1) - PEACE SIGNS... Mark Vallen's work included in "The Anti-War Movement Illustrated"
2) - REACHING TO EMBRACE ARTS/GALLERY ROW CELEBRATION... L.A. Art scene expands
3) - GEORGE CATLIN AND HIS INDIAN GALLERY... Exhibition at the Museum of the American West
4) - BLACK PANTHERS... The Historic Photographs of Baruch and Jones
5) - ARTISTS IN ACTION... Children - Their Lives, Their Safety, Their Voices
6) - MORE THAN A WITNESS... Vallen's upcoming solo exhibition and retrospective
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PEACE SIGNS: THE ANTIWAR MOVEMENT ILLUSTRATED is the ultimate collection of posters and graphics from the war in Iraq, uncensored, political and thought-provoking.

The book contains 200 full color posters from artists and designers from over 22 countries worldwide, featuring artwork by artists Mark Vallen, Sue Coe, Seth Tobocman, Winston Smith, and many others.

GALLERY ROW in historic downtown Los Angeles has been officially recognized by the L.A. City Council as a vital center for the city's artistic community. On May 15th, 2004, the City of Los Angeles will hold a public Gallery Row Unveiling Ceremony! www.galleryrow.org

Artists showing and auctioning works at the RTEA exhibition and fund raising event include Mark Vallen, Chaz Bojorquez, Mear One, and many others. The beautifully restored cultural landmark, the Old Farmers and Merchants Bank at 401 South Main Street (built in 1871), will serve as the venue for this worthwhile event.

RTEA plans an all day exhibition of art, kids workshops, auctions, and live painting. The exhibition opens at 10 a.m. on May 15th. and runs until late in the evening. Art workshops for children will be held from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., and the auction will be conducted starting at 9 p.m. Monies raised during the auction will be donated to programs that enhance youth art programs and events in the L.A. school system. Come and participate in L.A.'s historic Gallery Row Unveiling Ceremony, and don't miss RTEA's fundraising event!
For more information: www.rtea.org
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Opening May 9th, 2004, the Museum of the American West (formerly the Autry Museum of Western Heritage) will present George Catlin and His Indian Gallery, a spectacular exhibition of over 100 original paintings by Catlin. The show not only includes the artist's portraits, landscapes, and scenes of indigenous life... but also the artifacts collected during the artist's travels (items not shown for more than a century). The show, organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, will run until August 4th, 2004, and includes a full program of documentary video, audio tours, and selections from Catlin's journals. The Museum of the American West is located at 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA. For more information visit the museum's website, at: www.museumoftheamericanwest.org
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BLACK PANTHERS is an exhibit of historical photographs from the late 1960's Black Liberation movement taken by Ruth Marion Baruch and Pirkle Jones. Presented by the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica California, the photographs are stunning portraits of Panther leaders, cadre of the revolutionary organization, and their radical sympathizers and followers.

Baruch and Jones first published their original photos of the Oakland Black Panther Party as a book in 1970, titled The Vanguard. As part of the exhibition there will be a lecture and slide show by the legendary Black Panther leader, Kathleen Cleaver. A book signing by photographer Pirkle Jones will follow the presentation. The opening reception is Saturday, May 15th, 6 - 8 pm, with the slide lecture by Cleaver held on Sunday, May 16th at 3 pm. The exhibition takes place at the 18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th Street, Santa Monica. The show runs until July 23, 2004. For more info, please contact 310-453-3711... or visit the center's website, www.18thstreet.org/happenings.html
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The exhibit also has an activist component with an Art March that takes place on Saturday May 22nd. The March begins at 11 am in front of the Lankershim Art Gallery. It will proceed to the North Hollywood Metro station and then travel to the famed Universal City walk. Participants of all ages will form a living, moving art exhibition as they carry their own artworks. The purpose of the Art March is to take art beyond the boundaries of the gallery. The action will be viewed by thousands of L.A. citizens and visiting tourists.

The Artists in Action exhibit is scheduled to open May 4th, and will run until May 29th. An Artist's Reception will be held on May 13th, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The Art March takes place on May 22nd. To participate in the March, contact John Paul Thornton at (818) 378-8381. The Lankershim Art Gallery is located at 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in the NOHO Arts district. Visit their website, at: www.doversart.com/lag
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COMING JULY/AUGUST 2004 "MARK VALLEN - MORE THAN A WITNESS"

More Than A Witness is an upcoming retrospective exhibit at the A Shenere Velt Gallery featuring the artworks of Mark Vallen. The solo show will encompass some thirty years of work by the artist. The exhibition of Vallen's paintings, drawings, and prints could just as easily be called "A brief history of the 20th Century." Known as the advocate of a new social realism, Vallen's thought-provoking artworks confront the public with a myriad of political and social issues.

The A Shenere Velt Gallery of the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring in Los Angeles will be presenting the Vallen retrospective starting July 12th and running until August 26th., 2004. On August 6th (Hiroshima Day), the artist will give a special lecture and slide presentation at the Gallery on the subject of art activism. More details will be provided as the exhibit draws closer! Visit the Workmen's Circle website, at: www.circlesocal.org
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