A Celebration of Local Artists

The Arroyo Arts Collective requests the honor of your presence Sunday at noon for a juried art show, musical performances and an artists reception to be held at Occidental College on the occasion of the collective’s third anniversary.

They would also like you to think of northeast Los Angeles when you think of the arts.

“What we feel is that the Westside of Los Angeles gets all the attention,” said Hendrik Stooker, senior curator of the art galleries at Occidental College and a co-founder of the collective.

Stooker said that several northeast Los Angeles artists show on the Westside but that there is no place locally for the area’s many artists to show. The collective is trying to change that: “We want people to be seen in their neighborhood and to have a beneficial effect on the neighborhood.”

Stooker, Diane Alexander and Matthew Marchand formed the collective to turn the Arroyo Seco region back into the cultural center it was during the early part of this century. Stooker estimates that today there are about 300 members, including painters, writers, poets, musicians, folk artists, photographers and actors and supporters of the arts.

The day’s festivities start at noon with Mt. Washington musician Nick Ariondo playing early 20th Century Spanish and Italian music on the accordion. The Los Angeles Shape Note Singers will sing a cappella at 2 p.m., followed at 4 p.m. by an ensemble playing contemporary chamber music by the Composer’s Group, eight local composers organized by composer Ginger Mayerson. All music will be played in the Bird Studio.

The artists’ reception is from 2 to 5 p.m., and will be outside in front of the galleries. All events and parking are free. Occidental College is at 1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock.