On the Town with DesignVidal

During the six years Donna Jean and I lived in Silver Lake, we became friends with many of our neighbors, including Guy & Karen Vidal (DesignVidal) and their two beautiful children, Ginger and Levi. The Vidals invited us to attend a reception for Glass Artist Andrew Thompson held at Blackman Cruz in Hollywood on May 5, 2009. We had the privelege of meeting the artist and many of his friends. Thompson has masterfully "altered the perception of glass designed as fine art. His exploration of complex technique incorporated with organic design creates the ultimate synergy", according to Adam Cruz, the gallery's owner.

Located in the old PROBE Night Club (836 N. Highland Avenue in Hollywood, L.A.s equivelant of Studio 54), the Blackman Cruz showrooms are on many levels, and something special to experience. Besides Andrew Thompson's beautiful art glass (on nearly every conceivable surface), there are many fascinating one-of-a-kind collectable objects to enjoy.

Silver Lake's "Art Cans" Pre-Installation Exhibit at M&A

On Sunday, February 22, 2009, Materials & Applications in Silver Lake hosted a pre-installation exhibition of the "Art-Can Project", sponsored by the Beautification Committee of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council. The "Art- Cans" are concrete trash cans that have beautiful mosaic panels designed by local artists.

Artists Julie Bagish, Yuriko Etue and Tabitha Fronk are veterans of the project. Julie's work, "Four Seasons of William Crite" honored Crite, a brilliant artist and fellow art-can contributor. She wrote and read a lovely poem dedicating her work to his memory. The "Path Pals" of the CSSLR (Comittee to Save Silver Lake's Reservoirs) also contributed an art can "The Reservoir Pathways", working with Bagish. CSSLR veterans Lori Oddino and Carla Lazzareschi were on hand for the ceremony. The can will be installed in front of Monkey House Toys on Silver Lake Blvd.

Artist Yuriko Etue has contributed to the "Art Can Project" in each of its three installations. Her current contribution, "Forever Beginning" is reminiscent of her earlier work. Tabitha Fronk created "Cats & Butterflies- for Lulu", working with Silver Lake Kids and an untitled art can with the help of Calderons Silver Lake Kids. Artist Lorraine Heitzman, a newcomer to the project, worked with Girl Scout Troup 730 and created "It's a Dog's Life". The art can will be installed at Silver Lake Dog Park; the Silver Lake Dog Park Association adopted the can.

I am extremely proud of these art cans! As Founder of the Silver Lake Beautification Committee, I would like to personally thank Noah Stein Project Coordinator and Laura Dwan Project Developer/Coordinator, who have kept the project alive. It takes a huge amount of (volunteer) time to bring such projects to completion.

Silver Lake's "Villa Togneri" is L.A. Times "Home of the Week"

The "Villa Togneri", a Classic Mediterranean Villa designed by I. Palombo in 1927 in Silver Lake was recognized as the "Home of the Week" in the Los Angeles Times on January 4, 2008. The Villa has been in the Togneri Family for more than 60 years. To visit the property is to take a step back in time; virtually nothing has changed since the villa was first built. To read the article, please click on "Villa Togneri"

Rembembering Yvon Docker Lincoln 1921-2008

Yvon Docker Lincoln arrived in Los Angeles when she was barely 6 onths old, coming with her parents Mytris Evalina Burns and Malcolm Docker Lincoln from Tucson, Arizona. She remained ni Southern California the rest of her life.

During WWII, she served as an air raid warden and as a U.S. Naval truck driver, building landing strips. Peacetime work was primarily in transportation, especially transcontinental truckign of heavy machinery and later, air freight. She was the first woman Western Regional Vice President of Delta Nu Alpha, a national transportation society. An activist in Silver Lake, her home community, Yvon, in retirement was also a volunteer and contributor to many non-profit organizations. Yvon's greatest gift was making friends and they are legion.

In a nursing home with failing health for the past three years, she succumbed to cancer on November 26, 2008. She is survived by her companion, Lucile Jones and her cousin Laura Burns. UCLA Donated Body Program accepted her remains and there will be no services pursuant to her wishes. Those wanting to remember her may do so by making a new friend, as she would, or by giving to her favorite charity, St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, c/o St. Vincent Foundation, 2222 Ocean View Avenue, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90057.

Silver Lakers Dedicate the New Pathway Circumventing SL Reservoir

Saturday, December 20, 2008 marked an historic happening in Silver Lake, the Ribbon-cutting ceremony dedicating the pathway circling Silver Lake Reservoir. A host of dignitaries, neighbors and reservoir advocates were on hand for the long-awaited path to finally open.

I arrived just before 10 a.m., and already there were a lot of familiar faces in the crowd. I spotted Bea Gold, along with L.A. Councilmembers Tom LaBonge and Council President Eric Garcetti, who were definitely pumped for the occasion. Bea was greeting CA. Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (43rd Dist.) while LaBonge was introducing Assemblymember Curran Price (51st Dist.).

Fine speeches by Eric Garcetti and Tom LaBonge were followed by addresses from Paul Krekorian, LADWP CEO H. David Nahai, L.A. City Engineer Gary Moore, Board of Public Works Board Member Julie Gutman and Committee to Save Silver Lake's Reservoirs President Shelley Marks. It was a special day for many of us who have been advocating for Silver Lake's open reservoirs.