TarFest Launch Weekend: Festival Debut

Brings Together Cultural Events On The Miracle Mile

Festival of Film, Music and Art Takes Place October 18 and 19

A weekend of film, music and art will take place along Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile District of Los Angeles on Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19, 2003.

TarFest Launch Visual Arts Program

October 18 - 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

TarFest Launch kicks off with a visual arts program of local, emerging artists on Saturday, October 18 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Subud Center in the historic Welton Beckett Building across from the La Brea Tar Pits at 5828 Wilshire Blvd. The night will feature current works from some of L.A.’s best emerging artists. Works involved in this year’s debut event display very different takes on the program’s “L.A.” theme. Artists to be seen include: Melanie Pullen and works from her “High Fashion Crime Scene Photography” series, Jay Brockman whose recent canvas collection highlights the streets of Los Angeles and Antara Scale’s “LA Photography Series,” captures a glimpse of nature from downtown LA to Venice Beach. Program and reception for the visual arts program is free of charge.

MMRA ArtNightOut

October 18 – 5p.m. to 10p.m.

In a collective effort to bring the art and culinary communities together on the Miracle Mile, the Miracle Mile Residential Association will host a self-guided tour of participating art galleries and restaurants on Wilshire Boulevard. This event will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2003, from 5pm to 10pm, concurrent with the TarFest Launch Visual Arts Program. Participants will ride atop a double-decker bus graciously supplied by City Councilman Tom LaBonge. The bus route will begin at the Miracle Mile Newstand (Wilshire and Detroit), where a Walking Map, and other press materials, will be made available. Locations will include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Craft & Folk Art Museum and twelve local galleries up and down Wilshire Boulevard.

TarFest Launch Film & Music Program

October 19 - 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

TarFest Launch will conclude with a screening of some of the finest short films from around the country, followed by an evening of musical acts from several genres. The film and music program is from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on October 19 at LACMA West’s rooftop penthouse located at Wilshire and Fairfax.

Short films include Imanus (Director: Vincent Angell); Anguish (Director: LaMont Edwards); The Perpetual Life of Jim Albers (Director: Matt Goldman); American Seoul (Director: Grace Rowe); Silas Lynch (Director: Greg Daniels); Burls (Director: Maryam Karimi); Heavy (Director: Kell McGregor); No Strings Attached (Director: Andrew P. Jones); and several short films from Pstola.com.

Musical performances will feature Derek McKeith, Rachael Kahn, Los Abandoned, and Liza Richardson rounding out the mix. Derek McKeith will captivate the crowd with a unique blend of R&B, Rock and Urban flavors – a combination that has inspired audiences all over Los Angeles. Derek was recently chosen by Amoeba Records as their Homegrown Artist of the Month for his debut album, Something Strange on Nobul Records. Songs like the groovy Let You Know and the energetic rock anthem Necklace, Bracelets, Rings also earned Derek a recent appearance on FX’s Orlando Jones Show. From Chile to Los Angeles to around the world and back again, Los Abandoned reunites the Casio keyboard with the electric guitar in their 1970s punk/new wave influenced sound. They have charmed the public and press with their charismatic stage presence. Rachael Kahn has toured across America sharing her words on the Chicks in Arms tour, on the SlamAmerica tour, and solo. She has also had her poetry appear in various book anthologies like "So Luminous the Wildflowers" (Tebot Bach Press) and compilation CDs like "LucaMoved Upstairs" (Rosemary Records). Liza Richardson will present her distinct, sensual, bumpin' blend of up-tempo dance and house music mixes. Liza is a local house DJ, guesting at various spots around LA, South of the border in Mexico, and is a resident Friday nights at Sensa at Sugar in Santa Monica. Liza can also be heard rippin’ it up every Saturday night while hosting The Drop every Saturday night from 6 to 9pm on 89.9 KCRW.com.

Admission and Information

Admission to the film and music portion of the event is $5 if you sign up as a Miracle Mile Player at www.tarfest.com before October 12, or $10 for at-the-door signups. Further information is available by visiting www.tarfest.com or by phone at 323-964-5454.

TarFest is a creation of the Miracle Mile Players, Inc., a non-profit, 501(c)3, arts and business cooperative serving Miracle Mile businesses, residents and institutions. Their goal is to serve as a portal into the weekly events and daily happenings in an artistic, cultural and geographic center of Los Angeles known as The Miracle Mile.

On any given day in the Miracle Mile, neighborhood associations, cultural institutions, city government, and arts/entertainment venues play host to a myriad of events and opportunities. The Miracle Mile Players strive to bring these events and organizations directly to the residents and neighboring communities of the Miracle Mile.

After TarFest’s Launch weekend, the Miracle Mile Players will periodically present smaller events entitled Miracle Mile Players Presents, helping maintain and build momentum as the Miracle Mile Players continue to plan and prepare the first official TarFest in October of 2004.

TarFest Launch is co-sponsored by Midway Medical Center, Whole Foods, Miracle Mile Chevrolet - Buick, Kramer Law Group and the Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce.

Arrive at TarFest Early & Make A Day of It!

Family Fun in the LACMA Plaza

October 19 – 12:30p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Arrive early and make a day of it with Sheila and Wally Weisman’s Family Sunday in the LACMA Plaza Sunday, October, 19 from 12:30p.m. to 3:15p.m. Families can explore art through the ages by touring the galleries, creating their own art masterpieces, and participating in music and storytelling activities. Activities are free to LACMA members and included in the museum admission fee for nonmembers.

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