A Guide to Classes in Ethnic Culture

The merging of cultures in metropolitan Los Angeles not only provides a diversity of ethnic arts and restaurants, but it also offers lectures, workshops and classes open to the public.

If you’d like to become involved with some of the crafts, art and dance of the various groups, read on:

Crafts and Folk Arts

The Afro-American Quilters of Los Angeles is a group meeting once a month to create greater interest in and appreciation for quilting as an art form. Through their quilting activities they celebrate, extend and expand an American tradition that began when slaves preserved discarded fabrics through quilting. The group will offer workshops starting in March. Contact: Sandra German, (213) 735-3175.

The California Japanese Ceramic Arts Guild is an organization of Japanese-Americans that promote their heritage through ceramics. Most are teachers; some are individual studio artists. They occasionally offer workshops and welcome new members. Contact: Mary Ichino, (818) 796-0968, evenings.

The Craft and Folk Art Museum offers on-going lectures and monthly Sunday family nights, with story-telling and art sessions to coincide with exhibits. On Feb. 26, the Family Night folk tales will be “Tricksters’ Tales--Superstitions and Black Folklore.” Information: (213) 937-5544. Fee: $4.

Los Angeles City College is offering three cultural art classes through their Community Services program in February and March. Although some classes began Saturday, it is still possible to get into the classes. LACC’s offerings are:

--”Chinese Painting--Introduction to Chinese Painting With focus on Chinese Brush,” where students will learn the basic brush strokes to create flowers, plants and birds--the main subjects of Chinese painting; Saturdays through March 18 at 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Fee: $49.

--”Ikebana--The Art of Japanese Flower Arranging.” Following the curriculum of the Ohara School of Japanese flower arranging, students will work with small form arrangements. Some materials are required, Saturdays, Feb. 4 through March 11, at 10 a.m.-noon, Fee: $49.

--”Pysanka--The Art of Ukrainian Egg Dyeing.” This all-day workshop from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. will require students to bring six uncooked eggs and paper towels, March 11, Fee: $22. Information: (213) 669-1031.

The Southwest Museum will have several workshops and lectures open to the public in February, March and April.

A pottery lecture and demonstration featuring the style of San Ildefonso Pueblo artist Maria Martinez will be held Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Three Martinez family members will demonstrate and discuss the making of the black pottery. Reservations are required. Fee: $10.

The Museum will also offer a lecture March 2 at 7:30 p.m. on “Pueblo Pottery.” Southwest Museum curator of anthropology, Jonathan Batkin, will present an illustrated slide lecture in conjunction with the current exhibition of Pueblo Indian pottery from the museum’s collection. Fee: $5. Call for reservations.

And “Object Conservation,” a slide-illustrated talk by professional conservators, will address home care and display of ethnographic artifacts on April 16 at 7:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to bring problem pieces for consultation. Reservations recommended. Fee: $5.

For children, the museum will have a two-day hands-on workshop April 8-9 from 1-3 p.m. on Southwest Indian pottery-making led by museum staff members. Fee: $7.50. Call for reservations. Information: (213) 221-2164.

The Ukrainian Art Center will hold workshops in February and March on Ukrainian pysanka (decorated Easter eggs), embroidery and beadwork. All workshops will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the following dates: Pysanka for beginners on Feb. 19, 25, March 11, 12; an intermediate workshop will be held Feb. 19. The embroidery workshop will be March 11 and the beadwork on March 12. Reservations are required. Fee: $25 per workshop. Information: (213) 668-0172.

Dance

The Cambodian Art Preservation Group makes costumes that are available for rent and they also give performances in Cambodian dance. They will also offer home workshops on costume-making and dance in March and April. Contact: Leng Hang, (213) 591-6464.

The Folk Dance Federation of California is comprised of groups from Long Beach to the San Fernando Valley. They meet weekly to practice various forms of folk dance including Austrian, English, Greek, Hungarian, Israeli, Norwegian, Romanian, Scandinavian, Scottish, Swedish, Yugoslav, and more. Some groups offer classes and some give exhibition performances in costume. Contact: Frances Slater, (213) 277-6699.

The Greek Heritage Society occasionally offers workshops and lectures. In May, they will offer a folkloric concert of music and dance of three Greek immigrant groups who came to U.S. in early 1900s. Contact: Zoye Fidler, (805) 496-4316.

The Inner City Cultural Center offers on-going modern dance classes in the styles of Katherine Dunham and Lester Horton, choreographers who incorporated movement from various Afro-Caribbean and Latin American cultures and American black styles in their dance. Information: (213) 387-1161.

Los Angeles City College Community Services will have several dance classes running February through March. Classes include:

--”African Dance” Dances of Western Africa and the Caribbean will be taught along with explanations of the meanings of the dances, Tuesdays, Feb. 7 through March 14. Fee: $29.

--”Let’s Dance the Salsa: Salsa and Latin Dances” will teach students the rhythmic and tropical dances of South America and introduce them to the styles and techniques of the salsa , cumbia , merengue , danzon , cha-cha and more, Sundays, Feb. 5 through March 12. Beginners at 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. or intermediate, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Fees: $35.

--”Introduction to Flamenco Dancing” is an introductory workshop to classical Spanish dance and the rhythms of Flamenco dance, Sundays Feb. 5 through March 12. Beginners, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.; intermediate, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Fee: $35.

--”Belly Dancing” Feb. 4 through March 18, 11 a.m.-noon. Fee: $35. Information: (213) 669-1031.

Food Presentation

Los Angeles City College Community Services will offer two cuisine classes:

--”Japanese Sushi and Sashimi” cooking will teach students how to filet various fish and prepare sushi, rice and Japanese sauces, March 4 at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Fee: $45 (includes materials).

--”Thai Vegetable and Fruit Carving” will teach students this art form that originated in the royal palaces of Thailand, March 12 and 19 at 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Fee: $39 (includes materials). Information: (213) 669-1031.

UCLA Extension will offer:

--A three-session class, “An Introduction to Swiss Gourmet Chocolate Making,” which introduces students to the techniques and skills of working with chocolate to make showpieces Feb. 9-11.

--A four-session “European Pastry” class where award-winning pastry chef Joachim Caula will present sophisticated European techniques and styles for making an array of exquisite pastries and desserts March 8, 15, 22, 29. Both classes will be held at St. Moritz Luxury Chocolates, Beverly Hills. Information: (213) 206-8120. Fee: $200 per class.

Music

Los Angeles City College Community Services will offer “Latin Percussion and Rhythms--An Introduction to Latin Drums,” where students will learn to play timbales, congas, bongos and other instruments, Feb. 4 through March 18 at 10 a.m.-noon. Although this class began Feb. 4, it is still possible to get in. Information: (213) 669-1031. Fee: $50.

St. Elmo’s Village is currently holding a class devoted to “skin on skin” drumming, otherwise known as hand drumming. The eight-week class, which meets every Saturday, began Jan. 28 and ends March 18; however it is still open to the public. Students learn this form of traditional African drumming that generates rhythms found in all types of music, while discussing particular influences the drumming has on African culture. Areas that will be discussed include the drumming’s religious and spiritual tones, as well as a session in which the students will learn to make their own drums. Drums are provided. Information: (213) 931-3409. Fee: $32 for adults, $24 for seniors and students.

Theater

The American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts offers some seminars to welcome new members to Los Angeles and also has workshops for actors and writers. Information: (213) 851-9874.

The Glendale Ballet Theater has a class that studies the various forms of modern dance and movement, including Arabic modern dance and other forms of Middle Eastern art. This on-going class will give the student the opportunity to experience the diversity found in contemporary musical theater. Information: (213) 384-0502. Fee: $35 for eight sessions.

Art

UCLA Extension will be offering a class focusing on “Hispanic Art in the United States: 30 Contemporary Painters and Sculptors.” Participants will take a guided tour of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art exhibit of Hispanic art plus visit the studios of four Los Angeles artists whose work is part of the exhibit. Class dates and times are Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. and March 4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pre-enrollment is required as the location address will be mailed only to enrollees. Information: (213) 206-8503. Fee: $85.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art will offer lectures and a symposium on Hispanic art from February through April in conjunction with the exhibit “Hispanic Art in the United States: Thirty Contemporary Painters and Sculptures.” Programs are free to museum members and are included in the admission fee for the general public.

The museum will offer two lectures: “Poetics and Politics of Hispanic Art in the United States” will be held Feb. 19 at 3:30 p.m.; “Towards an Aesthetics of Latino Art: Parameters and Possibilities” will be held March 12 at 3:30 p.m.

A symposium, “What is the Role of the Latino Artist in Contemporary Culture?,” will take place March 18 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Four artists will discuss their views on the transcultural perspective and how it informs their work. Key issues to be explored are social activism, feminism, formalism and the folkloric tradition. Information: (213) 857-6000.

Other

The Southwest Museum on March 11 will offer a day-long Chicano Poetry Conference, “Chicano Poetry in California: Language and Identity in 20th-Century Literature” from 9 a.m-4 p.m. Information: (213) 221-2164.