Art Show Focuses on Communities Along L.A. River

“Riverfront Properties,” an exhibit by four local artists, two Japanese American and the other two Chicano, opened over the weekend at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.

The show addresses issues about minority communities such as Little Tokyo, East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights on both sides of the Los Angeles River.

Although East Los Angeles today is known as a Latino neighborhood, the artists noted, it had a substantial Japanese American community until the residents were relocated during World War II.

The artists--Rolo Castillo, Clement Hanami, Glenn Kaino and Daniel J. Martinez--grew up in these neighborhoods and each created an installation piece for the show, which will run through March 24.

Many of the works incorporate images of pop culture, such as Kaino’s piece, called, “Westside Indy (It Takes a Steady Hand),” where a segment of the film “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is projected above a large platform covered with chicharrones (pork rinds), with a porcelain piggy bank in the middle.

Martinez’s piece features multiple images of the Men’s Central Jail. He explained that the view from the jail is the Aliso Village housing projects, and the view from the projects is the jail.

The cultural center is at 244 S. San Pedro Street. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call: (213) 628-2725.