Metro Gallery
From 2001 to 2006, Light Bringer Project operated a professional gallery featuring emerging and contemporary visual artists of the Los Angeles community. Each exhibition ran for approximately one month. Artworks were for sale and artists received standard commissions. Gallery proceeds benefited the nonprofit organization. Opening receptions were held for each show, and were popular attractions. For some artists, Metro Gallery hosted their first professional exhibition.
Here’s our lineup of shows:
Jim Barrett, “One Man, Two Man Show.” 2001
Launa Bacon, “Paintings and Projects.” 2002
Michael Rosenfeld, “Cereal Box Heroes.” 2002
Gala Narezo, “Transitional Communities: People in Public Places.” 2002
Dan Quarnstrom, “Joy Ride: Hot Rods and Fast Cars.” 2002
Kelly Reemtsen, “Dress: A Celebration of Dress and Adornment.” 2002
Richard Lopez, “Recent Works.” 2002
Nami Ito, “Natural Light.” 2002
David Jonason, “Day of the Amoeba.” 2003
David Jonason, “Giclee Prints.” 2004
Chick Curtis, “Paintings Drawings and Prints.” 2004
Julie Smith, “Denizens of the Desert.” 2004
Maryam Nagshineh, “Utopia.” 2005
David Jonason, “California Cubed.” 2005
Joe Ferris, “A Retrospective.” 2005
Kelly Reemtsen, “All Through the House.” 2005
Carmen Monne, “A Journey Home.” 2005
Angela de Cristofaro, “Totality Shaped Out of Nothing.” 2006
Bacon, Kaleta, Lefkowitz, Strother, “Off the Map.” 2006
Miguel Angel Murillo, “Original Works of Art.” 2006
Scott J. Bailey, “Ecstatic.” 2006
Cal Poly Fine Arts Department – Senior Show, 2006
Visual Arts Academy of Pasadena High School, 2006
Dabney Zorthian, “Out on a Limb.” 200
24 Hour Gallery
After 2006 the organization relocated its headquarters. Art exhibits continued in a series of display cases located on Holly Street in Old Pasadena.
Other Projects
Rainy Night, Old Town – 1988
Light Bringer Project produced a limited edition printing of the pastel painting created by artist, Patricia Bonja-Berghe. Proceeds benefited the artist and organization.
Tribute to Joan Orr – 1989
In collaboration with the Pasadena Arts Council, Light Bringer Project created a film in celebration of the life and work of dance therapist Joan Orr. The program included live dance performances of students and alumni of Scripps College, where Joan graduated, to honor her love of dance. Special presenters included John Chandler, president of Scripps College, Bella Lewitsky of the Bella Lewitsky dance company, and host Jess Marlow, KNBC news anchor. Songwriter, vocalist Lise Dickerson was also a guest performer. A sculpture exhibit was provided by artist Carole Babcock. Mrs. Orr was a mentor and great inspiration to all of us at Light Bringer Project.
Carmelitos Housing Project – May 1989
An art exhibition produced for the benefit of North Long Beach housing project residents, celebrating role models and exploring new life opportunities.
Arts Alive! – June 1989
The program, held at Occidental College, featured performance artist Sandra Tsing Loh, The Terri Lewis Dance Ensemble, Songstress Lise Dickerson and students of the Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Video Fair – 1990
Screenings provided a unique showcase of current video techniques and styles. Works included nationally and internationally-known video artists, along with student submissions from PCC, Art Center College of Design, Otis, USC, and CalArts, and even local high school. Held at Pasadena City College.
New Composers – September 1991
The program featured The David Pritchard Guitar Ensemble and singer-songwriter Lise Dickerson. Held at the Times-Mirror Auditorium at Art Center College of Design.
Culture Factory – 1992
Artists’ galleries and collaborative performance space (tri-level, 9,000 square feet), in the now built-out One Colorado retail and entertainment complex. It was also an arts resource center which provided a unique place for artists to work, test ideas and network with others. Performing groups were also given open access to our main stage. Culture Factory later became the “Museum Collection.”
Mexican Traditions in Contemporary Chicano Art – May 1992
An exhibition of visual artworks by artists of Los Angeles and Mexico City at the Armory Center for the Arts. In collaboration with Denise Lugo-Saavedra, PCC art history professor and 80 of her students, the exhibition focused on four Los Angeles-area Mexican-American artists, including Frank Romero, Leo Lemon, George Yepes, and Diane Gamboa.
Secret’s Out! – November 7, 1992
More than 80 local artists, also survivors of sexual assault, produced an art installation in the old YWCA building in the Civic Center. The one-day event included painting, sculpture, personal journals (in a pop-up called the Catharsis Cafe) performance, music, and poetry reading. Light Bringer collaborated with the Pasadena Rape Crisis Center to raise awareness of this social epidemic in our society.
ArtWorks – Spring 1990 – June 1993
A publication for the arts profiling the outstanding work of emergent visual, literary, and performing artists of our community.
Museum Collection at One Colorado – November 1993 – 1994
The raw Old Pasadena space was transformed into satellite stores of MOCA, Natural History Museum, and the Southwest Museum. The site also served as a cultural information hub of local activities and venues.
Garland Fine Arts Gallery – October 1993
The space outside of Polytechnic High School’s Garland auditorium was the setting for a gallery curated by Light Bringer Project. On exhibition were works of emergent and contemporary artists. This became the precursor to the Metro Gallery in Old Pasadena.
In Left Field – October 1993
Collaborative environmental artworks were created in Arroyo Seco’s Hahamongna Watershed Park as a rededication to the natural terrain, first settled by the Gabrielino-Shoshone Indian Nation.
Dia de los Muertos – November 1993
The event honored the three Pasadena children gunned down from gang violence in Pasadena on Halloween night. Traditionally, it has always celebrated the life of Cesar Chavez. The exhibit also included work from over a dozen local artists, at the former Cadillac Cafe in Pasadena.
After-School Art Sessions at Robinson and Victory Parks – 1994 -1996
Part of the City of Pasadena’s Recreation and Parks Department Cultural Enrichment Program, free art lessons and drawing workshops were offered at local park facilities. Art instructor at Victory Park was George Combs and California Arts Council Artist-In-Residence, Kira Lynn Harris, facilitated at Robinson Park.
I Wanna Tell You My Story – May 1995
A one-woman show by writer, actor, and abuse survivor Cornelia McDonald explored violence in our communities, families, and personal lives for the general public and selected student audiences. Held at Neighborhood Church in Pasadena.
Teepee Tour – September 1995
10,000 public schoolchildren participated in school site workshops and portrayals of Native American traditions conducted in association with the Southern California Indian Center. The tour was a prelude for the American Indian Festival, soon to follow.
American Indian Festival and Marketplace – October 7th and 8th, 1995
An exhibition of contemporary artworks created by over 100 artists representing Native American tribal cultures from across America. Drummers, dancers, storytellers, and musicians also related their Native American heritage to the public. This event was produced in partnership with the City of Pasadena.
Holiday Art Cafe – December 1995
Art, performance, and music was created by Washington Middle School Students for the public, parents, and the California Institute of Technology community.
Art Park – 1996
A mural project executed by five diverse artists in a multi-story parking facility (School House Parking Structure) in Old Pasadena.
Learning Center at Washington Middle School – June 1996 – 2001
The collaboration with Pasadena Unified School District’s LEARNs, provided after school classes in a range of arts disciplines throughout the school year and summer.
Family Portrait Day at Washington Middle School – May 2001
A collaboration with Art Center College of Design’s photography students, offering free portraits to the families of the Washington Middle School community.
Cultural Passport – October 1996
A partnership with the Pasadena Public Library and Pasadena Unified School District, live presentations offered insights into a range of creative careers for middle and high school students. The program, honored by the California League of Cities, also provided a new young adult library card (designed by students of the Visual and Arts and Design Academy at Pasadena High School) and family discounts to our cultural institutions.
Arroyo Earth Walk – April 20, 1996
Over 1,000 visitors traversed 6.5 miles through three diverse Los Angeles communities along the Lower Arroyo to the Historic Lummis Home. Walkers gained insight into the natural habitat at learning stations and viewed environmental artworks along the route.
Vision of Access – Spring 1996
Coordinated and published by Light Bringer Project, this document articulates the important role art and artists play in community life and represents the joint efforts and written contributions of over 80 artists. Vision of Access was presented to the Pasadena City Council in response to potential cuts to the city’s annual arts budget.
Arroyo Trails Project – 1996
Sponsored by the City of Pasadena Parks and Forestry Division. Students from public and private high schools collaborated to make recommendations for public art in the trails of the Arroyo Seco. The overall initiative was committed to restoring five trails leading into the Central Arroyo Seco. Providing a youth component, we guided students to research the history of the natural parkland, conduct community outreach and recommend design elements to be incorporated into the project.
Music on Mondays (later known as New Mix) – 1997
The unique concert series explored music from other cultures, including regional, Northern Indian, Armenian, Renaissance and other forms of world music. Held in the old chapel of the Pasadena Presbyterian Church.
Murals at Music Center – 1998
Commissioned by The Music Center/Los Angeles Performing Arts, to highlight their Spotlight Awards, Light Bringer Project selected artists to install permanent paintings in the Music Center parking structure.
FACES Program – 1999 – 2004
A folk art curriculum delivered to middle and high school students of the Los Angeles Unified School District, culminating in an educational tour of The Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Supported by The Neutrogena Corporation.
Zorthian Ranch Oral History Project – 2004 – Present
Over the last half-century, Altadena’s Zorthian Ranch became a nexus of bohemian activity, attracting figures of influence from all walks of life, spanning the arts and sciences. The Ranch was built by nationally-known artist, architect and rancher, Jirayr Zorthian. Light Bringer Project recognized a need to preserve the history of the Zorthian Ranch through personal accounts of family members, notable friends and associates.
Conscientious Projector – 2005 – 2007
Launched by Light Bringer Project in collaboration with Sustainable World/All Saints Church, this film series provided a public platform for documentary film makers and their truth-based films. Held monthly, free of charge, it took place in the Metro Gallery in Old Pasadena. The film series continues with a strong following at the Armory Center for the Arts.
Doctober: Documentary Film Festival in Pasadena
Produced by the International Documentary Association (IDA), we provided a youth outreach component which included schools in Pasadena and Alhambra. Students were taken to the State Theatre for screenings, and able to Q&A with the youth cast of “Colors Straight Up,” nominated for an Academy Award.
Art in the Park
Murals created by local at-risk youth in Washington Park.
The Art of Nature
A series of collage works and texts by artist Mina Marmol created from organic materials in a popular retail setting.
Nine Women Artists
A special exhibit featuring the works of diverse Los Angeles-area artists at the Simon Weisenthal Museum of Tolerance.
Salons at the Castle (Historic Castle Green in Pasadena)
Presented at the historic Castle Green in Pasadena. Salons featured a variety of genre music, classical piano, live theater performance and art exhibitions staged in the public spaces of the turn-of-the-century landmark.