Category: Arts & Events

Westside fashion designer publishes children’s picture book By Kamala Kirk Back when Stacy Johnson had her first e-commerce website in 1999, she used a vintage dress form named Mabel, which ended up inspiring a children’s book she wrote 20 years later. “As in the book, Mabel was found in an East Village apartment with one broken wheel, and that’s exactly how I came to own the used dress form when I was at Parsons School of Design,” Johnson says. “She was the company’s trademark and graced the front of my Brooklyn boutique, on my shopping bags, hangtags and labels,...

Actress brings down-home humor to Santa Monica Playhouse benefit By Bridgette M. Redman Shelley Fisher was able to take a childhood insult and turn it into a long-running show that has been delighting audiences in Santa Monica since 2013. This December, she livestreamed it as part of a benefit series for the Santa Monica Playhouse. “The Hebrew Hillbilly – Fifty Shades of Oy Vey!” will livestream online at 6 p.m. on December 17 with a ticket price of $30 per family viewing. It will remain on the website until January 30. The benefit series features actors who donate their...

Different communities across the Westside are ringing in the holidays safely By Holly Jenvey Even though COVID-19 has canceled many holiday plans, you can still safely experience the festivities on the Westside through in-person and virtual activations. From pretty lights displays to socially distanced events and more, here are some of the different ways that local communities are bringing on the holiday cheer. Culver City • Virtual Holiday Tree Lighting (December 10, 6 p.m.) Ring in the season with virtual festivities leading up to the Culver City tree lighting. Enjoy a special guest appearance by Academy Award-winning actor Tim...

The Los Angeles Louver celebrates 45 years with 45 artists at 45 Venice Boulevard By Bridgette M. Redman There comes a time to pull out all the stops. For the Los Angeles Louver, that time is now as the art gallery celebrates its 45th anniversary. From now until January 16, 2021, they are honoring that milestone with an exhibit called “45 at 45.” It features the work of 45 artists at their gallery home located at 45 North Venice Blvd. in Venice. The exhibit is spread out over two floors, inaugurating the newly remodeled second floor gallery space. The...

Otis College of Art and Design reimagines its campus with COVID in mind By Christina Campodonico As a result of COVID-19, many educational institutions have had to close and switch to a virtual learning format. Otis College of Art and Design in Westchester went completely remote at the onset of the pandemic, then in the spring assembled a COVID-19 Task Force, including the firms EYRC Architects and Frederick Fisher and Partners, to develop a redesign study plan that would allow the campus to reopen during the 2020-2021 school year. Faculty and staff joined together for a Zoom call to...