San Pedro, CA – Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC), in partnership with Mer Young and local youth, is
pleased to announce the public unveiling of a new mural, Native Blooms on Saturday, May 3rd, from 12-1
pm at Angels Gate Cultural Center. The completion of this large-scale artwork marks the conclusion of the
Spring 2025 AGCC Teen Mural Club (TMC), a ten-week professional development workshop for San Pedro
students ages 13-20 years old.

Native Blooms is the culmination of the Center’s third Teen Mural Club cohort, which included ten weeks
of professional training, planning, and painting by San Pedro based students under the mentorship of
Indigenous multidisciplinary artist, Mer Young (Chichimeca & Apache). The participants represented
students from San Pedro High School’s Olguin and Flagship Campuses, Port of Los Angeles High School,
Harbor College, and homeschooling.

The final piece is an impactful vision of California Native plants thriving at Angels Gate Cultural Center, in
San Pedro, and across our greater ecosystem. Under the mentorship of Mer Young, TMC students carefully
observed and researched the native plants in their environment and selected one to adapt into the mural.
The result, Native Blooms, is a colorful collage focusing on native species our young artists selected to
bloom on our campus in perpetuity.

Angels Gate Cultural Center invites the public to celebrate the power of education, community, and our
native ecosystem as they present the completed mural, for the first time, to the public. Please join AGCC
for the unveiling of Native Blooms created by the Teen Mural Club, under the guidance of Artist Mer
Young, on Saturday, May 3rd, 12-1 pm. The unveiling will take place on the Lawn, in between Buildings A
and B, at Angels Gate Cultural Center, located at 3601 S. Gaffey St. San Pedro, CA 90731.

Native Blooms will remain on display for the public during park hours daily, in perpetuity, at Angels Gate
Cultural Center on Building B, overlooking the Lawn.

This event and the Teen Mural Club are made possible by the generous support of the NLT Foundation and
is hosted by Angels Gate Cultural Center.

About Angels Gate Cultural Center
Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) emerged from a group of San Pedro artists in the 1970s that created art
studios and exhibition space within the WWII era army barracks of Angels Gate Park near the Port of Los
Angeles. Today, AGCC hosts over 50 artist studios in addition to a variety of programs to engage the diverse
communities of the Los Angeles Harbor region, including arts education in local schools, community classes,
cultural events, and exhibitions of contemporary art. More information about AGCC is available at
angelsgateart.org.

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Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St. San Pedro, CA 90731
310.519.0936 | www.angelsgateart.org

Put on your wings and swing on a star with us as we lift spirits and raise funds for AGCC on Saturday, May 24th from 6pm to 9pm. Awake is a party by artists, for artists and their friends—our theme for 2025 is Awake in the Clouds.

Proceeds from ticket sales go to support AGCC and our mission to provide space for artists to work and to engage the community through arts education, exhibitions of contemporary art, and cultural events.

Partygoers will experience a whimsical evening featuring:

• High-flying live performances
• Art installations
• Silent art auction
• Cloud 3601 contemporary art exhibition
• Themed drinks and light bites
• Sky-themed costume contest with prizes

The arts are vital to building and sustaining healthy communities. Your financial support is essential to help us maintain our current programming. Beyond creative expression, the arts enrich everyone’s lives through connection. Your support will help provide 20,000 community members with arts programming. 

Reserve Your Spot Among the Stars – Purchase Tickets Now

Above: Aerial Butterflies performance at Awake in Color, 2023. Photos by Jose Cordon.

San Pedro, CA – Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) is pleased to announce the return of Open Studios Day on Saturday, April 26^th from noon to 4pm, in partnership with Arts Open San Pedro, a two-day city-wide open studios event. Fifty-one local artists will open their doors to the public for a peek into their art practice. The free event includes Community Class demonstrations, the opening reception ofCloud 3601 in our second-floor gallery, Direct from the Classroom: Spring Selections in the first-floor gallery space, an all-ages art workshop, and Hugos Jr Burger food truck. As a partner in the Arts United San Pedro coalition, AGCC will also be participating in the second day of Arts Open San Pedro, April 27^th, with artist studios and galleries open for self-guided tours. 

Open Studios Day is a free, all-ages event that provides the public a glimpse into the process, art, and lives of local artists who create at Angels Gate Cultural Center. AGCC hosts one of the largest studio artist programs in the region with a diverse range of artistic disciplines including ceramics, photography, printmaking, writing, sculpture, videography, performance, mixed media, music, and painting. This self-guided tour of artist studios provides a unique opportunity to interact with the artists and purchase contemporary works of art. More information about the artists who create at AGCC can be found at angelsgateart.org.

Live Community Class demonstrations will take place throughout the day. Stop by G classroom for a Glass bead making demonstration with Steve Bay, 1-3pm. A Raku Ceramics demonstration with AGCC Studio Artists Delora Bertsch and Perry Okimoto will be held in the kiln yard at 3:30pm.

Join us in G classroom for an All-Ages Art activity all day. Design a cartoon cat symbolizing you to be included as part of our Teen Mural Club mural-inspired tessellation.

In the galleries, explore Cloud 3601 featuring works by the diverse range of Studio Artists who create at Angels Gate Cultural Center. Direct from the Classroom: Spring Selections showcases artworks created by K-5th grade students in the Artists-in-Classrooms program, highlighting their creative expressions in dance and visual arts.

AGCC Studio Artists include Adam Gaxiola, Andrea Lien, Ann Weber, Anna Erneholm, Ashton S. Phillips, Beth Elliott, Candice Gawne, Catherine Burce,Da Aie Park, Daniel Porras, Deborah Wright, Delora Bertsch, Dennis Keeley, Elizabeth Casuga, Elyse Pignolet, Emma Rault, Frank Rodriguez, Gil Mares, Henry Krusoe, Jesse Small, Joe Barile, Jon Nakamura, June Edmonds, Karla Diaz, Kim Kei, Leah Shane Dixon, Lisa Diane Wedgeworth, Lowell Nickel, Lucinda Rudolph, Lynn Doran, Marco Schindelmann, Melodie Reay, Mike Watt, Nancy Voegeli-Curran, Perry Okimoto, Phoebe Barnum, Regina Herod, Rene LaRue, Robert Alexander, Scott Anger, Soft Chick, Syracuse residency students (Carla Erausquin Bayona, Sophia Hashemi and Teddy Berg), Taylor Crisp, Tianlu Chen, Vanessa Madrid, W.S. Milner, Yoon Jin Kim, Yozmit the DogStar, and Yuichiro Roy Kunisaki.

Enjoy two days of open studios, live music, and performances throughout San Pedro’s vibrant Arts & Cultural District atArts Open San Pedro. Hop on a complimentary trolley and explore galleries, meet over 100 artists, and discover the hidden creative gems of L.A.’s most exciting arts destination. Experience the creativity that fuels San Pedro. 

About Angels Gate Cultural Center

Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) emerged from a group of San Pedro artists in the 1970s that created art studios and exhibition space within the WWII era army barracks of Angels Gate Park near the Port of Los Angeles. Today, AGCC hosts over 50 artist studios in addition to a variety of programs to engage the diverse communities of the Los Angeles Harbor region, including arts education in local schools, community classes, cultural events, and exhibitions of contemporary art. More information about AGCC is available at angelsgateart.org.

Angels Gate Cultural Center is supported in part by The Ahmanson Foundation, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles, the Perenchio Foundation, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, Norris Foundation, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and Best Start Wilmington. Additionally, AGCC’s arts education programming is supported by the Crail-Johnson Foundation, Max H. Gluck Foundation, NLT Foundation, and Reed Foundation.

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Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St. San Pedro, CA 90731
310.519.0936 | www.angelsgateart.org

Additional images for use: PRESS KIT

Open Studios Day is a free, all-ages event that provides the public a glimpse into the process, art, and lives of local artists who create at the Center. AGCC hosts one of the largest studio artist programs in the region with a diverse range of artistic disciplines including ceramics, photography, printmaking, writing, sculpture, videography, music, and painting. This self-guided tour of artist studios provides a unique opportunity to interact with the artists and purchase contemporary works of art. More information about the artists who create at AGCC can be found at angelsgateart.org.

Learn about AGCC’s Community Classes and watch a live Raku ceramics demonstration at 3:30pm with Studio Artists Perry Okimoto and Delora Bertsch.

METHOD will be on view in the AGCC galleries with artist activations throughout the day. METHOD is a group exhibition guest juried by SUPERCOLLIDER SciArt Ambassador and interdisciplinary artist, Kira Xonorika. METHOD explores art in which experimentation, technology, or other scientific fields, are central to the work and artist’s practice. These explorations connect seemingly divergent ecosystems, expanding their meaning. METHOD will be on view in the gallery through December 6th.

Artist-Teacher Julie Greenberg will be teaching a drop-in All-Ages Chromatography Workshop in Building G. Participants will experiment with the properties of markers when they connect with water. All attendants will leave with a sun-catcher inspired by our current exhibition, METHOD.

AGCC Studio Artists include Adam Gaxiola, Andrea Lien, Ann Weber, Anna Erneholm, Ashton S. Phillips, Beth Elliott, Candice Gawne, Catherine Burce, Da Aie Park, Daniel Porras, Deborah Wright, Delora Bertsch, Dennis Keeley, Elizabeth Casuga, Elyse Pignolet, Emma Rault, Frank Rodriguez, Gil Mares, Henry Krusoe, Jesse Small, Joe Barile, Jon Nakamura, June Edmonds, Karla Diaz, Kim Kei, Leah Shane Dixon, Lisa Diane Wedgeworth, Lowell Nickel, Lucinda Rudolph, Lynn Doran, Marco Schindelmann, Melodie Reay, Mike Watt, Nancy Voegeli-Curran, Perry Okimoto, Phoebe Barnum, Regina Herod, Rene LaRue, Robert Alexander, Scott Anger, Soft Chick, Syracuse residency students (Jason Goodfriend, Sanjana Sharma, Yala Zhou), Taylor Crisp, Tianlu Chen, Vanessa Madrid, W.S. Milner, Yoon Jin Kim, *Yozmit The DogStar*, and Yuichiro Roy Kunisaki.

About Angels Gate Cultural Center

Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) emerged from a group of San Pedro artists in the 1970s that created art studios and exhibition space within the WWII era army barracks of Angels Gate Park near the Port of Los Angeles. Today, AGCC hosts over 50 artist studios in addition to a variety of programs to engage the diverse communities of the Los Angeles Harbor region, including arts education in local schools, community classes, cultural events, and exhibitions of contemporary art. More information about AGCC is available at angelsgateart.org.

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Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St. San Pedro, CA 90731
310.519.0936 | www.angelsgateart.org

Click here for full the press kit.

This altar will remain on display through November 16th for viewing and reflection.

How to Participate:

• Come to the front office in building A, Thursday – Saturday, between 10am and 5pm through October 26th.
• Bring a small item of personal significance. For photographs, it is recommended you bring a copy – not an original. A frame is optional.
• Write your contact information on the back or bottom of the item (name, telephone, email), and sign our contact sheet.
• We will incorporate your item into the community altar.

Beginning November 16th, you can retrieve your personal items through November 30th, between the hours of 10am and 5pm, Thursday – Saturday.

Questions? Contact gallery@angelsgateart.org

En español:

El Centro Cultural Angels Gate está creando un Altar Comunitario del Día de los Muertos con la ayuda de muchas manos para conmemorar a los amigos fallecidos de nuestra comunidad. Este año, nuestros pasantes han tomado el liderazgo, con Sam Arnold como preparador principal y Eri Lizbeth como diseñadora principal del altar.

Este altar permanecerá expuesto hasta el 16 de noviembre para su observación y reflexión.

Cómo participar:

• Venga a la oficina del edificio A, de jueves a sábado, entre las 10 a.m. y las 5 p.m., hasta el 26 de octubre.
• Traiga un pequeño objeto con significado personal. Para fotografías, se recomienda traer una copia, no el original. El cuadro es opcional.
• Escriba sus datos de contacto en la parte de atrás o de abajo del artículo (nombre, teléfono, correo electrónico) y firme nuestra hoja de contacto.
• A partir del 16 de noviembre, podrá recoger sus objetos personales hasta el 30 de noviembre, entre las 10 a.m. y las 5 p.m., de jueves a sábado.

¿Preguntas? Póngase en contacto con gallery@angelsgateart.org

AGCC’s gallery programs are made possible with support from the California Natural Resources Agency for the Museum Grant Program under the California Cultural and Historical Endowment, and Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Additional support for the AGCC exhibitions program is provided by the Perenchio Foundation, LA Parks, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, The Ahmanson Foundation, Norris Foundation, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and Best Start Wilmington.

San Pedro, CA – Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) located at 3601 S. Gaffey Street, is pleased to announce the return of Open Studios Day on Saturday, April 27^th from noon to 4pm. Over 45 local artists will open their doors to the public for a peek into their art practice. The free event includes Community Class demonstrations, the opening reception of soundplay < = > southbayand Direct from the Classroom: Spring Selections in the galleries, an All-Ages Musical Instrument Making Station, and Mikhuna Peruvian food truck. 

Open Studios Day is a free, all-ages event that provides the public a glimpse into the process, art, and lives of local artists who create at the Center. AGCC hosts one of the largest studio artist programs in the region with a diverse range of artistic disciplines including ceramics, photography, printmaking, writing, sculpture, videography, music, and painting. This self-guided tour of artist studios provides a unique opportunity to interact with the artists and purchase contemporary works of art. More information about the artists who create at AGCC can be found at angelsgateart.org.

Live Community Class demonstrations will take place throughout the day and include: Painting, Screenwriting, Printmaking, Music Exploration, Raku and Ceramics.

soundplay < = > southbay provides both glimpse and glitch into 20 years of sound art within the context of Long Beach SoundWalk and soundpedro, produced by the artist group FLOOD. Through installations, videos, and performance, the exhibition will trace early SoundWalk events (which started in 2004) and bridge time, up to the current soundpedro2024. The exhibition runs through June 1^st, 2024, with additional programming information available on the AGCC website.

FLOOD produced the SoundWalk annually for ten years, within a shifting footprint of urban streets, sidewalks, unexpected indoor spaces, and alleys of downtown Long Beach. This evolved into soundpedro, the more recent iteration of the sound art festival. From the one-night SoundWalk, soundpedro has expanded into a season of sonic experiments and ear orientation, both in-person and online. The signature on-site event takes place annually at Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro, where participants respond to and react within the wild, varied landscape and complex history of the site. 

Direct from the Classroom: Spring Selections the floor 1 gallery will showcase student art by local K – 6th graders in AGCC’s Artists-in-Classrooms (AIC) program. Paintings, poetry, sculpture and dance works represent 1,512 students taught by Artist Teachers in 54 classrooms throughout San Pedro and LA County during the Spring academic term.

The All-Ages Musical Instrument Making Station invites participants to join AGCC’s Artist-Teachers Julie Borkin and Dalia Palacios in making their own musical instruments. Inspired by the soundplay < = > southbay exhibition, guests will make and decorate their own drums and tambourines in this walkthrough workshop.

AGCC Studio Artists include Adam Gaxiola, Andrea Lien, Ann Weber, Anna Erneholm, Ashton S. Phillips, Beth Elliott, Candice Gawne,Da Aie Park, Daniel Porras, Deborah Wright, Delora Bertsch, Dennis Keeley, Elizabeth Casuga, Elyse Pignolet, Frank Minuto, Frank Rodriguez, Gil Mares, Henry Krusoe, Jesse Small, Joe Barile, Jon Nakamura, June Edmonds, Karla Diaz, Kim Kei, Leah Shane Dixon, Lowell Nickel, Lucinda Rudolph, Lynn Doran, Marco Schindelmann, Melodie Reay, Melody Chen, Mike Watt, Nancy Voegeli-Curran, Perry Okimoto, Phoebe Barnum, Regina Herod, Rene LaRue, Robert Alexander, Scott Anger, Susan Rawcliffe, Syracuse residency students (Gary Michael Tuzinkiewicz, Jalal Ghias Beygi, Pegah Bahador), Tianlu Chen, Vanessa Madrid, W.S. Milner, Yoon Jin Kim, and Yuichiro Roy Kunisaki.

About Angels Gate Cultural Center

Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) emerged from a group of San Pedro artists in the 1970s that created art studios and exhibition space within the WWII era army barracks of Angels Gate Park near the Port of Los Angeles. Today, AGCC hosts over 50 artist studios in addition to a variety of programs to engage the diverse communities of the Los Angeles Harbor region, including arts education in local schools, community classes, cultural events, and exhibitions of contemporary art. More information about AGCC is available at angelsgateart.org.

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PR KIT with images for download: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/mn58fttao74svjsm7ia09/h?rlkey=2qfrsnud32orn02xrtrf0mh0c&dl=0

Media Contacts

Sarah Al-Mulla, 310-519-0936

sarah@angelsgateart.org

Cecelia Koger, 310-519-0936

cecelia@angelsgateart.org

See Frank’s work here.

See Candace Gawne’s work here.

See Shane’s Work Here

See June’s art here