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What to Do in SoCal Arts and Culture This Week (July 20 - July 26)

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This week’s online events stress community and culture. The pop outfit Lucius gives back to businesses hurt by the pandemic. Two Navajo poets present readings and reflections on COVID-19 and their community’s resilience. Art workshops help participants prep for Leimert Park’s online Festival of Masks later this summer, while another lecture dives into West Coast Chicano Soul. Read on for all the details.

 Thursday, July 23; 6 p.m.
Saad Nizhóní (Beautiful Words)

The Autry Museum presents “Saad Nizhóní (Beautiful Words)” an evening on Zoom featuring Navajo poets Jake Skeets and Rowie Shebala whose works integrate Diné history, language and culture. These readings will also provide an opportunity to hear how COVID-19 has affected the Navajo people. Navajo multimedia documentarian Pamela J. Peters will introduce the event. This Zoom event also doubles as a fundraising opportunity to donate to the Utah Navajo COVID-19 Relief Program. Free with RSVP. 

Native American poets Jake Skeets on the left and Rowie Shebala on the right. | Quanah Yazzie (L) and Rowie Shebala (R)
Native American poets Jake Skeets on the left and Rowie Shebala on the right. | Quanah Yazzie (L) and Rowie Shebala (R)
View this post on Instagram July 16 @ 6pm: Join multimedia documentarian Pamela J. Peters live on Zoom as she introduces Navajo poets whose beautiful words integrate Diné history, language, and culture. Click the link in profile to learn more. A post shared by The Autry (@theautry) on Jul 13, 2020 at 3:00pm PDT

Thursday, July 23; 6 - 9 p.m.
Lucius Performing Songs From The Bromley House

The L.A.-based pop band Lucius has been performing online “community rebuilding” concerts for the past few weeks, donating proceeds back to small businesses facing hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lucius hopes this series creates a sense of community engagement through music and discussion. This week, they’ll perform their 2009 debut album “Songs from the Bromley House.” The series hopes to promote local engagement and community building through music and discussion. The video will be available to watch for 72 hours after the live event. Tickets: $18. 

Friday, July 24 at 7 p.m.
West Coast Chicano Soul

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes online cultural series, “En Casa con LA Plaza,” presents a conversation with Frankie Firme of EastLARevue.com. The internet radio DJ introduces audiences to artists and bands that span the spectrum from doo-wop to Latin Soul. The session will be available on Zoom as well as live-streamed on Facebook. Free.

Friday, July 24; 4 - 5 p.m.
Fleetmac Wood Fridays - A Remix Party for your Iso-Disco

End the workweek with edits, mixes and remixes of Fleetwood Mac tunes streaming live from somewhere in Laurel Canyon. The live dance party purveyor celebrates its 8th anniversary in quarantine mode, so expect to see footage from previous events (when we could all gather together) as well as music from the band’s deep catalog. This is a free event, but tips are available via Paypal and Venmo @fleetmac-wood.

The Fleetmac Wood dance party moves online during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Image: Courtesy of Fleetmac Wood
The Fleetmac Wood dance party moves online during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Image: Courtesy of Fleetmac Wood

Saturday, July 25 at 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks Community Workshops

Day of the Ancestors: Festival of the Masks is an annual celebration of ancestors, heritages and cultures from the African diaspora and the South L.A. community. The festival moves online this year with arts workshops offered throughout the summer for all ages. Each Saturday through Aug. 8, LA Commons presents arts workshops that connect Black creatives to the local community: South African Cultural Arts Live (10 a.m.), Ancestor Mask Making (11 a.m.), African Diasporic Movement (12 p.m.) and African Diasporic Rhythm and Song (1 p.m.). The music and art created in this workshop series will be featured in the virtual procession at the 10th Annual Day of the Ancestors: Festival of the Masks at the Leimert Park Art Walk on August 30. Free with RSVP. 

View this post on Instagram The Day Of Ancestors Festival of Masks is our #time to commune and take to the streets to heal and cleanse them. Walk with us. ————————————————— #dayofancestors #extraancestral #diaspora #egungun #africanmasks #africandiaspora #elders #afrikantradition #connections #southcentral #neighborhoods #leimertparkvillage #degnan #blackartists #afrikan #alkebulan #yoruba #nigeria #sankofa #akan #ghana #lpvfom #lacommons A post shared by DOA: Festival of Masks (@dayoftheancestors) on Jan 29, 2019 at 10:59pm PST

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