The March Venice Art Crawl - Celebrating Art And Women

The March edition of the Venice Art Crawl was held last night, and people were out in force, despite the blustery chill (for Venice). My Mom had just arrived to town, so got to experience her first V.A.C., and as this time around it was all concentrated in one area - Windward - it made it that much easier for us to get around. We got to chatting though, and thus, got a late crawl start and had to hustle just as much as usual. But it was worth it, as usual.

The Westside Wisemen were playing live music on the sidewalk in front of Hama Sushi, welcoming us to the proceedings from blocks away, and adding to the festive vibe in the streets. I think my favorite piece of the night was also on the sidewalk in front of Hama, this great beachy work by Sergio Padilla. Want it. 

I looked for Tonan's art stop, but didn't see it, so we zipped up to Surfside, as I'd been told that was the headquarters to get maps. The streets were full of art revelers, and a good time was being had by all. The art in the house was really great, as we were greeted right inside the door by the work of Ryan Patrick McGuire of Ink and Lumber. Real coolly framed photos and designs, the best one featuring Kurt Cobain. Dug it.

My homie Ray Rae was showcasing his gorgeous Venice photography there also, and holding down the information fort. Everyone should have a piece by Ray Rae.

Upstairs at Surfside there was a trip-out interactive hologram experience put on by Cody Nowak, an "AEC Disruptor". Mom got to put on the headset and check out little characters popping up around the room, like monkeys and unicorns and ballerinas floating around in space. This stuff is going to change the entire world of entertainment before we know it, and the art world is already feeling it.

I charged through Larry's to see the work of Molly Wiggins, David Downs, and Aisha Singleton, as well as the always great video installations of Olly Bell. People were digging it.

There was a special edition of Artists & Fleas going down in the parking lot of Great White, complete with a big VAC projection for good measure. DJ music added to the fun, and folks were grooving.

I had to race over to the Erwin Hotel in the middle of it all to see some of the wonderful women artists of Venice being honored for their work. As we're on Venice Standard Time, it didn't start on time, so I ran out to see more art while the got it ready. I'm glad I did, because Noah Gottlieb was showing his work on the sidewalk in front of the Bank Of Venice, and it was great. Like Realist meets Fantasy stuff ... from a local cat. Check him out.

Back at the Erwin, a bunch of us squeezed into a tiny room, where Mike Bonin, George Francisco, and Sunny Bak gave plaques and certificates to the eight women artists of Venice being celebrated appropriately in International Women's Month. Judy Baca, Joelle Dumas, Emily Winters, and Meryl Lebowitz were there to accept their awards and be applauded, while Jules Muck, Jean Edelstein, Christina Angelina, and Lucy Walker were no-shows.

It was great and touching to toast these trailblazers, as women who have helped to shape the Venice art scene ... some for decades, some bursting out more recently. Treasures all.

The ceremony took a while, so I wound up missing a bunch of art, but that's how it goes. I hit up Gotta Have It, whose crowd was spilling out on to the sidewalks as a live band tore it up inside the packed and awesome vintage store.

In a mad dash to see as much as I could, I race-walked down the street to Solé Bicycles, where they had already packed up, but I hopped into the truck of Flewnt to check out his cool Venice-centric work. I had missed the music and the gumbo, but it was still cool.

I took off back toward Windward to see what else I could see that was still happening, and that's when I heard a gun shot and saw people running. Again in front of Surfside. WHAT is going on?! ENOUGH with the guns, People. So sick of it, and what a damper on what had been a wonderful night of celebrating Venice art. Geez. The interesting thing was that it didn't seem like people were all that phased. One dude got shot in the arm, and then people kept on partying under the shadow of the "O'Venice" sign, lit up green for St. Patrick's Day.

And that's a good thing. We can't let the terrorists win - and that's exactly what gun-toting hotheads are. Sorry to any artists I didn't get to see, but ceremonies and shootings sometimes prohibit getting around to everything. I hope everyone has an excellent weekend, stays safe, and continues to create and appreciate art. It's what makes Venice go around. THANKS once again to the great organizers of the V.A.C. for another fantastic time - guns and all. Love you.

Amba - With Love From Ghana

Venice brings a lot of people together, and you never know how small the world can be until you open up and start talking to others. That's what happened when Essie Blankson-Turner was dining at Wabi Sabi and met Jessi Ashanti, who was waiting on their table. Ashanti saw that Blankson-Turner's sister had her baby tied to her back with colorful fabric in the style of Ghana women, and asked where they were from. Ghana was the answer, and as both women are Ghanian, a friendship - and a business called Amba -  was immediately born.

Both women shared a love of their native land's fabric (though born in London and Germany respectively, both Blankson-Turner and Ashanti are ethnically Ghanian), and wanted to do something that would share that love with the world. They met up to discuss all of this, and it was just ON from the very beginning, and everything just clicked. "It was just magical," explains Ashanti of their meeting, a term often associated with people meeting in Venice.

The ladies wanted to do something creative, and as both women are lifted up by very supportive husbands in the business world, it gave them the freedom to take their time to think and plan and sort out what they really wanted to do. It was ultimately decided that they would import the fabrics that they love from their native Ghana, and bring all that color and beauty to their lives in California and beyond.

Home decor covers a lot of ground, so they figured that would be the best place to start ... with stunningly gorgeous cushions, pillows, fabrics by the yard, and things in that interior design vein, with the idea that once that area is perfected, it would be easy to branch out into other areas, like lifestyle accessories such as bags and fashion, all of which are in the works.

Family friends in Ghana sent over the initial box of fabric, and the response to the authentic African prints was enthusiastic and almost overwhelming. In a time when the market has been flooded with fake prints from China, it's extra crucial to Amba's founders that all of their fabrics are supplied by vendors from Ghana, and that are supporting the true African artisans.

This is because these prints have MEANING. For example, there are prints that are only meant to be used by royalty, so sacred and regal are they. There are prints like the "Nsu Bura" meaning "The Waterwheel" that are among the oldest Adrinka symbols used in Ghana, with meanings that go back for generations. Each weave is different to each tribe, and you would know to which tribe someone belongs based solely on what they were wearing. The fabrics are hand printed, and no two are the same as a result. This stuff is the REAL deal.

It's so important that the fabric that Amba uses is authentic that Blankson-Turner herself traveled twice to Ghana last year (all while raising three little kids!) to obtain their goods, and when she can't make it there herself, the imports are entrusted to her Aunt Hylda Quaye-Nortey in Accra, Ghana, who operates a fabric store that can be relied upon to source the best and most authentic goods.

I knew both ladies socially before I knew about the wonderful work they were doing with Amba. It wasn't until I chanced upon them at the Venice Artists and Fleas Market that I saw for myself just what they were creating. The beautiful fabrics stopped me in my tracks, and it was only when I pried my eyes up from admiring their wares that I saw the booth was being run by the two lovely ladies I already knew. It was an exciting moment, because I now knew not only what they had been talking about, but also how truly exceptional and unique their products were. Like DEEPLY coveted, stunning pieces that no one else will have. I loved it, and that's why we're here talking about it now. You will too.

Both Blankson-Turner and Ashanti love Venice, and as Ashanti explained, "There's a pride in living in Venice, almost like an African pride. People are proud of it, but they're also laid back and there is a loving of life that is also very African." I love that.  "We're here to bring people together, and Venice does that too. The people here are very eclectic, creative, and unique, just like our fabrics." I fully agree, which is why I think this beautiful line of products will so resonate here. "Amba" means "Seed" in the Fanti tongue of Ghana ... and the idea is that you will take the Amba seed into your home, and let it reflect your own personality. To inspire you to find your own seed and nurture it from a dream to reality, which is why even their website is called YOURamba.com. To make it your own.

As of now, you can bring Amba into your home with pillows, chairs, cushions, place mats, coasters, lampshades, and custom anything, and will soon be expanding into jewelry, head wraps, and more fashion. I love it all, and can see where even just a splash of the wonderful Amba color can liven up a room and bring joy. Amba ... may it ever grow!

Amba products are available now online and at the Artists and Fleas Market.