Ontario Museum of History and Art: 'We the People: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow' Exhibit to Question the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

LP Aekili Ross, Silent Voices, 2016
Courtesy of Ontario Museum of Art

By The Pomonan
Published January 6, 2023 10:28 Am PST

We the People: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” a group exhibition that interprets the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, is now on view at the Ontario Museum of History & Art.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Guest curators Riea Owens and Patricia Jessup-Woodlin selected 61 artworks is now on view in three of the museum’s galleries. The artworks question and interpret the Preamble’s complexities and contradictions. “This is an excellent opportunity for the museum audience to view a vast diversity of art and artists representative of We the People”, said guest curator Dr. Patricia Jessup-Woodlin.

This exhibition intertwines a diverse artistic approach, including site-specific installations, multimedia works, and traditional media such as painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking, and collage, to challenge and engage the viewer on these political issues. Through the power of art, the exhibition hopes to inspire empathy, understanding, and a sense of shared purpose among its audience as we work together to create a more just and equitable society for all.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
Allyson Allen, Bill Anderson, A.S. Ashley, Christen Austin, Donna Bates, Jean Brantley, Gloria Cassidy, John Chang, Mary Chen, Mary Cheung, Rosy Cortez, Liz Covington, Jessica Cruz, Rick Cummings, Deserai Davis, Otha “Vakseen” Davis III, Mellyssa Diggs, Pam Douglas, George Evans, Karen Fiorito, Kathi Fox, Stefanie Girard, Stephanie Godoy, Sophia Green, T. Faye Griffin, Beihua Guo, Diana Elizabeth Hernandez, Jessus Hernandez, Linda Kaye, Won Sil Kim, Leah Knecht, Chad La Fever, Eileen Oda Leaf, Rose Loya, Julian Lucas, Cindy Macias, Victoria NaserSaravia, Riea Owens, Ann Phong, Mike Pitzer, Theresa Polley-Shellcroft, Hannah Raykhenberg, Humberto Reynoso, Natalie Rios, Phillip Risby, Bart Ross, LP Ækili Ross, Shira Seny, Amy Smith, S.A. Smith, Linda Ternoir, Sharon Terry, Lisa Tomczeszyn, Maryam Crogman, Kat Trevino, Ricardo Tomasz, Jerry Weems, Christopher J. Wesley, Dr. Patricia Jessup-Woodlin.

The artist reception will open Saturday, February 18, from 6 PM to 9 PM. In addition there will be a moderated conversation on March 4, 2023, from 2 PM to 4 PM, with guest curators Riea Owens and Dr. Patricia Jessup-Woodlin, and artists featured in We the People. The discussion will focus on artistic practices and perspectives about the Preamble’s phrase “We the People.” The Museum’s programs are held on-site and are free to the public.

About the Ontario Museum of History & Art

The Ontario Museum of History & Art The Ontario Museum of History & Art is located at 225 S. Euclid Avenue, Ontario, California 91762. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, Noon to 4 PM, and Saturday through Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free. For more information call (909) 395-2510, email at MuseumInfo@ontarioCA.gov, or visit www.OntarioMuseum.org. The Ontario Museum of History & Art is a public-private museum operated by the City of Ontario with support from the non-profit Ontario Museum of History & Art, Associates.

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Yiwei Gallery Presents - New Order by Pei Pei Li

Artist PeiPei Li

The Pomonan
Published 1-1-2022 6Am PST

Yiwei Gallery is pleased to present PeiPei Li: New Order, an exhibition  inspired by the detrimental effects of our fashion-conscious consumerist society. Today, fashion trends and style turnover are heavily influenced by   consumerism. Because fashion brands have an incentive to make as much money as possible for shareholders, they must quickly respond to the trends of today by making more clothes. 

One reason why fast fashion brands are so successful is that they use the fast-paced cycling of trends as a tool to put pressure on people to keep up with our rapidly changing times, look the most fashionable, and have the newest items. This pressure caused by consumerism feeds into a cycle of vanity (and insecurity) that makes people feel anxious, stressed and self-conscious.   

The artist Peipei Li explores these ideas by covering everything in sight with heavy, almost gluttonous layers of clothing in order to make people feel consumed and oppressed by consumerism. We hope that through experiencing New Order, observers will reflect on the vanity and burden of our society’s consumer obsession with fashion and keep these negative effects in mind when making future fashion buying decisions.

The zine New Order published on the Occasion of the exhibition New Order Yiwei Gallery, Venice, CA
April 8-April 30, 2022 (Curious Publishing)

Opening Reception: Friday, Apr 08, 2022, 5-8 pm
Duration: Apr 08 - Apr 30, 2022
For inquiries, please contact info@yiweigallery.com 

2 Live and Die in L.A. Photography Group Exhibition Opens Today

Courtesy of Estevan Oriol

2 LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.
July 10th 2021
12pm-10pm

Featured Image Merrick Morton

 2 LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is the most important art show of Los Angeles neighborhood culture that you won’t see in a big name gallery. Curated by Frankie Orozco for the fourth year running—the early origins of the show were focused primarily on Chicano arts with a high focus in photography. Frankie Orozco has now expanded the show beyond the original barrio artists to other neighborhoods such as Venice, South Central, and Skid Row.

This year’s show will coincide with the debut of the L.A. Six— six prolific Los Angeles documentary and street photographers that have come together to give the world a unique glimpse into the lesser known reaches of Los Angeles.  Their images include 1980’s L.A. gang culture, the low rider scene of the 90’s, the hip hop generation, the Mongols Motorcycle Club, East L.A. and South Central backyard punk scenes, stunning landscapes of the city, and intimate views of Los Angeles’ Skid Row. Together, their works reveal a rare view of hidden Los Angeles. The L.A. Six includes Estevan Oriol, Merrick Morton, Frankie Orozco, Gilbert Godoy, Angela Boatwright and Suitcase Joe.  This year’s show is especially unique because Frankie has offered wall space to up-and-coming photographers, allowing their work to be shown along side well-known photographers.There will be some 40-plus artists sharing their work this year. For Frankie Orozco, this show is about conserving local culture that he feels is disappearing at a rapid rate. Frankie, “This is my way to help preserve L.A. street culture. Neighborhoods are being bought all over Los Angeles and new buildings are popping up and driving people out of LA. It’s becoming gentrified and, along with it, the culture is leaving.” 

2 LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. will present a one day showing July 10th at Chuco’s Justice Center in South Central. The center, once a correctional facility for juveniles, now hosts a variety of programs that help those who were incarcerated reintegrate back into society. “This building is important because there have been a lot of gang peace treaties put together here, too. The location lends to the whole feeling and vibe of the street culture. There have been 30 year long rivalries where many people have died from gang beef but, inside this building, the rivalries have been put to rest. It’s a neutral ground and mediation place for gangs,” says curator Frankie Orozco.

This year’s show will take place at Chuco’s, inside the juvenile courtrooms and jail cells, with art from inmates actively serving time, live musical performances, and a few surprises. Due to the pandemic, there will be limited tickets sold. For more information, visit instagram @2liveanddiein_la

Chuco’s Justice Center
7625 S Central Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90001

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