Level Ground

Calling all bilingual artists!

This Sunday February 21st from 2:00-4:00pm PST, Labkhand Olfatmanesh and Gazelle Samizay, Collective Artists and current Resident Artists at Side Street Projects, are hosting a conversation related to their art collaboration, Bi-Lingering, which explores the power of language and the duality of existing between cultures.

The artists invite bilingual people (of any proficiency) to discuss their experiences of expressing themselves in more than one language or living between cultures. Your input will be invaluable in developing a forthcoming art workshop on this topic! Bi-Lingering is an extension of their ongoing collaborative project, Woven, which uses their experiences as women of Iranian and Afghan heritage to look at the way cultural expectations and memory transcend borders.

RSVP for Bi-Lingering by emailing [email protected], and mark your calendars for an afternoon of culture and collaboration!

🚨 SKEW impact update! 🚨

SKEW artist Chidebe Chinedu ( .chinedu.art) sold this piece, titled She’s Been Waiting, thanks to the buyer discovering their art in SKEW 02 magazine!

The piece traveled across the ocean from Nigeria to its new home in Los Angeles, and we think that community reach is pretty incredible.

So are these photos of the art & artist in the process of creation, and displayed at its final destination.

Congratulations!! 🎉 🎨

We’ve still got a few copies of SKEW 02 left. Scoop them up at the link in our bio to support Chidebe and all our incredible SKEW artists!

This Black History Month we invite you to join us in honoring the long-standing legacy of Black visionaries transforming their dreams of the future into realities that eventually become history by engaging with the Syllabus Project. Curated by Turay Pastel (they/he) and Lauren Couch (he/she/they ) as a companion piece to SKEW, the Syllabus Project aims to intentionally deepen and expand on the theme Black Dreams, Futures & Mutual Support through a selection of educational resources meant to spark introspection and awareness.

We’ll be highlighting selections from the project throughout the month, starting with an inspiring intergenerational conversation between Carrie Mae Weems and Terence Nanc, in collaboration with The Underground Museum . They speak to developing an understanding of self as Black artists, the effects of American Culture on the creation of their art, and Carrie Mae Weems offers a timely reminder that “to change reality you have to start with reality.” It’s an interview full of insights and wisdom that will surely stay with you.

You can access this video and the full Syllabus Project at the link in our bio, and we’d love to hear how the interview impacts you in the comments below!

Image description: Carrie Mae Weems and Terence Nanc are seated opposite each other, in blue and white upholstered armchairs. Their legs are crossed toward each other and they are maintaining eye contact as Carrie Mae Weems holds her right hand up, palm turned away from the camera while expressing a thought to Terence Nanc. There is a brown coffee table holding a stack of books in front of them, and a three-tiered bookshelf supported by grey cinder blocks behind them adorned with assorted decorative bowls, planters, statues, and blue and white crystals.

Looking for a gift for the art lover in your life that won’t get delayed in the mail? Digital copies of SKEW 02 magazine with full access to the Digital Hub are now available for purchase for $15 from our store and at the link in our “about” section!

You’ll get a downloadable PDF of the magazine to access wherever you are, plus the bonus content (like interviews, meditation, and more art) featured in the Digital Hub, all while saving on shipping and printing.

As always, all proceeds from SKEW go directly to the artists that created it, so spread some holiday joy and get a copy today!

"The dog or lion-like creature in front of Asian temples or Shrines, they’re usually made of stone. We call the creature “Komainu” in Japanese but they’re often called "Lion-Dog" in english. They are meant to ward off evil spirits from the building. The Lion-Dog on the right side has its mouth open pronouncing the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet “A” so open mouth “Ah” sound. The Lion-Dog on the left side is pronouncing “mm”, so the mouth is closed. It represents the beginning and the end of everything. I don't know if you’re religious or superstitious, but everyone wishes for little luck in their life. And especially during this pandemic, many people are kind of feeling anxious or sad or lonely. So I hope the lion dogs will bring a little peace to you." - expanding on the symbolism behind "Lion-Dogs".

You can purchase Chiho's print "Lion-Dogs" from our shop, and watch the full artist interviews on our IGTV channel. All 100 Prints proceeds go directly toward funding the future of the Level Ground Collective and helping sustain LA artists. Click the link in our "about" section for more information about the collective and the importance of funding local arts!