Tuesday, February 20, 2018

CU: RSVP now for February 26th Music and Art in the Studio

Online RSVP are now closed.

February Night!  

this coming Monday, the 26th @ 8 p.m. 
Music & Arts in the Studio  
@ Alexey Steele Grand Atelier

Special thanks to our unwavering founding patron
Rand Resources, LLC.      
 

We return from a brief winter break to find... it's still winter! Well, the groundhog did see his shadow this year.  As we are still having chilly nights, it may be chilly in the studio, so please dress warmly!  
 
To heat things up, the glowing sound of the City of Angels Saxophone Quartet returns to Classical Underground, performing works specifically composed for their combination: the delightful Petit Quatour pour saxophones by Jean Francaix, and "Addis Ababa" and "Montevideo" from Guillermo Lago's intriguing Ciudades.
 Steve Vanhauwaert  Evgeny Tonkha 



 
Rising Los Angeles opera, film, and rock composer Brooke deRosa brings a group of her songs, performed by mezzo soprano Nandani Sinha, who previously sang at CU as part of a Long Beach Opera preview.  Brooke (a fine soprano herself) will accompany Nandani on piano in Art Songs, Chances, Day follows Day, Goodbye Lullaby, and True Love.
 

And two of our stellar CU favorites, pianist Steven Vanhauwaert and cellist Evgeny Tonkha, will each take solo turns with works to be announced.

CU SHOWCASE 


 

  Alexey Steele:  "Mr. Lipsey." Sepia on fabriano  paper
 
Working on the "Love My Neighbor" public art project in the City of Carson's most difficult neighborhood, the notorious Scottsdale, is turning out to be one of my most rewarding artistic journeys.  The richness, authenticity and depth of the citizen models is a uniquely powerful foundation for the work of  my series.  It is amazing to see that I am virtually retracing the steps of my late father, the great Socialist Realist painter Leonid Steele.  What he was doing in the remote villages of Ukraine and cities of Russia in the days of the Soviet Union, I am doing today in contemporary America.   
 
I am also learning a lot.  Classical Underground is our 10 year exploration in the idea of Art which is based on clarity of intent: we do Art simply because we believe in it, and not for any other reason.  With my public art project in Carson, I am testing how this clarity of intent can become a tool of social action.  I am proud to see that in Scottsdale, Art is becoming a vital tool of the community's own turnaround effort, as opposed to being an agent of gentrification as we so often see.  
 
Here is the study for my new painting from the series.  Mr. Lipsey is from Mississippi.  He is 77.  He came to LA in 1972.  When he was just 6 years old, his Dad went to get food for him in pouring rain, got drenched and died of double pneumonia.  As Mr. Lipsey puts it, in 1947 Mississippi "antibiotics were too good for blacks." He recounted memories of segregation and brutal racism, including when Emmett Till's body was pulled out of the Tallahatchie River.  
 
Remarkable in his observations, as I began to develop the drawing at the middle of the last session Mr. Lipsey told me, "It's the first time I am seeing the real me." 
 
For more on the Love My Neighbor public art project check out our site: 

*****

 
 As always - bring your spirits, food and drink for you and your friends to enjoy.   






 Please RSVP via Paypal through our website by clicking on the button on the top of this post.  Online RSVP are now closed.

We are most grateful to our supportive friends at



for graciously providing us with their incomparable instrument
Steinway  
   


    We are grateful for a continuous support of our founding patron 

RAND RESOURCES, LLC.

 

In Art we Trust!

 
20795 Main St. Carson, Ca 90745
Doors open at 7 p.m. No assigned seats - first come-first served. Potluck. Entrance from the parking lot.  Free parking.   



 

 


 
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