​    ​The proposition was simple and straightforward: We would meet at my place around about 12:30, when the afternoon light was just right. And after a few minutes of catching up, we would sip tequila with beer chasers on my front porch, where I would ask Rogelio Reyes (a.k.a Roger Eyes R.) all about his four-month long endeavor to finish 6 medium-sized portraits of day laborers, live, during the coming art walks in downtown Santa Ana. Yes, simple: while I sit before a T.V. dinner table with my typewriter on it and conduct the interview, he paints a portrait of me with my whole arsenal of media at his fingertips—a face-to-face meeting, as it were, and a brutal peeling/picking of artistic minds.
     What else?
    The way I saw it, there was no real better or more fitting way to accomplish this task of outlining what he plans to do and just how he plans to do it. I had to catch the man in action, as he’ll be seen during the bleak icy first Saturdays of the months to come; see what makes him tick; see his style bleed upon paper, and hopefully by being one of the first to hear him speak about blue collar/hump-busters/hard-working/laborers, I could really get an understanding as to why he chose to paint those who truly make the world go round, for the first time in his artistic career.
    He’d seen them all his life; regarded them as something familiar yet too removed from the world that his art tended to gravitate toward, and wanted nothing more than to revolve around: his inner-thoughts, his own world.
    But after several brush-ups and lengthy conversations with assorted laborers at his last job, he felt inspired to make them come through in what he calls “Pop Impressionism.” He basically pops all the colors in a painting that you wouldn’t normally pop--as is my understanding. At first I thought he’d coined the style/technique, but he reassured me that wasn’t the case.
    And the portraits will be, aside from his Pop Impressionistic approach, straightforward, because he wants to make sure that the message is received by as many of those who see the portraits. And that message is that laborers are everywhere, and you more than likely have several in your very own lineage.
    
So, as he drew some starter shapes on the 12 x 10 newsprint paper he had up on an easel, using some black Higgin’s ink I had leftover, he went down the list of the types of laborers he’s (so far) considering.

1) Basket weavers of the Juaneño tribe, natives to the southern tip of the coast now known as Orange County: These, he said, will be drawn from old sepia photos he managed to get his hands on, and are to be interpreted by Roger in “oranges and yellows that pop.”

2) A Ranchero: Possibly tilling the soil of his fertile land, or one of a rancher humbly standing in front of Irvine’s meadowy green and grassy hills as they roll seemingly forever behind him, off into the distance. The concept for this portrait is also dependent on what old photo(s) he’s able to scrounge up and that inspire him.

3) A Business Owner: In red. Roger is considering hitting the pavement and searching for a living breathing subject that hits the spot for this one. He feels it just might be the right type of subject to sort of round off the whole collection: One for the little guy.
He tells me he’s not quite sure who or where to start asking. But he’s not worried. Plenty of time, still, he says.
He eyeballs my hair and adds a couple of more ink lines in a downward motion. I type: B. Owner…To Be Determined.

4) Orange pickers: a fairly obvious choice—but equally a must, considering where we are. Possibly a picture of him committing himself to the kind of work that was once rampant around here not too long ago; before the burnout strip malls and the heavy industrial goliaths arrived and shaved them off the map, roots and all.
Also from sepia photos. Roger plans on doing this portrait in blue.
Bold, I told him. He agreed.

5) Shop Owner(s?): Although similar to #3, he’s considering making it a portrait of a man and a woman who run the show of some small shop, along for the drudgery of earning an honest American buck together. Also T.B.D.

6) Female Machinist for Aerospace: This one is a little down the line so there’s not much to go off of yet, he tells me.

    This brings us to the first Saturday of May, the 4th, Spring of 2019: Artwalk. By this time Roger plans on having all six portraits finished and displayed at the promenade, by the fountain, in the heart of the Artist’s Village, finished and ready to then be hauled to the Fourth Element Gallery in DTSA, where they will more legitimately displayed as a collection of finished works with all the lights and the little signs beside each painting that give you the titles and a brief description of each one.

    But the money melon is the actual experience of standing beside Roger Eyes R., seeing him paint, but also, actually having a conversation with the man. If you find yourself walking toward the fountain on the promenade in the coming months, and you happen to spot Roger, wearing his paint-stained white lab coat, looking like a mix between John Lennon (circa ’75) and Roy Orbison in his heyday, you should talk to him. Tell him where you’ve been. Tell him about what in the hell was bothering you all day today, and why it was a mean gorilla’s hair up your ass. Tell him about your walk down Santa Ana’s dark alleys, feeling the bricks with your fingertips, taking a long drag, thinking that things (and truly believing) could really be a whole lot better than now. He will listen. He will paint. For all the right reasons.
    
Story by Eric Cocoletzi
Photo by Brian Feinzimer​

​Santa Ana Arts publishes articles reported and written by art journalists, and op-eds written by art institutions and practitioners in the fields we cover: visual and performing arts and design. If you have a submission that promotes your organization’s projects or services, please see the sponsored posts section below.   

Articles

​We welcome well-considered pitches from journalists around the city of Santa Ana for our shorter “daily” pieces (250 to 500 words) and our weekly features (around 800 to 1,000 words). When writing to us, you should note which you’re after.

Generally, we report on visual performing art and design throughout the city.  Writers who are the best fit for us have a deep understanding of the complexity of layers that make up Santa Ana's creative culture — including the coverage of issues in our community about the impacts of art in relation to poverty, immigration and affordable housing shortages along with other economic barriers that face our artist community as related to access and the freedom of open cultural expression within the arts — and all the tools needed to overcome these problems (whether effective or not). Our regular freelancers (we’re always looking to expand that roster) are committed to the extensive reporting required to explore these complex issues, and the ways one can successfully  translate how the arts can have to real human impacts within community.  

Our readers are people working daily to make their city more sustainable and more equitable, with regards to economics and infrastructure.  We’re committed to bringing them smart reads about the new ideas and effective people in the arts . We seek to highlight a diverse array of voices and perspectives within the city.

We’re looking for specific story pitches, not topic ideas. You must answer the following in your pitch: Why now? (In other words, what’s the news hook?) Why do Santa Ana Arts readers need to know about this? What’s the problem at the center? How has it been or can it be tackled? (You should have a general idea about possible solutions before pitching. “I want to explore … ” won’t get you an assignment.) How does it translate to a broader urban city context? How has it been covered by other media outlets, local or national? Please include potential sources in your pitch. 

We also are willing to review events, conferences, symposia and meetings related to the arts. We know that you certainly might get a lead while networking on a great story as well. Pitch us after you’ve attended and looked into the idea. We also like  to learn about local artist through artist Q&As.
Please send article pitches to info@downtown-inc.com.

Op-Eds

Op-eds should be topical and relevant to Santa Ana Art's which has the mission of inspiring positive change in cities through the arts and speak to how the arts can and does effect such change. Articles should express a strong, informed opinion. (If you’re writing about your organization or work that you do, please see sponsored posts below.)

All submissions must be original, and not published elsewhere. Maximum length is 1,200 words. We will not consider articles that have already been published, in any form, in print or online.
We don’t pay for op-eds or guarantee publication in advance of receiving a submission. To submit pieces for consideration, please email info@downtown-inc.com with “ Art Op-Ed Submission” in the subject line.

We review all emails with op-ed submissions, but we can’t respond to every one. If you haven’t heard back from us in four weeks, feel free to pitch elsewhere.
Sponsored PostsIf you’re with a for-profit business or nonprofit organization and have a art specific submission that promotes you and the work that you do, you can find rates and details about placing a sponsored post by emailing info@downtown-inc.com.

The City of Santa Ana invites you to the "unveiling" of their first city-sponsored art panel public art project in the historic downtown at East 3rd and North Bush Streets!

Artists & Artworks Presented:
Art for Change Collaborative – “DTSA”
Brian Peterson – “Bold as a Lion” & “The Elephant in the Room”
Bud Herrera – “One with Nature”
Ed Terrell – “Pure Light”
GENE – “Butterflies”
Kimberly Duran – “Respirar Lucha”
 
Join  Arts & Culture Office Staff and Commissioners for a brief presentation at East 3rd and North Bush Streets @ 5:30 pm. Following, there will be a reception at the 4th Street Market patio to recognize artists, arts organizations, educators, community leaders, and supporters who have collaborated with the City over the years.
 
According to the City, "Comfort food and desserts will be catered by the eateries at 4th Street Market and entertainment will be provided by talented local artists."
 
 Artsits and supporters are encouraged to attend to mingle & network with creative folks who shape the city's vibrant arts community
 
The event is FREE and open to the public, but you MUST RSVP
 
Parking is not included. Please check meters or parking lots for fees and operating hours

It's an exciting night in Downtown Santa Ana for theatre lovers: The Wayward Artist kicks off its inaugural 2018 season tonight with a sold out gala and production of their show, Godspell, by Stephen Schwartz, directed by Craig Tyrl and assistant directed by Sarah Ripper. 

Check out the 2018 season of The Wayward Artist's unique productions which vary from marrying Star Wars to Shakespeare in Twelfth Night -- a galactic farce to side journeys into ballet and modern dance with Faith -- a dance concert, and even explorations of religion and tolerance in Terrence McNally's passion play Corpus Christi -- all shows with a unifying theme of 'faith.'

The Wayward Artist is an energetic new voice in the Artists Village, making its home in the CSUF Grand Central Arts Building at 125 N Broadway. Be sure to check out the season and make an evening at the theatre in downtown.

Visit The Wayward Artist this season.

Photo from The Wayward Arist.
​Story by Ryan Smolar.

Opening the festival leading a line-up of over 35 events is the Poet Laureate and presenter, Luis J. Rodriguez, an author who has won national recognition as a poet, journalist, fiction writer, children's book writer, and critic. ​

Location: Orange County Center for Contemporary Art
​Curated by: Michelle Duman & Marcus Omari

Authors Natalie Graham and Cynthia Alessandra Briano will share a workshop in radical envisioning.
​
Location: Good Beer Co. 
Curated by: Natalie Graham and Cynthia Alessandra Briano

Review the works of author Dr. Nogales including her newest release is Latina Power: Using Your 7 Strengths to Say No to Abusive Relationships (a Latina Power Workbook) which provides practical information and resources for women facing domestic violence and was awarded First Place at the 2011 Latino Literacy Now International Book Awards. ​(Note: This event occurs from 2-5pm.)

​Dr. Nogales' professional career is anchored by her commitment to combat violence, especially violence against women and children. She uses many avenues of communication including the media and is an award winning author, playwright, songwriter, and currently working on a script for a movie about human trafficking.

​Location: Orange County Center of Contemporary Art
Curated by: Dr. Ana Nogales

​In “Convince me! An interactive discussion and workshop on writing (creatively) to persuade,” K-B and Sara, authors and founders of Writers Resist, an online literary journal, will engage the participants in a discussion, prompts, and writing scenarios.

​Location: Alta Baja Market
Curated by: KB Gressitt & Sara Marchant

Auditioning individuals explore scene structure, action, events, voice, and dialogue. We will actively discuss work. This class’s emphasis is on process, risk-taking, and finding one’s own voice and vision. ​

Location: Grand Central Arts Building
Curated by: Diana Burbano & Sara Guerrero

Students from the Santa Ana Unified School District’s (SAUSD) national award-winning Speech and Debate team will showcase their skills.

​Location: Frida Cinema
Curated by: Councilman Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana Unified School District

Coming from all over Orange County. Octogenarians come together to discuss the history of the barrios in “The Glory of Our Towns” where they will revisit the places they grew up and call home. On Saturday, current and former residents of one of Santa Ana's oldest Latino barrios gathered for a reunion in a neighborhood where, for many, life began.

Location: Santora Arts Building, Room 205 
Curated by:  Dylan Almendral with Paul Guzman & Sam Roman    ​

Breaking Tables is a literary arts event whose title represents dismantling tables of privilege and power and reconstructing tables of inclusion, innovation, and equality, in our personal lives, communities, and society at large. We have an amazing lineup of readers and artists who, through their own interpretation, will breathe life into the theme and make it their own.

Location: Chapter One - Red Room
Curated by: Darlene Kriesal
​

Location: La Rinconada
Curated by: Michelle Duman                ​

Alternative art & performance comes into focus with PILLOW TALK, celebrating female, queer and POC voices in art, food and culture. Let performances by Aman K Batra (Huffington Post, Bustle), Portia Bartley (All Def Poetry), Linda Ravenswood (Melrose Poetry Bureau) and Lauren White soothe your soul!

Location: The Good Beer Company
Curated by: Sarah Armstrong     ​​

​Presentación de lectura de poesía contemporánea en español. Lectura de poemas de mis libros, El Otro Lado De La Pared y Arboles De Vida.Temas relacionados con experiencias personales de la vida, Historias cortas con moral profunda y la belleza d la creación.
​
Spanish Poetry reading performance. Reading poems from my books, The Other Side Of The Wall and Trees Of Life,Topic related with personal life experiences, short stories and the beauty of creation

Location: Alta Baja Market
Curated by: Jose Lozano     ​​

Sister Spit was a lesbian-feminist spoken-word and performance art collective based out of San Francisco, signed to Mr. Lady Records. They formed in 1994 and disbanded in 2006. Founding members included Michelle Tea and Sini Anderson, Other members included Jane LeCroy and poet Eileen Myles. The group were noted for their Ramblin' Roadshow, performing at feminist events such as the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival. The Boston Phoenix described it as "the coolest (and cutest) line-up of talented, tattooed, pierced, and purple-pigtailed performance artists the Bay Area has to offer".  (STARTS AT 7PM, THIS SHOW HAS A COST FOR ENTRY).

Location: Makara Center for the Arts
Curated by: Marytza Rubio

OC RYSE will share performance poetry featuring teams of students from OSCA. The goal of OC RYSE is to increase the exposure of poetry to a general public audience by featuring the engaging, dynamic performances of talented local young poets.

​In this performance, students will choose a classic poem to dramatically recite. Second, students craft and perform an original response poem that echoes elements of the classic choice. This synthesis of academics and artistry promises audiences a stimulating exploration of poetry’s broad power.

Location: Frida Cinema
Moderated by: Josh Wood   

Boca de Oro: Art & Literature Fringe Festival was formed through a joint partnership between many people: Santa Ana Business Council and Downtown Inc.; Santa Ana Unified School District and SanArts; Conrad Romo, producer of Lit Fest Los Angeles and Melrose Bellows; Author and Art Commissioner and Makara Center for the Arts founder Marytza Rubio; and Orange Coast Magazine book journalist Cynthia Romanowski.
​

The historic Knights of Pythias Building on 5th & Broadway is home to the California Center for Digital Arts.

It may be tucked away upstairs, but this studio, school and gallery occupies the entire second floor with an entrance between La Rinconada Restaurant and Ninjas with Appetite on 5th Street.

Make your way to the Center this Artwalk and check out four awesome photographers showing their work. In addition, Monica Royal will host a talk on "Motivation and Inspiration" at 5:30pm.

​Photography is my passion. I love creating original pieces unique to my vision by manipulating my images digitally and by utilizing alternative processing techniques.

About the California Center for Digital Arts
​310 W. 5th St. | North Broadway

The California Center for Digital Arts is more than a collection of useful equipment, studios, classrooms, and top-flight teachers. It is a student resource for beginners and a source of inspiration for advanced image/video creators developing new, or expanding, visual voices. The California Center for Digital Arts is a community of artists with expert instructors and hands on learning. ​

About First Saturday DTSA Artwalk
Downtown Santa Ana Artists Village, East End, West End, Main St. and North Broadway

​DTSA Artwalk is like a free carnival happening across downtown Santa Ana. There are two main outdoor festival areas with vendors, pop-up artists and performances, over 20 art galleries and studios with rotating art shows and performances and live music.​

What is the impact of radically celebrating those living in the margins our our city?

What if we could see the gold hidden beneath their life or hardship and pain?

What if you could use art to help them see who they really are?

Brian Peterson, Founder of Faces of Santa Ana, and Damin Lujan, Santa Ana street artist, took on the opportunity to dignify and celebrate those living in the margins of Santa Ana’s downtown community. Formerly known as the Guest Inn and Suites, the hotel has been transformed into the The Orchard, a large 70 room permanent housing community for the homeless in Santa Ana. As construction nears a completion, Community Development Partners reached out to the local artist’s to brighten up the 3000 square ft wall in the rear of the building. 

The Bill Medley Auditorium hallway gets a fresh coat of paint​

Through the Emmy award winning artist, Dionisio Ceballos, SAHS is embracing high art to exhibit in the foyer of the well-trafficked Bill Medley Auditorium, connecting to the artist village of Downtown as a destination for arts and culture in Santa Ana. The artist, who goes by Dio, plans to capture the pre-hispanic iconography of our local culture as shown in the attached, and will infuse the spirit, energy and imagery of the students, staff, parents and community who cross the threshold into this historic and distinctive school through a planned, yet intuitive organic process to really connect with the meaning of the oldest school in Santa Ana.  As the principal, Jeff Bishop says, “As Santa Ana High School goes, so goes the city.”

Dio is well known for his work on the film "Frida"

Of his many credits, Dio worked on the film “Frida” which received 6 Academy-award nominations, including best art direction.  Dio studied the techniques of Frida and painted all the Frida work represented in the movie. He exhibits some of his work at the esteemed San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.   He is a multidisciplinary artist known for his murals, and is also a screenwriter and animated film artist.  He works in the U.S. and Mexico and brings some of the unique color palette, imagery, and tradition so much a part of Mexican art and infuses it with his study of light and atmosphere to make his pieces current, relevant and timeless.

Dio's work holds deep meaning
​
Dio represents the meta-disciplines and entrepreneurial skill-sets required by artists today.  His story is of a path that meanders from intent and, yet, magically and perfectly builds a unique skill set that allows one to meet the immediate and rapidly evolving demands of industry when they appear.  He demonstrates the risk-taking required of creatives today and a willingness to say “yes” in the moment, equipped with the resources and grit to figure it out and not only succeed, but thrive.  He is open and vulnerable, sharing his thoughts and process so that others can learn from his work and find their own voice within their own process.  Through his work, he demonstrates the joy that art brings to visually stimulate thought and energy, stir emotion and conversation, and activate community.  It’s another way of capturing the adage of, “If these walls could talk.” As the mural unfolds and takes on a life of its own, there will be much talking about this visual and literal transformation of Santa Ana High School to an arts-focused, arts-centered school in the process of developing an arts school within the bigger context of the school while ensconcing all students in an arts-rich visual environment, because the arts literally do touch all aspects of our lives, directly and indirectly.   

Read more in the OC Register: "How Frida Kahlo and Jack Daniels led to a giant mural at Santa Ana High"

About SanArts at Santa Ana High School

​Santa Ana High School (SAHS) is undergoing a transformation to celebrate the history and culture that reigns the halls of this iconic school while capturing the school’s rich heritage through visual culture.  It’s a metaphorical representation of the work going on around SanArts, the next generation arts conservatory at Santa Ana High School.

Story by Robyn MacNair

​Dia de los Muertos is one of the most popular events celebrated across the city of Santa Ana. From Downtown to MainPlace Mall, the Bowers Museum to Fairhaven Cemetary and even Valley High School, the celebration of life and death resonates with residents and visitors each year. 

Viva la Vida is the first shot-across-the-bow signaling the arrival of Dia de los Muertos season in Santa Ana. Founded by Calacas Cafe owner Rudy Cordova, Viva la Vida's modern take on the holiday included a Lucha Libre theme and a new location in the heart of DTSA. Visit their Facebook page to see pictures of the event which was nicely paired with the annual DTSA 5k Run.

MainPlace Mall hosts a popular Dia de los Muertos celebration each year that keeps getting better and better. Don't miss the main stage at Macy's Court with live performances of indigenous Mexican music by Martin Espino, Folklorico dance by Ballet Folklorico Raices, Santa Ana High School's award-winning Mariachi Band, and music and dance by OCCTAC. 

The celebration continues with kid's coloring activities, face painting, cookie decorating (while supplies last), an art show featuring work by Santa Ana High School Unified School District students, and a photo booth!  Visit their Facebook Event Page and invite your friends.

The talented students and teachers at Valley High School are collaborating once again for an awesome free community event that features art, food, dance, banda, altars and mariachi. Show the Falcons some love and stop by for a great time 5-9pm. More information on Facebook.

Noche de Altares is consistently ranked Santa Ana's favorite event drawing nearly 40,000 visitors to downtown to see over 100 altars lining Calle Cuatro (4th Street). According to the organizers, "For one night, families, students, community organizations, activists, artists, and businesses are invited to build an altar in memory of a deceased loved one or to bring awareness to a social issue. By making altars, participants are inviting fellow community members into their own life and passions for a loved one. Over the years we have seen altars bring strangers together through mutual compassion, understanding and dialogue. Families reunite to remember and honor their loved ones." Learn more on Facebook.