LA River as seen from Fletcher, above: I began my journey by bike in Atwater & ended up at Vanessa's in Frogtown just in time for fresh home made apricot juice & a dinner of rice and beans. Dee Dee happened by and we sat like old young ladies for long enough to have our fill. Another lovely warm spring evening in Frogtown.
The opening of "Outtakes" closes out my 2011 with a Blessed Bang at the new Braj Gallery
Pre-Installation of main wall. It took about two
hours to sift through the entire collection.
The first Polaroid up: An early Self Portrait taken
on the 7 Train Platform in Queens, NYC circa 1999
Gallery owner Caren Braj standing next
to the first Polaroid placed on the wall.
Though I've been honored to create my brand of Polaroid Installations here in LA, Barcelona, Rome and Paris, at the end of 2011 I was thrilled and proud to present my first solo Art Show at a dear friend's new Gallery Space on Temple Blvd. in Echo Park - A neighborhood close to my heart since I not only lived there for 2 years between 1998-2000, but it also is the place where I was living when I first got inspired to start exclusively shooting with Polaroids for what would be the next ten years. Looking back it seemed an appropriate "coming full circle" moment for me and my cherished Polaroid images taken on all of my travels to end up there first.
It was particularly interesting for me to show video work for the first time. Below is a blurb created for the gallery.
View from the front door. 14 Film shorts were projected on the wall above right.
View from the back of gallery. More images were placed
in a line on the opposite wall of the main installation.
Music Producer, Artist Alejo and friend.
Performing/Visual Artist, Educator Kraig Blue
Family: My brother Hassan Booker, his wife Bet and
my nieces Sabrina, 4 and Aaliyah, 5.
Artist Leland Bankowski and Caren Braj looking good enough to eat.
Colombiana Poet reciting a 10 min piece en espanol.
I've got to get her name from the friend whom invited her!
Taking footage of her partner reciting his politically charged poems.
He did two moving pieces.The two poets and activist's invited are a couple.
It was a Divine experience and the perfect Blessing for the new space.
His name, also still needs to be retrieved.
This is my dear friend and one of biggest supporters Caren Braj; also a painter and film maker and yes, a newly Grammy Nominated Producer (for her Production work on a video for TV on The Radio) was the beautiful platform that made this magical evening possible. We've dreamed of this night and space for many years and we were like two 5 years old's having a blast in the sandbox the 24 hours it took to prepare for the big night which, by the way was a spontaneous decision made just two days before the actual event. In other words on Wed. night we decided to do an opening in her new gallery, Saturday. Looking forward to the closing. Thank You Caren.
"OUTTAKES" Sat. 12/17/11 at Braj Gallery in Echo Park
I'm putting up my first solo Photo show, joining forces with Gallerista Caren Braj for an evening of short films created between 2007-2009 and an Installation of Polaroids from 1999-2009 taken in LA, NYC, Cuba, Mexico and Colombia. It will also be the first show in her new gallery Echo Park/downtown adjacent. BRAJ GALLERY 1240 W. Temple, 90026 - 7pm til about 11.
Sunset Wheelchair, 2005
Brooklyn String, 2001
Vanessa, Echo Park 2000
Tijuana 1999
Free Elian Protest, Cuba 1999
6 Train heading East, NYC 1999
Some of the shorts that will be projected...
"On The Boat" First short film I made, using a cell phone and music track with the same title at an impromptu after hours in someone's home.
Trailer "The Awakenings of Eva", A group of 6 short films shot in Tijuana Mexico over the weekend of Dec. 12, 2008. Starring of Vanessa Alvarez
Experimental collab with Xaphryn Follicle: Music Video for "Ode Remix" 2009
Homemade apricot juice
Vanessa Alvarez and Rita the dog (bottom left)
