Our Special Earth Day Issue
CALENDAR
So, you’ve got the holiday spirit this week and feel like giving up some hard-saved hours for Mother Earth. Rather than hear some politician stumble through public remarks or look at a bunch of green whatsits that people want you to buy, here’s CityBeat’s guide to get up, get out, and see/do something meaningful – or at least a little weird. There’s a whole world of activity out there, from the splendors of fine art to the fine art of weed-pulling.
–Alfred Lee
YELL FIRE
This one’s special: CityBeat’s sponsoring it. Even if we weren’t, though, how much would you love a “Musical Yoga Experience” with Michael Franti (Spearhead) and Seane Corn (she’ll be the one directing your down dog)? Probably a lot, right? Also: Chris Pierce, Cava, Naked Rhythm, Cipes & the People, Luminaries and more, plus your usual green magicians, live animals (PETA-friendly, one presumes), puppet shows, and other stuff. Bike, walk, train or skate, because there is a stilt circus, and you could not ask for more than that. Tues., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wilshire Center, Wilshire Blvd. between Western and Harvard, Los Angeles. Free.
TREASURING TRASH
Materials recycled at 2534 Eagle Rock Blvd.: Wood, paper, cardboard, newspaper, plastic, glass, tile, metal, aluminum, steel, concrete, plant material (?), toys (!) and wire. What kind of magical enviro-messiah is this place? None other than some snooty art gallery – Cactus – where group show Found exhibits works by over 30 artists who collected discarded resources and turned ’em into art. From the trash can to your wall! Reception Sat., 7-10 p.m. Closes May 8. Cactus Gallery, 2534 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock, (323) 256-6117. Eclecticcactus.com.
SAY AWWWWWWW
Of course you’d expect a place called The Folk Tree to be playing the Earth Day card. There, we go from recycled goods to
Endangered Species, another group show dedicated to the natural world, featuring 12 artists working in painting, printmaking, assemblage, papier mache, mixed media and ceramics. From 3:15 to 5 p.m., the Pasadena Humane Society’s mobile unit will be visiting with big-eyed animals available for adoption; at the same time, the place also hosts a book event with Elizabeth Pomeroy, who’ll sign Pasadena: A Natural History. Opening reception Sat., 2-6 p.m. The Folk Tree, 217 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, (626) 795-8733. Folktree.com.
THE SCAVENGER
If you like your Earth Day art to be more Captain Beefheart than Captain Planet, there’s the singular (in name, at least) Treiops Treyfid at MJ Higgins. Treyfid’s show, Animals of the Future, literally does away with endangered species altogether, imagining (via sculpture and mixed media 3-D) which animals will survive an oncoming ecosystem catastrophe/loss of habitat. The answer is those animals that can best thrive alongside us humans: raccoons, opossums, rats, roaches, crows, squirrels and other critters that eat our garbage and such. Reception Tues., 6-9 p.m. Closes May 3. MJ Higgins Gallery, 400 S. Main St., ste. 103, L.A., (213) 617-1700. Mjhiggins.com.
IN THE CITY
South L.A. is hardly the tree-hugging center of the green movement – maybe that’s the point of its “South L.A. Earth Day Festival,” now in its third year. (I live in not-quite-South-L.A., near ’SC, where we rely on marvelously efficient citizen-collectors for recycling instead of city waste services.) Comedian Rodney Perry hosts the all-day event, which includes health screenings, a farmers market, e-waste recycling and an urban gardening show. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, 3650 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., L.A. Info: (323) 298-5077 or Southlaearthfest.org.
HONK FOR TREES
Speaking of tree-hugging centers, Santa Monica’s Treesavers – led by peace activist staple Jerry Rubin – holds a march and rally on Tuesday, as part of a long fight against increasing odds to save those beautiful ficus trees along Second and Fourth streets in downtown Santa Monica. The city plans to replace them with ginkgos, which don’t cast as much shade, in order to make the streets more attractive to shoppers. Blech. Tues., 6 p.m. March from Santa Monica Palisades Park to Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main St., Santa Monica. Info: (310) 399-1000 orTreesavers. blogspot.com.
IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD…
Man, people are really excited about this 2012 business. A one-time “Earth Day L.A. Screening” of Timewave 2013: The Future Is Now is only the latest area event by and for mind-body-spiritual types (2012 is the apocalyptic last year of the Mayan calendar) living off a steady diet of yoga and aromatherapy. The 91-minute documentary covers everything from global warming to “the mystic work of Benjamin Franklin.” I don’t think they’re talking about that Puff Daddy song. Tues., 7:30 p.m. $10. Vine Theatre, 6321 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Info: (800) 984-0897 or Cabaretvoltaire.org.
AND I FEEL FINE
Want to really feel good about yourself? The state wants you to help clean one of its parks and wake up early on a Saturday morning. At the Ballona Wetlands Ecological reserve, volunteers get to remove invasive plant species from the sand dunes, and of course trash as well (Sat., 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Parking at 303 Culver Blvd., Playa Del Rey; Info: 310-739-8613 or Calparks.org). Exciting opportunities such as trail maintenance and graffiti removal await at Malibu Creek State Park (9 a.m.-noon; Las Virgenes and Malibu Canyon Rd., Malibu; Info: 818-880-0372). Rio de Los Angeles State Park’s watershed restoration also includes tours for kids and plant drawing activities (9 a.m.-noon; 1900 San Fernando Rd., L.A.; Info: 323-441-8634 x18).
Published: 04/16/2008
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