Cheri Gaulke

Yoko Ono concert

in News  by Cheri Gaulke

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqx6PBuSAjY] I just came across a business card on my desk with a link to a website called www.youtellconcerts.com. On October 10, 2010 I attended a Yoko Ono concert at the historic Orpheum theatre in downtown Los Angeles and afterwards was interviewed for this impromptu person-on-the-street review. Above is a link to the youtube interview and I appear 3 minutes in.  Here’s a link to the actual youtellconcerts review page. http://youtellconcerts.com/?p=1270

Yoko’s son, Sean Lennon, had put together a wonderful band called We Are Plastic Ono Band. They were joined by an amazing array of guest artists from the actress Carrie Fisher who did a powerful feminist anthem to Iggy Pop who is as strange and wonderful as when I used to go see him in high school. The guy’s old but has the most buff, tan body and the energy of a hyperactive kindergartener. The concert was more performance art, spiritual event than rock concert. The first half included a historical film montage of Yoko’s life (baby pictures and all) and Yoko performing her own songs which were characterized by her difficult to listen to voice (I love her but I gotta be honest here). The second half was also all her songs but performed by the guest artists. That’s when it really hit home what a good songwriter she is. Each song had its own unique message and style from showtune to lullaby to call for peace anthem. My favorite part though was the participatory Onochord performance art piece. On our way into the theater we had been given a little flashlight. Towards the end of the show we saw a film of Yoko performing this flashlight piece around the world. She flashes the light in a pattern that says I love you. Yoko stood on the stage in the dark all alone and sent her message of love out to us and the world beyond and we flashed her back. It was so touching. The message was not just one of love but also one of forgiveness. You can find more info about Onochord at her website. http://imaginepeace.com/projects/onochord. She’s is quite an amazing artist with a powerful legacy of feminist performance art.

Finally, I bought a souvenir tshirt with an image of Yoko and her big sparkly glasses. Same image as the poster below. When I wore the tshirt to school the next day my students asked if it was a picture of me. That took me by surprise but I have to admit that with my vintage French frames we do look similar!

Please vote for my project!

in News / Teaching / Video  by Cheri Gaulke

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqG5tqA1Cgo]I am working on a new project that is in competition for funding through the Jewish Federation. You could help us immensely if you click on the link and vote for our project. You must do so by March 31! (and you can only vote once per email address)

Here’s a quick synopsis. It’s called I Will Remember and it is a collaboration between Holocaust survivors and teens. There are three parts to it – events at which teens hear survivors’ stories first-hand, workshops in which teens make public service announcements about contemporary injustices, and a web site that showcases the PSAs. I am involved with the PSA workshops and in making a documentary about the entire project.

Today’s teens are the last generation who will know survivors personally and from their interactions be moved to make a difference in their world. My commitment is to facilitate the teens to use media to speak out against today’s injustices – whether those be current genocides in Darfur, marriage equality, or conflict minerals in the Congo. We will help the teens become aware of various issues and they will choose what moves them to speak out. The project was generated by some Harvard-Westlake moms (some whose own parents are survivors) and their daughters. I am proud to be a part of it.

Thanks for your help. There’s a wonderful short video that you can watch to meet some of the survivors and teens that we are working with.

http://www.thenextbigjewishidea.com/ideas/entry/i-will-remember/#

Feel free to pass this along to others!

Sisterhood City: Feminist Art in Los Angeles

in News / Talks/Panels  by Cheri Gaulke

Friday, Jan. 21 at 2 pm I will be participating in a panel discussion at the LA Art Show. The panel, Sisterhood City: Feminist Art in Los Angeles, is moderated by art historian, critic and writer Betty Ann Brown, and includes Otis gallery director Meg Linton, critic Peter Frank, and artists Sandra Rowe, Linda Vallejo and myself (Rachel Rosenthal is unable to participate). Panelists will discuss how politics, history, and geography conspired to make California the perfect locus for the genesis of a rich tradition in feminist art. Come hear us, make comments of your own, and cruise through the L.A. Art Show while you’re there! It’s at the LA Convention Center and you can find more info about parking, admission and a list or art exhibitors at http://www.laartshow.com/.

Tour of Art Along the Gold Line

in News / Public Art / Talks/Panels  by Cheri Gaulke

"Water Street: River of Dreams," public art by Cheri Gaulke

Please join me on Saturday, June 26, 2010, 10 am for a very special event — Art Along the Gold Line — a docent and artist-led tour along the MTA’s Pasadena Gold Line. The tour is a fundraiser for the Avenue 50 Studio, a non-profit art gallery in Highland Park. www.avenue50studio.com

Join us as we artistically bridge East Los and Pasadena on the Metro Gold Line. Meet the artists of the Metro stations who will describe their artwork in the community. We will have refreshments as we travel along plus lunch will be provided by Home Girl Café.

The tour will be led by Vanessa Acosta, Board Member and owner of Cultural Arts Tours and Workshops with participating artists:
John Valadez — Memorial Park Station
Southwest Museum — MTA Docent
Cheri Gaulke — Cypress Park/Lincoln Heights Station
Little Tokyo Station — MTA Docent
Mariachi Plaza — MTA Docent
Paul Botello — Indiana Station
Maravilla Station — Jose Lopez
Clement Hanami — East LA Civic Center
Ulises Diaz — Atlantic Station
Michael Amescua — Union Station
Chinatown Station — MTA Docent

Donation:  $40 per person includes snacks and lunch. Please make checks payable to “Avenue 50 Studio.”

We will meet at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 East Holly Street, Pasadena, CA 91103 for registration between 9:30 to 9:55 am. We will walk to the Memorial Station and begin the tour there. Refreshments will be served at the Senior Center. Parking is available at the Marriott for about $6 all day on Raymond, across from Memorial Park, next to the Armory Center for the Arts and Heritage Wine.

So if you’ve ever wanted to know more about the art on the Gold Line, this tour is for you! Maybe I’ll see you there.

Los Angeles Film Festival features Cheri Gaulke’s student films

in News / Teaching / Video  by Cheri Gaulke
 

Xochi Maberry-Gaulke and Anjoum Agrama in The Stand

Saturday, June 19, 10 am will be the first of two screening dates for the Future Filmmaker Showcase, an annual feature of the Los Angeles Film Festival. Each year student films are selected from international submissions and I’m proud to say Harvard-Westlake student films have been represented every year since we started entering. This year we have a record four films in the High School Program #1. They are The Stand, Still Life, A Gum’s Life and Dem Shoes. The first three were created in my Summer Film Camp and the last one was created by seniors in my advanced video art class, all at Harvard-Westlake School. I am especially proud of The Stand, which co-stars my daughter Xochi in a comedic role. She has been getting great feedback on her performance from film festival judges as luminary as composer Randy Newman. My other daughter, Marka, is the assistant director.

Many thanks goes to Hebe Tabachnik who puts together a great program every year including a luncheon for the youth filmmakers and this year, one-on-one guidance sessions with industry professionals. Here’s how the Los Angeles Film Festival describes High School Program #1:

Through comedy, music, and documentary, these stories illustrate how teens (and some unfortunate pieces of gum) face love, death, commerce, depression, and even sexual harassment.  Candid, poignant, and comedic, this collection gives us a peek into the challenges of their everyday teen existence. Program running time is 84 minutes. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online at http://www.lafilmfest.com/2010/ or at the box office.

High School Program #1, June 19, 10 am and June 26, 3 pm

L.A. LIVE Regal Cinema 12, downtown Los Angeles

1000 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA (213) 763-6070

Here’s more about my students’ films. A Gum’s Life (director Sophia Tran) combines stop-motion animation and live action to delve into a day in the life of a piece of chewing gum. Still Life (director Lee Feldman) is a silent-film love story gone awry when one lover gets stuck in the film frame and is separated from her love. Dem Shoes (directors Lucas Casso and Adam Maltz) is a hip-hop don’t stop music video celebration of one boy’s amazing collection of shoes. The Stand (director Olivia Chuba) is a mockumentary about trying to beat the competition. Two old friends – a free spirit and a control freak – set up a lemonade stand. Will their friendship survive when a boy moves his competing business next door? Come find out the answer to this and other questions tomorrow or next Saturday!