By Julian Bermudez
Gazette Arts Writer
2nd City Council Art Gallery + Performance Space is well known throughout the Long Beach Arts community.
Dedicated to supporting and promoting California artists’ work and arts education, the organization’s mission is to expose the public to the wealth of creativity that exists in California.
Since its incorporation in 2000, 2nd City Council has become a fascinating space where the public is welcomed and can join one another to learn about the various cultures, traditions, lifestyles and philosophies that exist in this city and state. Educational outreach — as well as arts-related projects — is extended to teenagers living in foster care group homes.
Admission to the gallery is free — a policy strategically decided to adhere to the institution’s ideology that all art should be available to every person.
Dedicated to supporting and promoting California artists’ work and arts education, the organization’s mission is to expose the public to the wealth of creativity that exists in California.
Since its incorporation in 2000, 2nd City Council has become a fascinating space where the public is welcomed and can join one another to learn about the various cultures, traditions, lifestyles and philosophies that exist in this city and state. Educational outreach — as well as arts-related projects — is extended to teenagers living in foster care group homes.
Admission to the gallery is free — a policy strategically decided to adhere to the institution’s ideology that all art should be available to every person.
Typically, 2nd City Council’s exhibits are theme-based, exploring topics from each artist’s unique perspective.
Occasionally, about once a year, 2nd City Council extends an invitation to artists outside of California and the United States. At its Alamitos Avenue home, 2,400 square feet of gallery space is transformed into an open forum where artist and visitor engage in a unique dialogue.
Many of the shows’ themes describe how these ideas may impact or interest the community as a whole.
So, it comes as no surprise that 2nd City Council would explore the arts and cultures of one of Long Beach’s largest ethnic communities — Cambodians.
“Transformation II” includes visual artists from Cambodia, as well as Cambodian-Americans and U.S.-based artists working in the areas of painting, sculpture, installation art, photography, video and performance art. Aside from the more traditional media, the show also includes documentaries of Cambodian public art projects, individual artists and films, and a published Cambodian-American writer’s forum, all scheduled to take place on from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 24.
“Transformation II’s” importance to our society goes beyond this city and the Asian/Asian-American communities.
This exhibit offers an opportunity for self-expression and open-mindedness for the second-largest Cambodian community outside of Asia — after Paris — and reminds us all that Long Beach’s diversity is far-reaching.
In addition to this exhibit, 2nd City Council is conducting a fund-raising event for “Art and Social Action in Cambodia,” a social justice art course that takes place in Phnom Penh, where for three weeks, students design and implement art programs among HIV positive youth and children rescued from sex trafficking and child labor. The art courses aid these children in developing a critical consciousness, as well as promote the healing or therapeutic aspect that art provides.
The organization was founded five years ago by Carlos Silveira, an art education professor at Cal State Long Beach, who places “artists in residence” in Cambodia so the children would continue to benefit from the program throughout the year without interruption.
The fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, June 20. The exhibit runs through May 3.
2nd City Council Art Gallery + Performance Space is at 435 Alamitos Ave.
Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Call 901-0997 or visit www.2ndcitycouncil.org for more information.
Occasionally, about once a year, 2nd City Council extends an invitation to artists outside of California and the United States. At its Alamitos Avenue home, 2,400 square feet of gallery space is transformed into an open forum where artist and visitor engage in a unique dialogue.
Many of the shows’ themes describe how these ideas may impact or interest the community as a whole.
So, it comes as no surprise that 2nd City Council would explore the arts and cultures of one of Long Beach’s largest ethnic communities — Cambodians.
“Transformation II” includes visual artists from Cambodia, as well as Cambodian-Americans and U.S.-based artists working in the areas of painting, sculpture, installation art, photography, video and performance art. Aside from the more traditional media, the show also includes documentaries of Cambodian public art projects, individual artists and films, and a published Cambodian-American writer’s forum, all scheduled to take place on from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 24.
“Transformation II’s” importance to our society goes beyond this city and the Asian/Asian-American communities.
This exhibit offers an opportunity for self-expression and open-mindedness for the second-largest Cambodian community outside of Asia — after Paris — and reminds us all that Long Beach’s diversity is far-reaching.
In addition to this exhibit, 2nd City Council is conducting a fund-raising event for “Art and Social Action in Cambodia,” a social justice art course that takes place in Phnom Penh, where for three weeks, students design and implement art programs among HIV positive youth and children rescued from sex trafficking and child labor. The art courses aid these children in developing a critical consciousness, as well as promote the healing or therapeutic aspect that art provides.
The organization was founded five years ago by Carlos Silveira, an art education professor at Cal State Long Beach, who places “artists in residence” in Cambodia so the children would continue to benefit from the program throughout the year without interruption.
The fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, June 20. The exhibit runs through May 3.
2nd City Council Art Gallery + Performance Space is at 435 Alamitos Ave.
Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Call 901-0997 or visit www.2ndcitycouncil.org for more information.
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