“Experience Ancient Theater with Greetings: Arts Calendar December -“

As the festive period approaches, the art world appears to be taking no respite; providing a plethora of pre-Christmas offerings which range from a double performance art bill to art shows inspired by magic kingdoms and time-traveling fantasies. Furthermore, classic Pop photography, films on post-carceral art and historic figures from trans history, talks and exhibitions on diasporic, ancestral, religious, and spiritual influences and symbolism in contemporary art, the design of deep sea exploration, a festival of Black comics and more will all be showcased on Thursday th December with My Barbarian at REDCAT (Live & Virtual).

At W nd St in downtown, the renowned production of My Barbarian includes You Were Born Poor and Poor You Will Die–a combination of ancient Greek theater, mystery plays, and rock opera that tells the story of a religious cult engaging in human sacrifice to maintain the economic status quo. In addition, Silver Minds will be presented, which utilizes conventions of Noh theater, New Wave music, and science fiction, as it tells ghost stories about climate change and resource extraction from the perspective of tourists who have time traveled to the past to enjoy nature, which no longer exists. The performances will take place Thursday through Saturday, December -, beginning at :pm. Admission is $.

Members of the public are invited to attend an experiential, multimedia art exhibition on Thursday and Friday, December th and th, respectively, celebrating the series premiere of a new FX series based on Octavia E. Butler’s acclaimed novel. Guests will have the opportunity to be transported back in time from contemporary Los Angeles to th century America through a gallery-curated installation featuring works by Black artists, enhanced by an immersive environmental installation. The event is free of charge and takes place at W Adams Blvd., West Adams, located in Los Angeles. Hours are :pm – :pm on Thursday, December th and :am – :pm on Friday, December th.

This distinct selection of black-and-white film portraits, curated by Alexander May, offers an exploration into how any creative process is affected and enhanced by life experiences and fortuity. It showcases Warhol’s many film subjects, which include friends and contemporaries such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, William S. Burroughs, Bianca Jagger, and more. N Western Ave, E Hollywood; Friday-Sunday, December -, am-pm; free; sized.ltd. In addition, ‘Art and Krimes by Krimes’ at MOCA – a documentary film on the story of prison artist Jesse Krimes – will also be presented.

Mari Cardenas’ works of art—including a -foot mural crafted with prison bed sheets, hair gel, and newspaper—will be presented in an exhibition entitled Colores de Valor at Self Help Graphics. Each panel was smuggled out piece by piece, aided by fellow artists. When Krimes returned home, he saw the full mural for the first time. As Krimes’ artwork garners attention from the art world, he grapples with the difficulty of adjusting to life outside and living under the concern that any misstep may result in a life sentence. The event taking place on Friday, December th at pm is free to attend and will be held at S Grand Ave., Downtown.

Now in her nineties, Mari continues to paint and be a valued member of the Self Help Graphics (SHGfamily. As such, SHG presents a solo exhibition at their gallery on E st St., Boyle Heights, showcasing how Mari utilized color, form, and emotion as a response to difficult life experiences in an effort to create happiness. The exhibition will be on view through February nd and is free to the public. Additionally, on Friday, December th, there will be an opening reception from -pm during which guests are also invited to view works of other artists associated with SHG. Moreover, on Saturday, December th, a virtual art talk related to the exhibit will take place at The Getty.

Conclusion

This Friday, December 6th at 7pm, Self Help Graphics will be exhibiting Colores de Valor, an amazing mural crafted by artist Mark Dean Veca while he was incarcerated. The mural is composed of pieces of prison bed sheets, hair gel and newspaper, and it was smuggled out piece by piece with the help of fellow inmates. The exhibition hopes to raise awareness about the struggles of those leaving prison. It is free to attend and a great opportunity for those interested in learning more about this cause. So don’t miss out – come to S Grand Ave., Downtown and witness art that speaks to the difficulties of readjusting to life outside prison and the very real fears of being incarcerated again.