This weekend is filled with special holidays…of course we have Mother’s DAY on Sunday (which trumps the rest)….then we start off with Cinco De Mayo on Thursday. Be sure to check our my Huffington Post article if you are looking for dining ideas and a fun entertainment event to celebrate May 5th. Upper West will be having a special fundraiser for HARK (Healing Arts Reaching Kids), help the cause just by ordering dinner. Upper West has agreed to donated 30% of the entire night’s sales to HARK (an affiliate of Children’s Hospital). Then the Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday – have  mint julep for me – would ya? Mama’s got a busy weekend! And although I am not a true mother (I’m a blues mama)…I tip my hat to mother’s everywhere! Mothers are the harding working people on the planet. I know my mom is smiling down at me.

With Mother’s Day one day away, our staff chose this event, since it has a two-fold purpose. This is a great idea to say thank you to your Mom early (its perfect for you cheapskates). Let’s not forget – without our moms, none of us would be here! Be sure to visit our Sunday Events Page for some suggestions for the big day!

18th Street Arts Center opens its doors and invites the public to an afternoon of guided artist studio tours and champagne!

These Champagne Socials happen twice a year and are campus-wide events that attract art enthusiasts and supporters from all over Los Angeles. Enjoy cheerful libations with friends and colleagues as you experience new works in progress and hold intimate discussions with the talented artists who live and work at 18th Street Arts Center.

The event takes place this Saturday, May 7th, 11AM-3PM, thirteen current artists in residence will open their studios to the public for the duration of the event, with docent-led tours starting at 11:30AM, scheduled hourly, to encourage dialogue between the artists and the public. Three resident organizations will offer an inside peek into their world featuring activities with staff on hand to highlight their artistic work in the community.

Visiting artist José Carlos Teixeira will screen two video installations in the Project Room, students from OTIS Graduate Public Practice program will present works in the center’s Main and Atrium galleries. The artists will activate these and other spaces throughout the campus with performances, interventions and live music associated with their work.

This event is free. Please RSVP CLICK HERE.

FULL LIST OF PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:
Artist Lab Exhibition: OTIS Graduate Public Practice:
Gina Valona, Margo Mullen, Mark X. Farina, Raghubir Kintisch, Yrneh Gabon

Exhibition in the Project Room:
José Carlos Teixeira (Portugal) presents two video-installations

Atrium Gallery Reception – 2PM: OTIS Graduate Public Practice
Henderson Blumer, Jeanette Degollado, Margarethe Drexel, Tonya Ingram, Jenny Kane, Shefali Mistry, Beth Ann Morrison, Catherine SCOTI Scott

Locals artists in residence:
Arzu Arda Kosar, Cheryl Walker, Clayton Campbell, David McDonald, Henriëtte Brouwers & John Malpede, Yvette Gellis

Local organizations in residence:
Continuum Movement Studio, Continuum Montage Studio, Teri Carter, EZTV

Visiting Artists in Residence:
Carla Zaccagnini (Argentina, Sweden), Marisa Jahn (USA), Mike Bode (Sweden), José Carlos Teixeira (USA, Portugal), Runo Lagomarsino (Argentina, Brazil, Sweden)

Curator in Residence:
Andrea Rodriguez Novoa (Spain)

See image: by MX Farina

Parking is limited. Street parking available both on Olympic and on 17th Street.

18th Street Arts Center’s residency programs help build and strengthen the creative community by working with local, national, and international artists and curators. There are four types of residencies, including local organizations in residence, where arts organizations have their offices and activities on our campus; local artists in residence, where LA-based artist occupy either live/work or day work studios for 1 year or more; a visiting artist program that hosts international and national artists and curators from between 1 to 3 months; and the Artist Lab Residency program, structured as both a residency and an exhibition for an LA-based artist in our Main Gallery.

This event is free. Please RSVP CLICK HERE.

What: Opening reception
Where: 18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th St. Santa Monica, 90404
When: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Phone: (310) 453-3711
Website: http://18thstreet.org/