On the town: Local boy makes good

“Local boy makes good” could be the motif of the late modernist print maker Robert Brown, whose works are on exhibit at the New Puppy Gallery on Elm St in Los Angeles, adjacent to the 2 and 5 freeways. A Glendale resident, Brown was also a professor of Fine Arts at Glendale Community College from 1948 to 1983.

In collaboration with the gallery, the Associates of Brand Library and Art Center are presenting the exhibit. On July 9, members and guests attended a reception. Dominating the exhibit space is the silkscreen print “Harbor Theme.” A large photographic rendering of the mural was created for the exhibit. Originally, Brown made the mural, which used 149 screens and 25 colors, for the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1954. A reproduction consisting of five posters is on sale at the Gallery. It may also be sold in pieces.

Gallery owner Kent Bulza and Sally MacAller, a Brand Associates board member, are the exhibit’s curators. Arlene Vidor, Brand Associates president, was busy behind the scenes at the reception. Also making a welcome appearance was Pat Zeider, senior library supervisor of the Brand Library.

Glendale residents and Robert Brown fans present included Peter Rusch, Scott Halloran and Stephanie Landregan, a Glendale planning commissioner. Also on hand was Mike Morgan, a Glendale historical preservation commissioner. “I love this building’s adaptive use as a gallery,” said Morgan.

Much of the event’s proceeds from sales of Brown’s work will benefit the Associates of Brand Library and Art Center. The funds will be directed to more cultural events at the library.

Brown’s work will be on exhibit through July 31.

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The Alameda Writing Group is the best-kept secret in town for writers of every genre. For 13 years the all-volunteer organization has been meeting on the first Saturday of every month at the Glendale Central Library. The group skipped Independence Day weekend, but July 9 found approximately two dozen members learning about writing for alternative media such as graphic novels and video games.

Moderator and Past President Brian McCarthy kept the action moving as he interviewed alternate-media writers Jim Sorensen and Courtney Joyner. Sorensen is known as the author and advisor of four Transformer books. Joyner has written and/or provided the dialogue for Western fiction, comic books, video games and toys.

Both professionals agreed that social media now brings attention to writing projects. According to Joyner, “There has also been an explosion of independent films going directly to download.” Each author also agreed that writing for gaming is not kid stuff. Instead, it’s a very profitable market. “E-book publishing is also popular, since writers can post their writing on Amazon,” said McCarthy, “You have to be your own publisher.”

At work behind the scenes was Alameda Writing Group President Lilly Thomassian, who writes plays and screenplays. A produced writer, her current project is the play, “Komitas,” about the Armenian composer who modernized traditional Armenian music in the early 1900s.

Joining the Alameda Writers Group is $30 for the rest of the year. Visit www.alamedawritersgroup.org for further information.

Ruth Sowby may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.