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Ain't No New Thing for Boyle Heights | East of the River
Mural by Ricardo Estrada and Nico Avina | Photography by Salvador Rojas
Ain't No New Thing for Boyle Heights
"Boyle Heights gallery showcases its community's history thru collection of pieces to artwork and photographs that document residents' stories and memories"
Underneath the beautiful bittersweet backdrop of a smoggy eastside landscape: palm trees, hovering L.A.P.D helicopters, dirty grey pigeons; a united community of Angelino's from the young to the mature of eastside gente como: los emo's, taggers, Mechistas, maestros, artistas, rockeros, beautiful brown skinned chicanas, hip hoppers, viejitos, pachucos, brothers and sisters, mothers to fathers, japoneses y mexicanos to a childhood friend that I have not seen since a teen age of rebellion gathered outside on the concrete of TEOCINTLI's steps eager for their opening of "East of the River: A Boyle Heights History Project," A collection of pieces to artwork that document residents' stories and memories of Boyle Heights in what I call, "one of the most misunderstood communities."
As the doors of 2717 E 4th Street open the aroma of Wild Berry's; shorties, "fresh, hand-dipped, incense" Is traveled from the front of the counter to brim of your nostrils and in its wave transports a feng shui of welcoming into a community jewel in the forefront of common unity in resistance for their community and knowledge of one self, the past, present and future. This cultural store in el corazon del barrio just relocated into their new location in hopes of not only providing the seeds of knowledge to the minds of the youth in their surroundings who are the daily target of police criminalization and military recruiters but to also to reach out to the community and expose the youth to more art.
The community of Boyle Heights is made up of different people with a different tongue in every household with a different way of living. Since it's founding in 1875 Boyle Heights has long been a destination for newcomers from all parts of the world. Once the most multi-cultural community in the country Boyle Heights was once inhabited by Mexicans, Japanese, Jews, Russian Molokans and Blacks. Now 95% Latino/a this area on the eastside of the Los Angeles River continues to be misunderstood by the media and its surrounding population. Hipsters, Yuppies and Politicians alike claim an Art Renaissance is occurring on the east banks of the Los Angeles River, the same historic bluffs that has been home to some of the most prolific artist this lost city of angels has ever seen. How is it that the once called Mural Capitol of the World is going thru a renaissance when in old posters showcased in the exhibit stated Artists, Teatristas, Musicos to Danzantes celebrated and painted the town on the streets of this very own barrio in the late 60's.
The new moon lit the heights and the sidewalk outside of Teocintli was adorned by people of different generations sharing childhood to recent memories. On your trip from the front steps you can stop and glance at the many of handcrafted jewelry to locally made products from Balam Creations "Boyle Heights Hoop Earrings", the Boyle Heights Dress and the ever so popular Boyle Heights T-Shirt created by famed stencil and spoken word artist Nico. Other in-store goodies included Jewelry, T-Shirts, Children Book's, to music from local artist including Los Poets del Norte and Pachamama who later serenaded the crowd with their inspirational palabras and moving sound.
Q-bo, Que onda, Hey what's up, Hola, Buenas Noches, How you doing to the well-known head bounce was exchanged on your entry to the gallery "a feeling of community" said one attendee.
The display of a Historic 1877 Map "Looking at Los Angeles from the East" welcomed you to the "East of the River" showcase. Sketches and Photographs of the bridges that span along the Los Angeles River on your entry to the eastside were displayed along the walls of the bookstore section of Teocintli. Attendees were able to purchase Boyle Heights: Images of America and Crossroads to Boyle Heights a book and DVD published by The Japanese American National Museum as well as other eastside related literature.
A step and eye inside the large gallery an your heart stops at the breathtaking backdrop that local artist Ricardo Estrada and Nico have created in particular for this east of the river showcase, a collage of art and limited use of color display an art piece that is hard to set your eyes off of. The walls were ornamented by photographs of the barrio today, a timeline of the community's history, letterman jackets, a jersey and helmet of the local Roosevelt High School, a shirt and jersey by local youth sport teams, paintings loaned by Self Help Graphics & Art who once called Boyle Heights home, local artist work and musicians to the touching and tear dropping of a couple of eviction letters to make way for the expansion of the Hollenbeck Police station and in them the harsh words "surrender and quit your property in 30 days."
Los Poetas del Norte | Photography by Salvador Rojas
We got closer to one another we exchanged words, laughter and memories as youth from MEChA de Boyle Heights performed their spoken word to open for legendary Rubén Funkahuátl Guevara, singer, songwriter, producer, writer, poet, performance artist, and impresario who shared his palabra of a time when Boyle Heights had Japanese to his balad para "La Virgencita de Boyle Heights". In between sets we heard the sounds of world beat funk, cumbia, to the classic Chicano funk and soul played by DJ Gomez Comes Alive as the crowd waited with Horchata in hand and chips & salsa on a plate in other for local spoken word duo Shortee and Nico who lead Los Poets del Norte and once again astounded the audience with their delivery of words. Their new band includes a drummer, bassist and a female violinist and together they create and set an ambiance in perfect unison for their use as their word as their weapon. "Boyle Heights is time to take back our community" said Shortee and "their afraid of our unity" said Nico to the audience who chanted and shouted back at their words of revolution. Los Poets ended their set with "Olvidados" a corrido like chant in solidarity with those "who cross the border daily in search of a better tomorrow" said Nico, with a 1 minute moment of silence over the gentle melody of violinist Zada's voice for those illegally evicted, deported or killed by police or immigration on their journey "asea el norte"
As the moon got closer to midnight local band Pachamama serenaded and moved the crowd with their sounds of reggae, afro-beat and ska with a rootical message of love and dignity, acknowledgement and respect of all cultures.The homemade Horchata had vanished, the wine had smoothened the limbs, water had hydrated the crowd and the chips and tastefully salsa had filled the stomachs of many. Attendees have departed on foot to their dwellings or the local King Taco; the lights of Teocintli have gone to an almost full blackout with an exception of their yellow rope light to illuminate the mannequins who were fashionably clothed in their Boyle Heights attire. The streets echoed the sounds of crickets, a community sleeps as an awaking of common unity and community pride wakes the giant of resistance in our struggle to bring the change that benefit those who inhabit the homes on the heights not those that govern it.
I closed my eyes that night with the knowledge of my community's past and present with hope that we would be acknowledged for what we have done for generations passed in the future. We didn't hear gunshots that night we heard unity in the waves of evolution y como dijo Gil Scott-Heron "Ain't No New Thing" because this ain't the start, this is the continuation of our cultural and community pride.
Que viva Boyle Heights!
EAST OF THE RIVER: A Boyle Heights History Project closes September 7th.
Teocintli
2717 E. 4th Street
Boyle Heights, CA 90033
(323)266-2117
www.myspace.com/teocintli
Mon-Sat 12-8pm
Sunday 12-5pm
C/S
Los Poetas del Norte | Photography by Salvador Rojas
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