Mark Bradford’s 150 Portrait Tone, a mural-size composition that contains elements of both abstraction and realism, is based on an idea for a work that the artist conceived after the fatal shooting of Philando Castile by a police officer in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in July 2016. Castile, a nutrition services supervisor at an elementary school, was shot after being pulled over in his car—an incident that was livestreamed on Facebook by Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was sitting in the passenger seat next to him.
The painting features excerpts of Reynolds’s dialogue from the video. The title, 150 Portrait Tone, refers to the name and color code of the pink acrylic used throughout the painting. Like the now-obsolete “flesh” crayon in the Crayola 64 box (renamed “peach” in 1962), the color “portrait tone” carries inherent assumptions about who, exactly, is being depicted. In the context of Bradford’s painting, the title presents a sobering commentary on power and representation.
To navigate, press the arrow keys.
Upcoming Events
Mesoamerican artists held a cosmic responsibility: as they adorned the surfaces of buildings, clay vessels, textiles, bark-paper pages, and sculptures with color, they (quite literally) made the world. Color mapped the very order of the cosmos, of time and space. The exhibition explores the science, art, and cosmology of color in Mesoamerica. See website for ticket prices and registration.
Free
Classical Sundays at Six is now presented at St. James in-the-City as part of our broader offerings of Great Music at Saint James. It is the oldest continuing chamber music series in Southern California. Offered from October through May at 6 PM, Classical Sundays at Six features chamber, orchestral, and solo artists from Southern California and around the globe streaming live and on-demand. They are also live streamed on their website.
Approximately 25 certified California farms, live entertainment, activities, and Main Street based retail vendors present a vibrant atmosphere where locals and visitors alike shop and spend the morning with friends and family. This market was established in 1995 and is a collaboration with the Main Street Business Improvement Association, Ocean Park resident group, the Victorian and the Heritage Museum. Approximately 40 certified California farms, live entertainment, activities, and Main Street based retail vendors present a vibrant atmosphere where locals and…
Free
LéaLA, the premier Spanish Book Fair & Literary Festival, returns from September 19-22, 2024, at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes located at 501 N. Main Street in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Organized by the University of Guadalajara Foundation USA, this year’s event, themed Building Peace Together, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the rich traditions, language, and culture of the Latino community through literature, art, and intellectual dialogue. As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, LéaLA will highlight…
Hogar Dulce Hogar explores the profound meaning of home amidst global migration. Curated by César García, the exhibition showcases 18 artists from the Inland Empire, challenging traditional notions of home and emphasizing its dynamic nature. Through diverse mediums, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the universal longing for home and the resilience of the human spirit. See website for prices.
