street Interviews at LA Art Walk 2009
2. Aquarius – Music Festival Tropico de Nopal
3. HAVOC – Streetwear Design Panel at Japanese American National Museum (YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?
4. Of The Word – All day Family Art projects at MOCA
5. Metaphoria – Evening of Spoken Word at MOCA
6. Backyards, Front Porches, and other Living Spaces – Exhibit at Gallery Washington Adams
7. Sand One – Artist-led Mural Field Trip
8. Shizu Saldamando – Artist Talk at Lincoln HS
9. Cre8 Mural Project – at Lincoln HS
10. Bergamot Station gallery walk – Fieldtrip
11. Online Event Production Tips – Pepsi Refresh Project
12. BBoy Summit 2010 - 3 Day Event Support
13. Humanitas Arts Festival – Wagner Student event at The LA Music Center
14. 180 – Exhibit and Spoken Word at Ave 50 Studio
15. Grand Opening Public Art Workshops - LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Museum
16. TEDx @ Kohler St. 2011 – Inner City Arts
17. Possible Worlds Street Festival – for LACMA at Watts House Project
18. Virgin of Guadalupe Day – Card Printing at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Museum
19. Tiger Fest – Lincoln HS Arts Festival at Lincoln HS
20. Day of the Dead 2011 / Memorials- LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Museum
21. Ana Sosa and KPCC – Radio Interview
22. Siqueiros - LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Museum
23. Poetry Behind Bars: Richard Rodriguez and Guests – Reading and Student-led Conversation at Lincoln HS
24. Ana Sosa at Slanguage Studio – Outdoor Mural
25. Me Facing Life Screening - Screening and Student-led Panel with Director and producer at Lincoln HS
26. Cinco De Mayo at LA Plaza – Banner Workshops at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Museum
27. Legit – Student Curated Exhibit at Ave 50 Studio
28. Celebrating Cantinflas – Animation Flipbooks at Plaza de La Raza de Cultura y Artes Museum
29. TEDx @ Kohler St. 2012 – Inner City Arts
30. American Idiot Musical Teen Night – Center Theatre Group
31. Open Soul – Spoken Word event at Ave 50 Studio
32. BBoy Summit 2012 – 3 Day Event Support
33. WWII for Made in LA and Slanguage - Spoken Word, Music and Performance at LA><ART
34. Shakespeare Project – Community Performance at Plaza de La Raza
35. My LA Educator’s Night – Inner City Arts
36. LA Youth Park Takeover – Public Printmaking Workshops at Grand Park
37. Lincoln at Lincoln – Lucas Films Screening at Lincoln HS
38. Cre8 Mural Project – Outdoor Mural at Lincoln HS
39. Inocente and Caine’s Arcade Screening – Screening at Lincoln HS
40. Mouth Burst – Spoken Word at Avenue 50 Studio
41. Inocente and Caine’s Arcade Screening - Inner City Arts
42. Viva La Fashion at CFAM – Fashion Show with CSULA at Craft and Folk Art Museum
43. Cesar Chavez Day 2014 – Workshops Plaza de La Raza de Cultura y Artes Museum
44. Cesar Chavez Bowl – Healthy Salad Public Salad Bar at Lincoln HS
Plus, when organizations hire LAartlab to implement workshops, all proceeds are pooled to fund scholarships and other event related expenses. Since 2011, LAartlab teens have awarded six $500 LAartlab Artist Scholarships to Lincoln HS Graduates.
Best!
Mario
Mario Davila
LAartlab