Sabine Pearlman, He loves me, he loves me not… Edition 3/10
available for sale at the Venice Arts Auction

Describing the impact of her five-year involvement with Venice Arts on her life, former student Jocelyn Ramirez, age 18, said “Before Venice Arts, I never thought about the possibility of using filmmaking as a form of activism, not only with art and storytelling, but with social issues as well. When I was younger, there were worlds beyond the comfort of my own that I had no idea existed. Venice Arts helped me discover one of these, and now that passion for filmmaking has opened up previously unimaginable opportunities.” Jocelyn is currently studying filmmaking at New York University on a full scholarship, and is the first person in her family to attend university. Jocelyn is just one of the thousands of low-income young people whose lives have been transformed through their involvement with Venice Arts over its 20-year history.

Those of us who love-all-things photography in Los Angeles are very proud of an institution in our community  that provides incredible support and inspiration to young visionaries.  Venice Arts began 20 years ago with 10 kids, a darkroom in a donated basement, and a big dream: to create a vibrant arts center for low-income youth in the Venice community. Venice Arts’ award-winning Art Mentoring & Education program,  now reaches hundreds of low-income youth each year through free workshops in photography, filmmaking, animation, and media arts at its Center for Media & Learning on Lincoln Blvd. in Venice, as well as further afield through Documentary Programs conducted nationally and internationally. Over the past twenty years, Venice Arts’ program of free arts instruction, mentoring, and internship opportunities has opened windows of possibility for poor and low-income children. Drawing on two decades of experience, Venice Arts also works with nonprofit organizations, foundations, and community groups to help them develop and implement their own participant-produced projects. And now, Venice Arts has become a destination for adults, with free exhibitions, film screenings, and events through its Gallery & Public Programs

To celebrate reaching this significant milestone, Venice Arts is hosting a 20th Anniversary Gala Spectacular on November 2, 2013, 5–8pm. The event will feature a silent auction of fine-art photography generously donated by prominent photographers, as well as exemplary work by Venice Arts’ students, and goods and services donated by local businesses. Donating photographers include: Gareth Abraham, Kwaku Alston, Nancy Baron, Christine Caldwell, Ellen Cantor, Stephen Courtney, Marian Crostic, Imogen Cunningham, Julia Dean, Natalie Franco, Jim Hubbard, Amanda Keller Konya, J. K. Lavin, Douglas McCulloh, Erin McGuire, Christopher Medak, Diane Meyer, Wynn Miller, Michael Miner, Genaro Molina, Michele Morris, Hal Myers, Matt Ogens, Sabine Pearlman, Susan Rennie, Carol Royce-Wilder, Barbara Ruffini, Marjorie Salvaterra, Dan Shepherd, Aline Smithson, Jasmine Swope, Mark Swope, Salvatore Totino, Brett Van Ort, Francis Mark Woods, Jonas Yip, and David Zentz. This is a great opportunity for collectors and art enthusiasts to purchase a beautiful piece of original artwork while supporting a local nonprofit organization. The evenings’ festivities will also include delicious food from the best local restaurants, exclusive wine and beer, live music amazing raffle prizes, and a photo booth run by youth photographers in Venice Arts’ program. The event also honors community angels Paula Lumbard & Susan Rennie, long-time Venice residents and Venice Arts’ supporters. Information on tickets and sponsorships can be found at on their site.

Consider supporting Venice Arts through a purchase of a photograph(s)….a generous selection of Professional and Student work follows.  You can contact Venice Arts directly if you want one of these wonderful photographs to hang on your wall.

Professional Work Available at the Auction

Gareth Abraham, Shopping Mall Couple

Gareth Abraham, Golden Silence

Kwaku Alston, Venice

Nancy Baron, Cash Only

Stephen Courtney, Bamboo Waterway

Christine Caldwell, Starfish

Christine Caldwell, Fish Detail

Ellen Cantor, At the Ballet

Marian Crostic, Venice

Imogen Cunningham

Julia Dean, New Texaco

Erin McGuire, From the series Polaroid Chocolate

Natalie Marie Franco, Royal Family

Jim Hubbard, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan with Lucky

Amanda Keller Konya, Portrait of Carly from the Schools Out Forever? series

JK Lavin, Blue Moon #1

Christopher Medak, Venice Vintage Bikers

Diane Meyer, Italy 1

Wynn Miller, Wynn Miller, Shepard Fairey and Tony Alva Collaboration

Michael Miner, Gateless Gate #3

Genaro Molina, Jamie Foxx

Geraro Molina, Jeff Bridges 180 Degrees

Michele Morris, Street View #4

Hal Myers, Off the Wall, Havana, Cuba

Matt Ogens, Untitled

Susan Rennie, Jesusa, from the series Dogs of Venice

Carol Royce-Wilder, Abstract #269

Barbara Ruffini, Whisper to Me the Words

Marjorie Salvaterra, Keeping Up With The Janes

Dan Shepherd, Bismarckia #2, ed 1/12

Aline Smithson, The Cement Ball

Jasmine Swope, Point Dume No. 1 Malibu, California

Douglas McCulloh, Santa Monica Pier–Pilings Removed

Mark Swope, Coney Island, New York

Brett Van Ort, Lawns

Francis Mark Woods, Moonrise Over Japanese Garden

Jonas Yip, Crossing

Jonas Yip, The Path

Jonas Yip, Vantage Point

David Zentz, Venetian Eggleston

Student work Available at the Auction

Angela Francis, Untitled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Arlene Flores, Untitled
Documentary Programs: Picturing Health, Boyle Heights

Arthur Cooke, Untitled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Chow Kai Mei, Untitled
Consulting & Training, Hong Kong, China

Claude Velas, Untitled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Daniel Korochkin-Zoryn, Untitled
My Dad Exercises

Jocelyn Ramirez and Destiny Beautiful Bald Eagle, Untitled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice & Dupree, South Dakota

Eamon Wright, Burning Sugar Cane
Documentary Programs: Picturing Race, Durban, South Africa

Daniel Hall, Flip
Program: Shooting Back, Washington DC 1989

Genevieve Ward, Tiny Dancer
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Jeanette Vasquez, Cachuma
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Joaquim Varalito, My Memories
Documentary Program: The House is Small but the Welcome is Big, Maputo, Mozambique

Jocelyn Ramirez, Untitled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Julie Cabral, Unititled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Khaliq Farthing, Determination
Documentary Programs: Picturing Health, South L.A. Figueroa Corridor

Luna Richter, Untitled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Matt Selvo, Waiting for Something to Happen
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Maya Fellows, Untitled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Mayra Mejia, Self Portrait
Documentary Programs: Girls’ Lives Through Girls’ Eyes: The National Girls’ Project

Timmie Escobedo, Unititled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Timmie Escobedo, Unititled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice

Zinnia Moreno, Untitled
Mentoring & Education Program, Venice