--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
A LOCAL SOUTH ASIAN TRADITION CONTINUES: ArtWallah Journeys into its Fifth Year
LOS ANGELES, CA – In 2004, ArtWallah, Arts Festival of the South Asian Diaspora, will celebrate its fifth year of bringing together both emerging and established artists from across the globe into the Los Angeles area. To accommodate a growing following, the festival takes up new residence at Barnsdall Art Park, home of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House overlooking Hollywood, in Los Feliz from July 8-11, 2004. The success of the festival has been due in large part to its unique nature of showcasing a pool of talent underrepresented in the mainstream market. ArtWallah’s principal focus is to bolster the works of South Asian artists who have been geographically separated from their cultural roots. By encouraging artists who integrate their localized influences with more traditional elements, ArtWallah presents distinctive and novel interpretations in the mediums of dance, film, literature, music, theater, and visual arts.
ArtWallah kicks off 2004 with a benefit this Thursday, February 5th at club Good Hurt in Los Angeles. The event, infused with the ArtWallah spirit, will provide the local community with a taste of the highly anticipated four-day festival. Party-goers will first indulge in a live performance by past ArtWallah artists followed by a set of music rich in a fusion of hip hop and bhangra. Karmacy opens the event with tracks from their new full-length album, “The Movement”. This South Asian underground group, whose nascent years included shows at ArtWallah, has recently been awarded most influential Entertainment Act of the Year at the 2004 SASA conference. Following Karmacy, DJ Dithmar will lay down the rhythms until closing. Dithmar, whose credits include Grand Star’s hip hop event, Firecracker, will play a mixture of hip hop and desi beats enticing everyone to the dancefloor. Both performances promise to keep the energy at a maximum, while reminding us of the eclectic integration which ArtWallah embraces. All proceeds from this event will go towards the production of the July festival.
A new twist to this year’s benefit party will be an organized “Meet and Greet” at which time members of the public will be able to meet with ArtWallah organizers and veteran artists. Individuals interested in the local South Asian art scene and those wanting to take part in ArtWallah (as an organizer, volunteer, or artist) are invited to come early and socialize (RSVP information below).
Artists wanting to submit to ArtWallah 2004 can do so until the February 15th deadline. Traditionally, ArtWallah seeks innovative and original work reflective of South Asian heritage, which captures the sentiments of a multi-cultural identity. Past participants have included South Asian artists and artist-activists that have addressed political, personal or cultural celebrations/struggles. For more information please visit www.artwallah.org or send an email to info@artwallah.org.
EVENT DETAILS
ArtWallah Winter Benefit Party
Thursday, February 5, 2004
@ Good Hurt
12249 Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Doors open at 9pm with “Meet and Greet”
(RSVP with Trina @ outreach@artwallah.org)
Performances begin at 9:30
$10 cover
Cash Bar
CONTACT:
Falguni Raval
press@artwallah.org
323-939-5207
ABOUT ARTWALLAH
ArtWallah is an annual festival of arts showcasing expressions of the South Asian diasporic experience through dance, literature, spoken word, theater, music, film/video, and visual arts. ArtWallah 2004 is presented by the ArtWallah Steering Committee and through the dedication and support of its volunteers and patrons.
