Hugo Crosthwaite has spent much of his adult life working on both sides of the U.S. and Mexico border, observing and documenting the extraordinary ebb and flow of humanity that makes this region one of the most existentially dynamic places on the North American continent. In Tijuas!, Crosthwaite will present selections from several bodies of work that continue his exploration of this ever-evolving culture, among them the Tijuana Bibles, a new series of animated videos and books, recent graphite-and-ink on canvas and panel paintings, new Tijuanerias ink drawings, and Death March, a phenomenal and monumental work that preceded his celebrated performative murals. This will be the first time this work will be presented since it was commissioned in 2010 for Morbid Curiosity: The Richard Harris Collection at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (12/12-12/15/19)-
Thursday
Goon are playing at The Hi Hat with Girl Friday, Sarah Tudzin, and Justus Proffit
Allah-Las are playing at The Mayan Theater with Mapache and Tim Hill
Poet and playwright Sholeh Wolpé will be speaking at The Broad as part of their series The Logic of Poetry and Dreams (free but reserve ticket)
Bennett Simpson will give an exhibition walkthrough of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA location (free)
Z Berg & Friends (Ryan Ross, Bruce Hornsby, Johnathan Rice, Avalon Lurks, KERA, and Brad Oberhofer) will be performing a Friday The 13th Christmas Show at Pico Union Project
Automatic are playing at Zebulon with Peanut Butter Wolf and Mo Dottie
The Hi-Fi Honey Drops are playing for Union Station’s free Cocoa Concert this week
Robyn Hitchock & Friends are performing at Largo at the Coronet
Goldie is performing at 1720 to celebrate 25 Years of Metalheadz
Saturday
Artist Hugo Crosthwaite will be speaking at Luis de Jesus Los Angeles at 2pm in conjunction with his solo exhibition at the gallery
Bergamot Station is having a Winter Open House and 25th Anniversary Celebration from 11-6pm with artist talks, live music, and a chance to check out the current shows in the galleries
Shop Artisinal’s Holiday Makers Market is taking place in the Playhouse Lot in Pasadena and includes snow and Santa selfies, kids crafts. and more, as part of its free programming
Flat Worms, L.A. Drones, Nice and Fimes are playing at Permanent Records Roadhouse to benefit Youth Emerging Stronger (formerly LA Youth Network)
Fox Academy are playing at El Cid with Ruby Haunt and Johnny Goth
New York Night Train w/ Jonathan Toubin is happening at Zebulon
Saturday and Sunday
Rolling Loud is two days of hip hop at Banc of California Stadium Grounds with performers that include Chance the Rapper, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug on Saturday and Future, A$AP Rocky, Meek Mill, YG, Da Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Yachty, Doja Cat, and many more on Sunday
Sunday
The Aero Theatre has a double feature of Motherless Brooklyn and Primal Fear with a discussion between films with actor-director Edward Norton and producer Hawk Koch
Until 12/25 Grand Park’sWinter Glow has multiple night time public art installations set up for the holiday season (free from sunset to 10pm)
Motel Radio are playing at the Moroccan Lounge with Beauty Queen opening
French Vanilla are playing at The Echo with Heaven Pegasus opening
The drawings in Hugo Crosthwaite’s exhibition at Luis de Jesus Los Angeles for Tijuana Radiant Shine have an interesting mix of comic elements combined with melancholic ones, while those that make up Shattered Mural are more somber as they focus on the toll of the horrible violence in Mexico.
Taking inspiration from Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, “The Hymn”, Tijuana Radiant Shine is composed of a puzzle-like installation of fourteen mixed media drawings on panel. The works are visual poems that depict the hopeful possibilities for a better future and the dichotomy of the reality that exists in this border city’s daily life.
Shattered Mural is a floor installation of forty-three sculptural wall fragments that reference the recent abduction and murder of the 43 college students in the Mexican State of Guerrero. This tragic event has become a national, and perhaps international, symbol for victims of institutional corruption and repressive regimes around the world. Unlike the Tijuana Radiant Shine panels, the sculpture fragments of Shattered Mural were created by deconstructing a mural into forty-three shards that when put back together would contribute to the whole.
Also make sure to look at the backs of the mural pieces which have different colors and patterns. This show closes 6/20/15.
