Location Profile: Pulsing Plummer Park

Plummer Park is one of West Hollywood’s best-used parks with tennis and basketball courts, a community center offering yoga, language and dance classes, playgrounds for children, and plenty of tables frequented by local Russian residents playing card games.

Folk Art Everywhere teamed up with the City of West Hollywood to host a spirited “Folk Wedding” in July 2010 to much fanfare (see photos).










Always filled with an eclectic group of people, this park is a great spot for both kids and adults to exercise, play cards, walk the dog, or simply have a picnic on the grass.

Architecture fans: check out Fiesta Hall, a beautiful WPA-era building, among other stunning structures at the park.

Plummer Park
7377 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Phone: 323.845.0172
Daily: 10am - 9:45pm

Location Profiles: Folk Art Kitchen

Food as art is all the rage in Los Angeles. Makes sense for a city with so many savory offerings and so many creative folk. We at Folk Art Everywhere are led around the city by our tummies, which is why we’ve ended up at so many fine eateries! Read below to learn about them, then go sample the tasties....

Adassa’s Island Cafe in Leimert Park
Panos Pastry in East Hollywood/Little Armenia
Thailand Plaza Fine Thai Cuisine in East Hollywood/Thai Town
Little Ethiopia Restaurant in….(I think it’s obvious)
Figueroa Produce in Highland Park


Adassa’s Island Cafe

Located in the Leimert Park neighborhood of LA, Adassa’s Island Cafe offers an array of healthy sandwiches and delicious pastries, as well as rich Caribbean coffee, tea, and fresh fruits. Although it is usually known for a more serene atmosphere, the café also features a small stage for musical performances and poetry readings. If you’re craving some delectable authentic Jamaican cuisine, hop right next door to Ackee Bamboo, one of L.A.’s top spots for delicious Jamaican dishes.

Adassa's Island Café
4305 Degnan Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90008
Phone: 323.295.7275
Monday – Saturday: 9am – 8pm
Sunday: 9am - 6pm

Panos Pastry

Dubbed the “King of Baklava” by the Los Angeles Times, Panos Pastry is an old-fashioned bakery that sells Armenian, Middle Eastern and European sweets, cakes, and pastries. Be sure to try to famous “Jovina’s Chocolates” and, obviously, some of the best baklava in Los Angeles. Panos Pastry initially opened over 55 years ago in Beirut, Lebanon, and later opened a second bakery on Hollywood Blvd. in 1981. Consequently there’s a rich and abundant history packed inside these sweets that you can’t afford to miss.

Panos is located near Little Armenia’s only park – Barnsdall Art Park, which includes Hollyhock House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Next time you’re nearby, pick up some sweets, then walk over to Barnsdall for one of the sweetest views in LA.

Panos Pastry
5150 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: 323.661.0335
Hours: 9am to 9pm daily

Thailand Plaza Fine Thai Cuisine

Near Little Armenia is Thai Town, the commercial center for the region’s thriving Thai population, where you can find numerous delicious restaurants and curious shops. Thailand Plaza Fine Thai Cuisine is a popular restaurant located in the heart of Thai Town. The best way to go: order a bunch of appetizers for a whole table to share.

Besides offering authentic Thai food, the restaurant also presents musical performances that incorporate handcrafted Thai instruments, karaoke, and a dance floor for traditional and contemporary Thai dance performances. Go on a Saturday night and watch the regulars tear up the dance floor.

While you’re in the area, be sure to explore the color and spirit of Thai Town, the five-block stretch between Western and Normandie Avenues. It is truly a unique and artful neighborhood, a gem in the city, that offers fabric shops, Thai book stores, street markets, and, of course, various spots for flavorful Thai cuisine. Nearby are the Thai Community Arts and Cultural Center, where you can learn more about the fascinating artistic and cultural landscape of the Thai community in L.A.

Thailand Plaza Fine Thai Cuisine
5311 Hollywood Blvd. 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: 323.993.9000
Monday – Thursday: 11am – 1am
Friday – Sunday: 11am - 2am

Little Ethiopia Restaurant

Known for its exquisite and authentic cuisine, Little Ethiopia Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in communal settings. The herbs and spices used are directly imported from Ethiopia, so come eat out of common plates with your hands (unless, of course, utensils are requested) and enjoy the divine flavors! And don’t miss the coffee ceremony.

This restaurant advocates expanding cultural awareness by attempting to recreate the Ethiopian experience not only through authentic flavors but also through the manner in which these flavors are consumed in the social setting. The idea of community is an important value here, so don’t miss the opportunity to branch out and get to know some new people!

Little Ethiopia Restaurant
1048 S Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Phone: 323.360.4431
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Figueroa Produce

Figueroa Produce is the kind of market that every neighborhood should have. It has the feel of a friendly corner market where you know the owners, but isn’t too small that they don’t have all that you need. On the contrary: Fig Pro offers top-quality produce, meats and other goodies, with many products obtained from small, dedicated food distributors all over the globe.

The market is located in the Highland Park neighborhood, where, according to the LA Times, “Every popular Southern California architectural style from the late 1880s to the 1940s is represented, from Queen Anne Victorian and Craftsman to Mission and Tudor Revival.” Located between three sets of hills (Mt. Washington, San Rafael, and Monterey), Highland Park is also known to be one of the most striking scenic areas in the city. As for art, groups like the Arroyo Arts Collective highlight the range of artistic talents that can be found in the neighborhood.

Figueroa Produce
6312 N Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Phone: 323.255.3663
Monday – Saturday: 7am- 9pm
Sunday: 8am - 7pm

Location Profiles: Culture y Commerce

This is the second in a series of Folk Art Everywhere "location profiles" of our myriad Folk Art locations! This profile focuses on "Culture y Commerce," a description that speaks for itself. Read on...

La Casa del Mariachi

On E. 1st St. in Boyle Heights, right between the 10 and 101 freeways, lies a wonderful store that makes and sells beautiful mariachi garments and accessories traditional in Mexico and throughout Latin America. La Casa del Mariachi (“The House of the Mariachi”) provides an array of hand-crafted mariachi clothing, including charro suits, sombreros, bows and buttons. They also provide professional embroidering as well as custom-made suits and dresses to your liking. The detail, embroidering, and colors on these stunning pieces will, without a doubt, mesmerize.

“Mariachi” refers to the musical style whose roots date all the way back to the colonial period in Mexico. Most of the garments in the store are typical of not only the contemporary mariachi musician, but the traditional one as well.

Whether you’re looking to purchase or rent professional, original, and authentic Mexican and Latin American attire, or just curious about mariachi, La Casa will satisfy your mariachi needs!

La Casa del Mariachi
1836 E 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Phone: 323.262.5243
Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5:30pm
Sunday: 11am – 2:30pm
Closed Monday

Nahuí Ohlín

Nahuí Ohlín, a store in Echo Park, celebrates indigenous cultures, primarily Native American, through arts and crafts. The name of the store, "Nahuí Ohlín", which means “Four Movement” in Nahuatl, was chosen to honor ancestral wisdom and history; four is a sacred number expressing movement: the Four Directions, Four Elements, Four Seasons, and Four Major nations on this continent – the Inca, Maya, Mexikah, and Kahokia. The store sells books on indigenous literature, history and revolutionary movements in Central America and Mexikoh, as well as Alpaka hats, t-shirts, jewelry, incense, and other hand crafted items.

Don’t forget to check out the music section as well, which houses musica folclorica, music written and utilized for political purposes, and important speeches by historical social and political figures in the Americas.

Nahuí Ohlín embodies a passionate Indigenous movement that advocates cultural representation in Echo Park. Check it out and indulge yourself in the variety of cultural goods, history, information, and wisdom that Nahuí Ohlín has to offer.

Nahuí Ohlín
1511 W Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Phone: 213.909.5406
Daily: 10am – last customer

Location Profiles: Cultural Centers

To get your curiosity flowing, Folk Art Everywhere has begun weekly "location profiles" of our myriad Folk Art locations! Our inaugural profile features "Cultural Centers." More than just places to exhibit and sell art like a traditional gallery, Cultural Centers are gathering places rooted to their communities. Quite simply, they're about people, FOLK! Below are 5 Cultural Centers where Folk Art Everywhere has made temporary homes.

1. Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural

Tia Chucha's may be our northernmost site, but it is well worth the visit! Tia's celebrates culture with a range of programming from music and dance to spoken word and visual art. You can also find books on Xicano history and literature, indigenous issues and social commentaries, as well as bilingual children's books.

With cold drinks and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, you might just hang out all afternoon, reading and soaking up all they have to offer.

For those who don't think there's any culture in the San Fernando Valley, think again! You don't want to miss this vibrant oasis!

Visit on Saturday, 10/23 at 1pm, when Tia Chucha's and Folk Art Everywhere present a storytelling and puppet making workshop. Targeted to children but everyone is welcome.

Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural
13197-A Gladstone Ave.
Sylmar, CA 91342
(818) 528-4511
Monday – Thursday: 12pm – 8pm; Friday: 2pm – 10pm; Saturday & Sunday: 12pm - 4pm



2. Lucy Florence Cultural Center

Lucy Florence Cultural Center is a premiere arts and entertainment venue, shopping marketplace and coffee shop located in the heart of the Historic Leimert Park. It was established in 1996 by twin brothers Ron and Richard Harris, longtime supporters of culture, performing and visual arts. The brothers named the space for their mother as a birthday homage.

See some art, watch a film, have a cup of coffee, stay for a chat with Ron and Richard.

Lucy Florence Cultural Center
3351 W. 43rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90008
(323) 293-1356
Daily: 11am - 10pm


3. 24th Street Theatre

Located near USC in the West Adams Historic District, 24th Street Theatre presents music, theatre, dance and the visual arts in both English and Spanish. It also offers arts education for students and teachers throughout Los Angeles.

Why not see a production, then wander over to 24th Street’s neighbor, the Velaslavasay Panorama, dedicated to the unusual panoramic exhibition format?

24th St. Theatre
1117 W 24th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 745-6516
Call for hours


4. St. Elmo Village

What started out 4 decades ago as 10 California bungalow-style court houses and 10 garages soon became St. Elmo Village, a unique cultural and community center, ensconced in the residential St. Elmo St. in Mid-City. It is one of the oldest black live-work-teach spaces in America, and features a public garden, gallery space and public meeting place. The village also offers free art, painting, photography, hand drum workshops, and computer graphics training. The experience of St. Elmo Village is beautifully summed up by its voicemail message: “Do what you love. Love what you do.”

St. Elmo Village
4830 St Elmo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 931-3409
Hours flexible – call in advance




5. Levantine Cultural Center

Levantine Cultural Center promotes a greater understanding of the Middle East and North Africa by presenting artistic and educational programs that bridge political and religious divides. They offer a staggering array of programs, from language and drumming classes, to film screenings and comedy shows.

Visit on Thursday, 11/18 at 7:30pm, when the Levantine Center and Folk Art Everywhere present "View from a Grain of Sand" by Meena Nanji, about the complicated situation of women in post-Taliban Afghanistan.

Levantine Cultural Center
5998 W Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310) 657-5511
Monday – Friday: 10am - 6pm

For an interesting take on "StoreFront Cultural Centers" -- part of the inspiration for this post -- see the wonderful Common Ground City website. You may find a couple of FAE sites on there!

Explore Mid-City.....by bicycle!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3
Folk Art Bike Ride

Gather time: 12:00 pm
Ride time: 12:30 pm
(Ends approx 2:30 pm)

Ride begins and ends at CAFAM
5814 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90036

Free parking available on 8th St. / Metered on Curson & Stanley

Co-sponsored by Folk Art Everywhere, a project of the Craft and Folk Art Museum, and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.
Ride is FREE!

SEE art in the Folk Art Everywhere project
EXPLORE unique shops and cultural centers
TOUR Mid-City/Mid-Wilshire in a fun, easygoing way
MEET other art-and-bike lovers!

The ride begins at CAFAM, where tour-goers may visit two new exhibitions. Then the ride will stop at Little Ethiopia Restaurant, a restaurant in the heart of Little Ethiopia on Fairfax; Levantine Cultural Center, which champions a greater understanding of the Middle East and North Africa through artistic and educational programs; and St. Elmo Village, a creative community offering workshops, tours, a beautiful garden, and much more…

Total mileage: 6.5 miles, with only slight hills.
Great for beginning cyclists.
Click on map:

Get your Folk! On

Next Wednesday 9/15, Folk Art Everywhere is proud to present a screening of the film Folk! in partnership with the Echo Park Film Center's Filmmobile program. Folk! is about the unique, acrobatic underground world of Ukrainian folk dancing. An often funny peek at what it's like to grow up in a Ukrainian-American community, the documentary is relevant to anyone trying to balance ties to one's heritage in a culturally homogenizing world.

7:30pm gather time
8:00pm screen time
Location: Echo Park Lake
Filmmobile will be parked near the Northwest corner of Glendale Blvd and Park Ave. (see map below)

The screening is FREE
Limited chairs provided, so consider bringing your own
Screening is outside – dress warmly
Parking is available on surrounding streets

Watch a brief film clip here!




View Larger Map

Folk Art Everywhere & Trekking LA present a tour in Leimert Park

Tour Leimert Park on Sunday, September 5 from 3 - 6 as we partner with LA Commons/Trekking LA and the Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival to show you around the neighborhood that LA Commons calls home. For our final tour we will mingle with local artists, enjoy live jazz and blues, sway to the sound of drums, sample treats from all over the globe and admire a vibrant and proud community. We will end our tour under the trees of our local park with a hearty meal featuring okra and sweet potatoes.*

*For info and to buy tickets, go to www.TrekkingLA.org*

We plan on stopping at Eso Won and sending visitors into Adassa's Island Cafe next to Ackee Bamboo to highlight the Folk Art Everywhere installations.

Who are the Folk?!

Video project hits the streets of Los Angeles in an attempt to answer this central question.

On a hot Sunday afternoon in April armed with two camera crews, CAFAM traveled through the “micro cultures” of Los Angeles to ask 100 people in 9 locations one question, WHO ARE THE FOLK? The result is a short video (2:24 minutes) that documents the voices of Angelenos encountered on the streets of Hollywood, Little Ethiopia, West Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, South Los Angeles, MacArthur Park and Historic Filipinotown. Watch the humorous and thought provoking video here:



The project aims to highlight our shared humanity in a playful format and was inspired by the late great folklorist and educator Alan Dundes who famously proclaimed “Who are the folk? Among others we are!”

The video is a project of the Folk Art Everywhere initiative (launched by the Craft and Folk Art Museum) designed to inspire exploration of the diverse communities and neighborhoods in Los Angeles. A central premise of the project is that art can serve as a catalyst for cultural understanding and connection. In an increasingly multicultural society, CAFAM believes in the power of art to build common ground. Learn more at www.folkarteverywhere.com

Video production: Stephanie Hubbard and Bee Keeper Productions. www.stephaniehubbard.com

Watch the video and tell us what you think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK0jQvdRtGI

Then go find some folk art! Round 2 of Folk Art Everywhere is now on view, with art waiting to be discovered! www.folkarteverywhere.com/locations.html.

Folk art on the loose (again!)

Round 2 of Folk Art Everywhere has just launched! That means new art in your favorite Folk Art sites all over town, with lots of fun and thought-provoking Happenings in the works. Stay tuned.......

LAST CHANCE to see Folk Art Everywhere!

Folk Art Everywhere is about to wrap up its first incarnation and we want to share the art with you! Whether you live in Highland Park or Boyle Heights, Mid-city or the San Fernando Valley, there is art to be found and neighborhoods to be explored.

This weekend, look for Folk Art Everywhere!

(Monday is the last day, but location hours vary. Check here before planning your cultural treasure hunt: http://www.folkarteverywhere.com/locations.html)

If you can’t explore this weekend, don’t despair! Round 2 of Folk Art Everywhere will soon begin, with art in your neighborhood! Stay tuned….

Images, l. to r.: Figueroa Produce & 24th St. Theatre

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Upcoming Folk Art Everywhere Happening:

Saturday, August 7
11am – 3pm

FREE Folk Art Workshop
Presented by St. Elmo Village and Folk Art Everywhere

St. Elmo Village
4830 St. Elmo Dr.. Los Angeles CA 90019

SEE art in the Folk Art Everywhere project
MAKE your own art
EXPLORE the wonderland that is St. Elmo Village

11am – 1pm Painting & Drawing
1pm – 3pm Digital Media

The Painting & Drawing workshop will be a hands-on activity, while the Digital Media workshop will be more observational.

The workshop is a FREE event

Parking: St. Elmo Village is located in a residential neighborhood. Parking is available on surrounding streets.

From Cotton to Agave....and beyond

Folk Art Everywhere recently led curious Angelenos on walking tours of the Leimert Park and Boyle Heights neighborhoods. In Leimert Park, we explored the sculpture-like home of artist Timothy Washington, then visited our Folk Art Everywhere partners, Lucy Florence Cultural Center, Eso Won Books and Adassa's Island Cafe.

Among other things, Timothy described his sculptural process, which involves a creative and strong goo based on cotton and glue!

See for yourself...





And in Boyle Heights, we started out learning about how spools of white thread-like substance from the agave plant are used for embroidery in mariachi hats!




From there, artist and urban planner James Rojas led us around Boyle Heights, beginning at the Mariachi Plaza--whose bandstand not only sits on top of a new Gold Line station, but also marks the spot of a now-gone donut store that used to serve as a gathering spot for mariachi musicians.



We then moved on to peek into some intriguing front yards in the neighborhood.


To conclude the first rotation of Folk Art Everywhere, we held a "Folk Wedding" at Plummer Park in West Hollywood last weekend. Performers shared traditional wedding dances from Estonia, Armenia and Uzbekistan...




And then the whole village broke out in dance:




There's more where that came from. Stay tuned for more Folk Art Happenings!

Come to our FOLK WEDDING!

SUNDAY, JULY 18
5-7pm

You and your family are cordially invited to be our guest at an extraordinary wedding celebration! Join us for this universal tribute to love, family and tradition through a colorful, multi-cultural dance performance. Watch exquisite dancers perform traditional wedding dances from Estonia, Armenia and Uzbekistan and then join in for a festive community dance with Balkan music by the Rakia Brass Band.












When: Sunday, July 18, 2010 | 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Where: Plummer Park – Great Hall Courtyard (look for the colorful ribbons)
7377 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90046 - between Vista St. and Fuller Ave.

Dance performances by: The Gypsy Folk Ensemble (Estonia and Armenia) and Rowan Storm and Sozanda Women's Ensemble (Uzbekistan). Live music by: the Rakia Balkan Brass Band.

Parking is available in two lots:
North Lot - Enter at Fountain and Vista. South Lot - Enter on Santa Monica between Vista and Fuller.

ADMISSION TO THIS EVENT IS FREE. RSVP is requested at RSVP@cafam.org.

This event is generously co-sponsored by the City of West Hollywood.

Folk Art Walk(s): Explore LA on foot!

That's right--WALKING in LA.

If you're anything like me, too often you find yourself asking, "why haven't I been there yet?" about various LA neighborhoods. As a native Angeleno this is a bit embarrassing to admit. Well, if you've ever been curious about the art scenes in Leimert Park or Boyle Heights, now's your chance!

The Leimert Park tour starts at the sculpture-like home of artist Timothy Washington (see left--this is just the tip of the iceberg). Then we'll move on to visit 3 amazing sites in downtown Leimert Park that currently host art work in Folk Art Everywhere.

The Boyle Heights tour starts at La Casa del Mariachi, across from iconic Mariachi Plaza. Artist and urban planner James Rojas will lead us on an exploration of the neighborhood's myriad urban textures--from murals and architecture to creatively embellished porches and fences.


All Folk Art Everywhere Happenings are FREE. See details below.

* * * * * * * * * *

SATURDAY, JULY 10
11am - 2pm (approx)

Folk Art Walk: Leimert Park

With stops at:

Home and studio of artist Timothy Washington
Lucy Florence Cultural Center
Eso Won Books
Adassa's Island Cafe

At the last 3 stops, you'll meet the shop owners, who will briefly talk about their spaces. Then you'll see the art work on view as part of Folk Art Everywhere.

At the conclusion of the tour everyone is welcome to stay at Adassa's for a savory Jamaican meal, or explore other shops on your own in charming downtown Leimert Park.

Directions to the meeting spot will be provided when you RSVP.
Please RSVP by July 8 to (323) 937-4230 x50 or workshops@cafam.org

* * * * * * * * * *

SUNDAY, JULY 11
11:30am - 1pm (approx)

Folk Art Walk: Boyle Heights

Tour starts at:

La Casa del Mariachi
1831 E. 1st St. Los Angeles CA 90033

At the first stop, you'll meet the shop owner, who will briefly talk about the art of making mariachi garments and accessories, with many gorgeous examples on display. You'll also see the art work on view as part of Folk Art Everywhere.

Then, we'll move on to explore the neighborhood, led by James Rojas.

Tour will involve walking 1 mile roundtrip. Wear comfortable shoes.

La Casa del Mariachi is easily accessible by Gold Line (plan your trip here), and via the 101, 5 or 10 freeways. Limited parking is available on 1st St. and surrounding streets.

No RSVP necessary. For questions about the tour, contact heidi@folkarteverywhere.com or 310.415.9451.

Videos on Folk Art Everywhere + Upcoming Happenings

Folk Art is on the move and getting some attention!

At our recent bike tour of 4 Folk Art Everywhere sites, one of our partners, Joshua Jose at Tribal Cafe, shot some video. We heard from several tour-goers about folk art and navigating LA by bicycle!

Watch here:


The tour stopped by 4 of our wonderful partner locations in Historic Filipinotown and Echo Park - Pilipino Workers Center, Nahui Ohlin, Edendale Branch Library and Tribal Cafe. In addition to learning about the art at each stop, the group learned a bit about the area's history as an entry point for Filipino immigrants (hence the name).


* * * * * * * * * *

In organizing this project -- in many ways a tribute to all the folk of Greater LA -- we began to wonder, just who ARE the folk?

We decided to take this question to the streets. Here is the result:



When you hear the word "folk," who do you think of? Chime in with your thoughts below.

* * * * * * * * * *

Join us at the following Folk Art Everywhere Happenings:
All Happenings are FREE


SATURDAY, JUNE 26
11am - 1pm

Folk Art Drawing Workshop
Led by artist Sonia Romero

SEE Sonia's art work, "Bee Pile," in the Folk Art Everywhere project
MEET the artist
MAKE your own art!

Sonia will lead a "drop-in" drawing workshop in front of Highland Park's wonderful Figueroa Produce market! The workshop will be a FREE event and open to anyone who comes by the market between 11am and 1pm.

Learn more about Sonia Romero


Figueroa Produce
6312 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles CA 90042

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30
2:30pm - 4pm

Folk Art Storytelling & Puppet Workshop
Led by artist Leslie Gray

SEE the rod puppets in the Folk Art Everywhere project
HEAR a story featuring puppets
MAKE your own!

Puppeteer and artist Leslie Gray will lead a storytelling/puppet making workshop. It is geared for children ages pre-school to elementary school age, but open to all ages.

Edendale Branch Library
2011 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90026


ALL FOLK ART EVERYWHERE HAPPENINGS ARE FREE

Upcoming Happening: Folk Art Bike Tour

SATURDAY, JUNE 19
11:30am - 2:00pm (approx)

Folk Art Bike Tour
in Echo Park & Historic Filipinotown

Ride begins and ends at Pilipino Workers Center
153 Glendale Blvd., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles CA 90026 – enter off Rockwood Dr.

SEE art in the Folk Art Everywhere project
EXPLORE unique shops and cultural centers
TOUR the neighborhood in a fun, easygoing way
MEET other art-and-bike lovers!

The ride includes stops at Nahuí Ohlín, a shop celebrating indigenous literature, history, music and crafts; Tribal Café, serving juices, coffee and other goodies; Edendale Branch Library, a bustling library on iconic Sunset Blvd; and Pilipino Workers Center, providing resources to Filipino workers and their families.

Total mileage: 3.4 miles, with only slight hills. Great for beginning cyclists.

Co-sponsored by Folk Art Everywhere, a project of the Craft and Folk Art Museum, and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.

Image: Detail of "Las Bicicletas" (The Bicycles)
By Jose Guadalupe Posada, Mexican, 1852-1913

Upcoming Happenings: Workshops & Bike Tour

Folk Art continues to proliferate!
Join us at the following Folk Art Everywhere Happenings:


SATURDAY, JUNE 12
1:00-4:00pm

Bracelet making workshop at CAFAM's Global Bazaar

Peruse beautifully crafted objects from around the world at the Global Bazaar, then make your own! (Workshop is 1-4pm / Bazaar is 10am - 6pm)

CAFAM
5814 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90036

* * * * * * * * * *

SATURDAY, JUNE 12
2:00-4:00pm

Animal making workshop
at Saturn Street Elementary School
led by artist Vanessa Vobis

Vanessa will lead a workshop for children to make their own small animal out of recycled materials (paper, buttons, wire, etc). Workshops will be broken into 35 minute sessions.

Saturn Street Elementary
5360 Saturn St.
Los Angeles CA 90019

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SATURDAY, JUNE 19
11:30am - 2:30pm (approx)

Folk Art Bike Tour
in Echo Park & Historic Filipinotown

Ride begins and ends at Pilipino Workers Center
153 Glendale Blvd., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles CA 90026 – enter off Rockwood Dr.


See art in the Folk Art Everywhere project
Explore unique shops and cultural centers
Tour the neighborhood in a fun, easygoing way
Meet other art-and-bike lovers!

The ride includes stops at Remy’s on Temple, a gallery space focused on Filipino art & culture; Nahuí Ohlín, a retail shop celebrating indigenous literature, history, music and crafts; Tribal Café, serving juices, coffee and other goodies; Edendale Branch Library, a bustling library on iconic Sunset Blvd; and Pilipino Workers Center, providing resources to Filipino workers and their families.

Total mileage: 3.4 miles, with only slight hills. Great for beginning cyclists.

Co-sponsored by Folk Art Everywhere, a project of the Craft and Folk Art Museum, and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.

Explore art and culture in Little Ethiopia!
Attend an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony!

Thursday, June 10, 7:00 to 7:45 p.m.
At Little Ethiopia Restaurant

As part of Folk Art Everywhere, we are organizing a series of "Happenings" so visitors to Folk Art locations may deepen their understanding of the art, the site, the neighborhood, or all 3!

With that in mind, join us in a traditional Coffee Ceremony at Little Ethiopia Restaurant, one of our amazing partners!

Come early or stay late and treat yourself to a meal from Little Ethiopia's savory menu. Bring your friends, meet new folk, and explore Little Ethiopia!

While you’re there, we invite you to view the art on display through Folk Art Everywhere.

*The program is free. Dinner may be purchased on your own.
No reservation necessary, just come as you are!


Little Ethiopia Restaurant
1048 South Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 930-2808
www.littleethiopiarestaurants.com

Folk Art is popping up everywhere!

Folk art is popping up everywhere! A "Bee Pile" at Figueroa Produce in Highland Park…..a hanging sculpture made of colored glass and beads at Levantine Cultural Center on Pico…..a miniature truck carrying tiny travelers at Nahui Ohlin in Echo Park. And many other curious objects! 25 to be exact. All over Greater Los Angeles.

These pieces have made their way from private collections into various public spaces to surprise YOU, dear reader, in your daily excursions around town. And they have stories to tell.

So strap on your best walking shoes and keep your eyes peeled for Folk Art Everywhere. Look for the “X” emblem (oh, and downloading a map might help).

Me? I’m headed to Tribal Café for some frothy carrot orange juice! AND to check out a humble painting made by a famous Ethiopian painter….

ART ESCAPES MUSEUM! CAFAM Launches Innovative Community Initiative FOLK ART EVERYWHERE

Los Angeles has long been known as a sprawling city lacking broadly shared experiences. Folk Art Everywhere offers a new way to build common ground. Think of it as a cultural treasure hunt that releases beautiful and curious art objects from private collections and installs them in unexpected public spaces—restaurants, parks, coffee shops, bookstores, cultural centers—places where people naturally gather.

Folk Art Everywhere is designed to inspire exploration of diverse communities and neighborhoods in Los Angeles through art and culture. To get the adventure started, CAFAM has partnered with 25 diverse and novel art venues throughout Los Angeles County. Together with our collaborators, CAFAM has placed stunning cultural objects that tell quite a tale, in surprising locations that will rotate every three months. The first rotation is April 19 - July 15). These attention grabbing artworks represent cultures from around the world, and are drawn from the museum, local artists and private collections.

With engaging objects as a jumping off point, Folk Art Everywhere attempts to coax audiences beyond casual curiosity to deeper cultural wisdom. A fuller experience of culture is planned through a series of “Happenings” -- poetry readings, documentary film screenings, intimate musical performances, and festive cultural block parties that bring folks together in an artful exchange of stories.

“I, like many others, grew up in a household immersed in art, culture and ritual. Culture was part of my daily life and an extension of my identity,” explains CAFAM Executive Director, Maryna Hrushetska. “The notion that art is only found on white walls or in an institutional setting is actually a manufactured one. Folk Art Everywhere aims to remind us of the artistic beauty that naturally occurs in our daily midst and to spark a larger conversation about how we celebrate and transmit culture in our cosmopolitan metropolis.”

Folk Art Everywhere Locations, April 19 – July 15:

Boyle Heights

La Casa del Mariachi

Downtown

Little Tokyo Branch Library

East Hollywood

Panos Pastry
Thailand Plaza Fine Thai Cuisine

Echo Park

Edendale Branch Library
Nahuí Ohlín

Exposition Park

24th Street Theatre
Mercado La Paloma

Highland Park

Figueroa Produce

Historic Filipinotown

Pilipino Workers Center
Remy’s on Temple
Tribal Café

Koreatown

Pio Pico Branch Library

Leimert Park

Adassa’s Island Café
Eso Won Books
Lucy Florence Cultural Center


MacArthur Park

Mama’s Hot Tamales

Mid-City/Mid-Wilshire

Craft and Folk Art Museum
Little Ethiopia Restaurant
Levantine Cultural Center
Saturn St. Elementary School
St. Elmo Village

San Fernando/Sylmar/Pacoima

Pukúu Cultural Community Services
Tía Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore

West Hollywood

Plummer Park Community Center

The Journey begins! To start your cultural adventure, visit www.folkarteverywhere.com for a map and location information. Spend an afternoon exploring a few sites in one neighborhood or visit one site on your lunch hour. Maybe even try to visit all 25 during one weekend tour!

Location hours of operation are listed on www.folkarteverywhere.com. Calling to confirm opening and closing times in advance is recommended.

Admission is free to all sites. Visitors are encouraged to patronize participating businesses in exchange for their generosity hosting Folk Art Everywhere.

When you arrive, look for the Folk Art Everywhere emblem:

For info: www.folkarteverywhere.com provides more information about the sites, including a map. We will post short written and photographic profiles about each site, surrounding neighborhoods, and related themes during the course of each three-month presentation.

Happenings: Folk Art Everywhere is planning tours, workshops and performances to encourage deeper understanding of the cultures and neighborhoods highlighted. Please visit the website for updates as programs are confirmed.

About CAFAM
…because a shrinking world requires an expanded mind.

In a shrinking world, CAFAM believes in building common ground. As the twenty-first century brings global cultures ever closer together, we often find ourselves traveling in unfamiliar lands. This mapless new landscape requires inter-cultural fluency and frequent trips to CAFAM.