Well, first an apology … if you were relying on me for things to do in the fifth or sixth week of summer, then I deserted you (without as much as a by your leave!) for my first foray into the beauty that is the northern part of our state, my first camping trip and my college roommate’s trees-and-ocean wedding all rolled into one.
As far as summering goes this week … I had been planning to write about the Aquarium’s free shark nights, but they’re doing something else for the summer. And then I was going to cover the Long Beach Car Show slated for Fourth Street this coming weekend, but it’s been cancelled. And since the DLBA’s summer music series leaves a wee bit to be desired in the way of notable cultural interest, I’m going to tell you about something totally different that doesn’t have all that much to do with summer.
The Second City Council, a conspicuously high-quality art venue located in a very inconspicuous spot on Alamitos near Fifth, is hosting what they call the “Largest Long Beach Community and Art Exhibition EVER EVER.” (I’m partial to exaggerated superlatives myself, but two “evers” … wow!).
The idea is to create a citywide urban portrait of Long Beach. Here’s how it’ll work:
1. Anyone and everyone can sign up for a free disposable camera (starting right now!)
2. During the month of October (the ubiquitous Arts Month), take one (just one!) photo of what you would most like other to know about Long Beach.
3. Pass the camera along to your fellow Long Beachers (friends, fam, your local shopkeeper, etc.) and ask them to repeat steps 2 and 3. Whoever takes the last pic returns the camera for developing to 2cc (as Second City is affectionately called)
4. The photos will be exhibited in a comprehensive exhibit opening August 16, 2008 (wow, that’s more than a year away!)
There are two other components …
1. The largest (they’re insistent on this point, and who am I to quarrel?) Long Beach artists exhibition in December of this year, which comes with the added bonus of free gallery use for artists who produce a free public performance
2. A CSULB/LBCC art student education program which will give students experience in producing art shows, along with panel discussions with local gallery owners.
Wow. And all that info is from the flyer. To get more details or clear up the ones above, visit Second City sometime (a good time to do that would be the August 4 reception for their upcoming exhibition “Art & Science”) or email [email protected].