Photo by Jonathan Lewis The Long Beach Poppin’ Play Festival includes a diverse array of bold productions created by local writers, performers and artists.

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“Red Pine” by Valerie Bretl

2nd City Council Gallery + Performance Space will host a mosaic artwork exhibition entitled Tesserae: The Art of Mosaic, juried by George Fishman, from Sept. 17 to Oct. 16 with an opening reception Saturday, Sept. 24 from 7pm to 9pm.
The opening artists’ reception is open to the public and will showcase original mosaic artwork by local, national and international artists. Live music and free beverages will be provided. Admission is free.
The juror of the exhibition has designed and executed mosaic commissions since 1989 for municipal, corporate, hospitality, religious and residential clients. His projects include medallions, murals, columns, pools, and fountains. He received a fine arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and teaching certification from Colorado State University.
Fishman has served on several boards and helped start a nonprofit art organization in Miami Beach in the 1980s. He served as co-editor of Groutline, the Society of American Mosaic Artists’ newsletter, for five years and has contributed to several books and trade publications.
2nd City Council Gallery + Performance Space is located on the east edge of the East Village Arts District, at 435 Alamitos Ave. Hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 5pm. Admission is free.
For information on entering an artwork for Tesserae, visit 2ndcitycouncil.org, call (562) 901-0997, or contact Cheryl Bennett at 2ndcitycouncil@earthlink.net.

Stuart A. Ashman

Mike Deovlet and Burke Gumbiner, co-chairs of the Museum of Latin American Art’s (MOLAA) board of directors, announced the appointment this week of Stuart A. Ashman as MOLAA’s president and CEO. His appointment is the result of a six-month international search, and his tenure will begin on Sept. 6.
Ashman joins MOLAA as the museum’s 15th anniversary draws to a close. Driven primarily by an evolving and strengthened artistic direction over the last two years, MOLAA has seen growing admissions and increasing accolades from the museum industry and media critics locally, nationally, and internationally. 
Burke Gumbiner, son of MOLAA’s founder, Dr. Robert Gumbiner, said, “Stuart’s priority will be to create a solid infrastructure to support this growth. The board is excited about MOLAA’s current direction, and we searched for a president with the experience to ensure that the museum would continue to grow and support itself in perpetuity. Stuart’s proven administrative skills in diverse environments combined with his knowledge of Latin American art make him an ideal candidate for this position.” 
Ashman brings with him over 20 years of museum management experience, having worked nationally and internationally in both private and government sectors. Raised in Cuba, Ashman’s advanced education and professional career have all been based in the United States.
“I am pleased to be given this opportunity and look forward to building upon the founder’s vision and passion for Latin American art and the Latino community which have always been at the core of the institution’s programs, collections and exhibitions,” Ashman said. “MOLAA’s mission is timely. The world of Latin American art is exciting and dynamic– one that should be shared with the widest possible audience.”  

The 1981 film Mommie Dearest, which stars a scenery-chewing Faye Dunaway as Hollywood legend/alleged clean freak Joan Crawford, will serve as the kick-off movie for the Q Film Festival at 2:30pm on Friday, May 8. Admission will be free; wooden hangers not included.

The Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach and Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride will present the Long Beach Q Film Festival 2011 from Friday, Sept. 16 to Sunday, Sept. 18 at the historic Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., and the neighboring Gay and Lesbian Long Beach Center, 2017 E. Fourth St. Long Beach’s long-running film festival since 1993, the Q Film Festival presents narrative features, documentaries and short films that embody the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community.
This year’s event will feature several area premieres as well as some of the most acclaimed features on the 2011 film festival circuit. The 11 feature films selected include Fit, a British comedy-drama about sexual diversity and bullying among a group of high school students, and the Los Angeles-area premiere of Judas Kiss, a gay romantic-drama featuring time travel. Other films include the California premiere of the documentary Inspired: Voices Against Prop 8, which spotlights several crusading Long Beach activists, and an international showcase of documentaries.
Submissions were received from both student and professional filmmakers from around the world. Some filmmakers and cast members will be present for audience discussions. Jury awards will be given to films in several categories. Festival events will be hosted by a variety of local performers and talents. The festival will also feature numerous parties and opportunities to meet and mingle with filmmakers, actors and other industry professionals.
The festival will open at the Art Theatre on Friday and run through Sunday evening. An opening night party will take place between screenings at the Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach. Screenings on Saturday will include a variety of great short films in the “Men in Briefs” and “Women in Shorts” programs. The festival will end Sunday with a closing-night party between the final two screenings. All festival parties include libations and live entertainment. All net proceeds from the festival will benefit The Center Long Beach and Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride. Wells House Hospice will be a platinum sponsor of this year’s festival.
Festival passes and tickets are available for purchase through the Q Film Festival page at qfilmslongbeach.com.

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arttheatrelongbeach.com

The Crazy Rhythm Hot Society Orchestra plays note-for-note transcriptions from the original 78-RPM recordings of the 1920s.

As part of its free summer concert series, Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site, 4600 Virginia Rd., will host The Crazy Rhythm Hot Society Orchestra on Sunday, July 24, from 5:30pm to 7pm. An 11-piece dance orchestra, the group plays the Big Band music of the Roaring Twenties.
Visitors may picnic on the grounds after 4:30 pm. Parking is limited to Virginia Road, so bicycles and carpooling are encouraged; shuttle service will be provided. Pets are not allowed. The outdoor concert is free and open to the public. For comfort, lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged.
The Crazy Rhythm Hot Society Orchestra’s performances include “hot” jazz as well as the sweet music and novelty numbers of the period. Bandleader Mike Henebry is the founder of the International Society of Twenties Orchestras, and the group plays note-for-note transcriptions from the original 78-RPM recordings of the 1920s, including pieces from Benny Moten, Jack Payne and Duke Ellington, as well as period vocalists such as Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Bessie Smith and Rudy Vallée.
The free concert series is underwritten by Friends of Rancho Los Cerritos in conjunction with Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site, Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine; donations are welcome. The Rancho is located northwest of the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and San Antonio Drive.

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(562) 570-1755
rancholoscerritos.org

The Topp Twins’ political activism and unique brand of entertainment have helped change New Zealand’s social landscape.

The Found Theatre, 599 Long Beach Blvd., will screen the documentary The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, which is about New Zealand’s beloved cultural icons, on Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 at 8pm, and on Sunday, July 24 at 3pm.
Winner of the Cadillac People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Topp Twins:Untouchable Girls tells the story of the world’s only comedic, singing, yodeling lesbian twin sisters, Lynda and Jools Topp, whose political activism and unique brand of entertainment have helped change New Zealand’s social landscape.
As well as rarely seen archive footage and home movies, the film features candid chats with some of the Topps’ infamous comedy alter-egos, including the two Kens, Camp Mother and Camp Leader, the Bowling Ladies and the Posh Socialite sisters, Prue and Dilly.
Directed by award-winning former BBC documentary filmmaker Leanne Pooley, The Topp Twins follows the girls from their happy childhood on a dairy farm, where they grew up singing to the cows, to the Territorial Army, as well as the heady days performing on the streets of Auckland during the political protest marches of the early ‘80s.
By 1998, Lynda Topp, as Camp Mother, very nearly won the mayoral election in Auckland, and the Topps became firmly entrenched in Kiwi culture with their own prime-time TV series Do Not Adjust Your Twinset.
This is the story not only of two unique sisters, but of half a century of cultural changes in New Zealand and the foundation of a national identity. Part concert film, part biopic, part historical record, and a big part comedy, it shares the twins’ journey from “coming out,” to Jools’s recent brush with breast cancer, with a great deal of laughter, honesty and wisdom.
Tickets are $8. Movie refreshments, wine and beer available.

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(562) 433-3363
youtube.com/ToppTwins  
foundtheatre.org

Portugal (Minho Region) Folkloric Dancers by Leslie Gabriëlse

Bringing together quilt artists and aficionados from all over the world, the summer edition of the International Quilt Festival will return to the Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. from Friday, July 29 to Sunday, July 31, with a preview night and classes beginning Thursday, July 28.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Festival will feature more than 500 quilts and pieces of textile art on display, shopping at almost 300 booths, and more than 85 classes on all skill levels from some of the world’s leading instructors.
“We are thrilled about coming back to Long Beach because we know that the southern California area in particular is a ‘hotbed’ of quilting activity, as well as being home to a lot of amazing fabric artists,” says Festival founder and director Karey Bresenhan. “And you don’t even have to be a quilter to enjoy seeing incredible art on display.”
Among the special exhibits of quilts making their debut at the Long Beach Festival are conceptual ones like “The Space Between” and “Bridges,” along with the annual “West Coast Wonders” collection, and “California Guilds’ Award-winning Traditional Quilts.”
Shopping is also a big aspect of the show, with vendors from all over the world offering finished antique and contemporary quilts, fabrics, books, notions, sewing machines, antiques, crafts, and more for sale.
“Anything you need to start quilting, sewing, making pillows, skirts, or other home dec items, you can find it on the show floor,” Bresenhan says. “And we’ve seen an upsurge in recent years in younger women taking to the art form.”
According to the most recent Quilting in America survey, US quilters spend more than $3.6 billion annually on their passion. And according to USA Today, that’s more than golfers, fisherman, or hunters spend on their hobbies.
“While quilting is a storied and traditional art form, it has definitely changed,” Bresenhan says. “Quilts of long ago were made for utilitarian purposes or to keep warm, but most quilts made today are pieces of art meant to be hung on a wall and not laid on a bed. And no matter how many modern quilts I see, the creativity and the passion and the talent of their makers never ceases to amaze me.”
Hours of the festival are 10am to 7pm Friday and Saturday, and 10am to 3pm on Sunday. Daily tickets are $10 adults and $8 for students and seniors. Children 10 and under are free. Preview night (Thursday, July 28 from 5pm to 9pm) ticket good for one additional day for free. Tickets can be purchased online and printed at quilts.com.

During the 2nd Saturday Art Walk in downtown Long Beach on July 9, Clay on First pottery studio sponsored a raku-firing on Linden Avenue of ceramic works created by local artists. Clay Wood (right), owner of Clay on First, was assisted by Ben Rigney (left), who has been a ceramicist since 1980. As the two artists worked, a crowd gathered each time the kiln was opened up, revealing glowing hot pots, which were promptly removed with tongs and placed in reduction containers filled with pine needles and newspaper. When the process was complete, shiny metallic pots and works of art with special crackle effects were pulled from the cans.
The 2nd Saturday Art Walk is a monthly event that takes place in the East Village Arts District around Linden Avenue and Broadway. The event takes place on the second Saturday of each month from 4pm to 10pm and provides local artists and galleries an opportunity to showcase their work. The event features live music, a public art contest with a cash prize and gifts. For more information, visit ArtWalkLB.com.