Last year, the ArtCycle event was one of the best examples of Angelenos embracing bike culture, the local art scene and their community. Last year ArtCycle featured a series of group rides visiting local art studios, a block party in Hel-Mel, and several different film makers shooting videos including Streetfilms' Clarence Eckerson who shot the "Los Angeles Streetfilm of the Year" for 2009 which can be viewed above. This year's event will be even bigger with ArtCycle also being used to build momentum for the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council's vision of more park space for their community.
East Hollywood is one of the densest communities in LA and also one of
the park poorest neighborhoods. To make a statement, this past
September, Community Activists and East Hollywood Neighborhood Council
board members Jennifer Moran and David Bell, created an art park on
Santa Monica Blvd. right across from the Cahuenga Library, for one day
in celebration of Park[ing] Day LA.
Six months later, on March 13th, ArtCycle organizers Moran and Enci
Box, will open Santa Monica Blvd. between Vermont and Virgil from 2:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. for
pedestrians and bikes, for the 2nd annual ArtCycle, an event designed
to showcase the emerging art and bicycling cultures in the heart of
East Hollywood and on Historical Route
66.
ArtCycle was born from an idea that Moran had many years ago, after she visited Burning Man and was inspired by all the artists and the art. She wanted to bring "Burning Man" to the city and in 2009 her dream came alive when the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council approved funding for the event. ArtCycle was held on Heliotrope and Melrose, which was so successful that Box and Moran decided to make it a much larger happening this year.
The event is put on by the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council, with
the bulk of the organizing done by Streetsblog contributor Box and
Moran with a large assist from Bell, president of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council and
Jay Lopez, Executive Director of the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk and
member of the Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee.
ArtCycle is still accepting participation request from installation artists, sculptors, knitters, new media artists, set designers, those who enjoy making work outside, etc. If interested, submit 4 jpg images of the artwork, links to website, bio and contact info to info@easthollywoodartcycle.com and put in the subject line: "Artist".
Visit ArtCycle on March 13th between 2-10 pm and join in on the bike rides that will lead you to the various galleries and the historical landmarks of East Hollywood. See Sean Sobczak's Luminosity and don't miss the custom bikes that product design student Charles Melikidse from Otis College will showcase. See the paintings of Hilary Tait Norod and the magnetic designs by Sarah Stern.
Bands are lined up all day. John Nixon from Whqles', the phenomenal Killsonic, 60 Watt Kid, Luna Is Honey, amongst others and dublab will dj all day and into the night. There will also be an open mike for those who don't need an amplifier and who want to jam with friends and family.
The Cahuenga Library will open their stage for readings and various performances, and there will be flag dancing, Capoeria, and belly dancing. There will be plenty of stuff for the kids as well. Play with the turtle from Super Pirate Booty Hunt, get your photos taken with the Hollywood Fringe Mascots and visit the face painting table or the clay making folks.
Come on out to East Hollywood on March 13th and join in the celebration of arts, bikes, music, food and lots of fun!
If you are an artists, vendor, cyclist, crafter, etc. and want to participate in any way, please contact Jennifer Moran and Enci Box at info@easthollywoodartcycle.com and tell them how you want to be involved. We have limited space so get your request in ASAP by emailing info@easthollywoodartcycle.com to be considered for this opportunity to show your work and get the community involved for FREE.
Go to http://EastHollywoodArtCycle.com for more information, join ArtCycle on facebook. Hashtag and follow them on twitter at http://twitter.com/ArtCycle. For veteran twitterers, the hashtag is #AC10.
