Farmlab.org and more surprises
Saturday night, R and I were scooting around L.A.in her uber-cute Scion and looking for trouble. On Spring Street in downtown L.A. near Chinatown, where all the fields of corn aka "Not a Cornfield" used to be, we saw a red neon sign that drew us to it like flies. It read:
As we approached we saw people and heard drums:
Welcome to Under Spring, a public art space under a concrete bridge, previously home to drug users and the homeless.
Folks mingling Under Spring.
This is Glank, a talented percussion band wearing Haz-mat suits, shaking radioactive canisters and playing found objects. They had a great sense of rhythm and probably one of the happier bands I’ve seen in a long time. They led the audience in clap-a-longs, mingled, and shared their instruments. A long time ago, I went to a Cacophony Society drum circle in the underground tunnels of Caltech. Seeing Glank brought me back to that time: weird music in a weird setting. Fortunately, Glank was more harmonious than the beats back then.
Art Under Spring. If I would have shot from the other angle, you could see another picture.
And inside in Farmlab was a very cool art exhibiit, "Garden of Brokenness," in which a pond was constructed indoors with antiques, funky objects and a big, cute camera. Fish included. I loved this whimsical pond and just read on Farmlab’s site that it is being packed up this week! Oh no! So call them first if you plan to visit. It might still be there for you.
Unfortunately, we came too late for the adult-themed cabaret puppet show, which headlined the evening. R & I were very happy to stumble upon this weird happening on the edge of downtown. Read Farmlab’s site for a recap of the evening and their busy weekend of events. Their calendar is packed with lectures, salons, events, art and music shows. I love public art spaces and this place is like Barnsdall’s twisted little sister.
Farmlab seems like it’s a very cool collective of artists, environmentalists, and activists bringing creative solutions to the urban nature needs of L.A. They kind of remind me of the Los Angeles Urban Park Rangers. Farmlab is also participating in Park(ing) Day LA when this Friday parking lots will temporarily be turned into public parks. I’m sad that I missed Farmlab’s summer offerings but their Fall calendar looks just as excellent.
Farmlab + Under Spring
1745 N. Spring Street, Unit 4
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(323) 226-1158
info@farmlab.org
www.farmlab.org
sounds very cool
Comment by MK — September 18, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
interesting! You have such a good eye for happenin’s. Like the lead in, too and the way you intersperse the pictures.
Comment by coffeeaddict — September 19, 2007 @ 2:51 am
thx coffee addict!
Comment by UnHip LA — September 19, 2007 @ 6:10 am