WHO'S WHO IN SILVER LAKE
  Our Mission at the Silver Lake News is to connect the community much like a Community Newspaper. Our 'Who's Who in Silver Lake' column honors the many individuals who have made a difference through their unselfish service to the community. If you have a Special Person you'd like to honor by nominating them for our 'Who's Who in Silver Lake' column, be sure and give me a call! Michael J. Locke, Editor (323) 644-3338or Email me Meet David Wheatley: Music Man with a Passion for Social Justice  Music has always played a prominent part in the life of David Wheatley. From an early age, musical tradition and power of the pipe organ captured the attention of the young musician-to-be, as many of Bach’s most important works were written for the organ. Growing up in the Anglican Church with its ceremonial liturgy, the pipe organ played a prominent role in the worship music. His passion for music assured his eventual success. David attended the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music. He also studied under the late Canadian composer and author Gordon Delamont.After graduating from the University of North Texas, he attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Composition. At USC, he started the prestigious Scoring for Motion Pictures Program, of which he also served as Director. After living briefly in Redondo Beach and Encino, David realized he needed a home closer to USC, and found Silver Lake to be an independent-minded artist community closer to school. “I found Silver Lake to be the ideal place to put down roots”, David explains, “I first lived on Elevado Street near Sunset Blvd. I really liked the hills and the friendliness of the community, and I have been here ever since”. He currently lives with his wife in the Ivanhoe area. Their son attended Los Angeles Family School and Ivanhoe Elementary, and is now a freshman at USC. “I’m a big fan of local Silver Lake establishments”, David says. Some of my favorite spots are Hard Times Pizza, the Coffee Table, Astro Family Restaurant and Rafik Unocal. I often debate whether to go to Trader Joe’s or Gelson’s on both, and I try to park in the appropriate lot, whenever possible. I have the same issue with Burrito King and Pinkberry.” David’s passion for social justice has him involved in a myriad of interests. Presently, he is Chairperson of the Pasadena Tobacco Prevention Coalition. The group works to reduce access of tobacco products to minors. He has served on the board of Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, and has chaired the organization’s Congregational Outreach Committee. David has toured with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra throughout the United States, performed the Bach Mass in B Minor. He performed the Vivaldi “Gloria with conductor Josh Elson (First Christian Church of North Hollywood). He is presently composing “Star of Wonder”, with author and lyricist Deanne Davis, a new Christmas musical to be debuted in December 2009. David may be heard in a series of concerts continuing at the First Christian Church of North Hollywood on June 7, 2009. Meet Filmmakers Rob Williams & Rodney Johnson: Bringing the Silver Screen to Silver Lake  -by Michael Locke, Silver Lake CorrespondentLiving in L.A. can sometimes feel like living in a giant movie set: with filming an every day occurrence on our sidewalks and in our neighborhoods, there is a certain knowing that we will be able to relive the moment later at the cinema or on television. Silver Lake residents and filmmakers Rob Williams and Rodney Johnson not only live in Silver Lake, they have concentrated their movie making at recognizable locations in the neighborhood they like to frequent. “There is something about Silver Lake that speaks to me in ways unlike anywhere else”, explains Johnson. “I didn’t start writing until I moved here. The overall relaxed atmosphere, the diversity, the amazing architecture and arts communities inspire me to create and breathe art”. The pair co-founded Guest House Films in 2005, releasing three critically acclaimed films, Long Term Relationship, Back Soon and 3-Day Weekend. “Our films seek to portray real life situations; I feel that the community we live in helps to bring those relationships to life more accurately”, states Williams. “Unlike some of the more glossed-over areas of the city, Silver Lake has a charm that’s very real and bold.” Look for familiar places in their movies: the historic El Cid Flamenco Dinner Theater on Sunset Blvd., the Lyric Hyperion Theatre Café, Video Journeys video store on Hyperion to name a few, places the pair like to frequent and enjoy. They also prefer to cast local talent found within the area. The pair discovered Artie O’Daly at a local playhouse and cast him in their first two films. The two recently wrapped production on Make the Yuletide Gay, a family Christmas comedy, scheduled for release during the 2009 holiday season. For more information, please visit www.GuestHouseFilms.com Meet Scott Hamilton Kennedy & Catherine Borek: Creating Cinema that Honors the Human Spirit  Meeting Catherine Borek at a party in 1998 was a signature moment for Filmmaker Scott Hamilton Kennedy. “I was completely captivated”, he says. Borek, an English teacher at Compton’s Dominguez High School, and Kennedy share a love for theater and the moment changed the direction of the filmmaker’s career almost immediately. “Prior to meeting Catherine my focus was primarily on music videos, including several number one internationally-aired videos including Jimmy Cliff’s remake of “I Can See Clearly Now”. As a director, Scott also directed work for Showtime, CBS, AMC, Roger Corman and Mattel. “That all changed when I met Catherine”, the director confesses. Catherine had taken the formidable task of creating a drama department at Dominguez High, better known for its athletic teams than its academic achievement (the school ranks in the lowest possible test scores compared to other high schools), and hadn’t produced a school play in over 20 years. In 2002, in collaboration with Borek, Kennedy produced the critically acclaimed film “OT: Our Town” which was nominated for best documentary feature by the Independent Spirit Awards (2003). Kennedy’s latest venture, “The Garden”, tells the heartbreaking story of a 14-acre community garden in South Central Los Angeles that started as a “form of healing” after the 1992 riots related to the Rodney King verdict. Since then the South Central Farmers have created an urban oasis described as a “miracle” in one of the most blighted neighborhoods of the city. The film goes on to show how the hopes and aspirations of these urban farmers are quickly dashed by backroom dealing at (Los Angeles) City Hall, selling it off to a wealthy developer in a closed-door session. “The first time I stepped into the garden at 41st and Alameda, the city (of Los Angeles) seemed to vanish”, the filmmaker explained. “Surrounded by varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, the smell, the air was immediately different. And the people: warm, humble, and generous in spirit and with the bounty of their plots. But their was another characteristic to the farmers that is essential to their story: while most had never done anything political before, they found a way to get organized, ask questions, do research, and not give up without a fair assessment of what happened.” The film had its world premiere at the prestigious Silverdocs Film Festival in Washington, D.C., taking home the prize for Best Documentary. It also screened in Denver in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention in August 2008. Scott is currently in post- production for a documentary series entitled “Fame High”, about the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, following five freshmen and five seniors through a school year as they try to become successful actors, singers, dancers and musicians. In the meantime, please see the movie, “The Garden”! The film is a wake-up call that left me agitated, angry and better informed. The infringement on the well being and justice of the poorest and most vulnerable among us is very real in this film. For more information, please visit www.thegardenmovie.com. Scott Hamilton Kennedy and Catherine Borek live on Elevado Street in Silver Lake with their daughter, Tessa. Meet Stephanie Vendig, President of the Griffith Park Adult Community Club (GPAC Club)  Editor’s Note: I became acquainted with Stephanie Vendig during my tenure on the board of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council. Stephanie, along with her pal Bea Gold have been on the forefront of issues affecting Silver Lake’s senior communities, advocating and promoting the Silver Lake Seniors Club (since 2006, the Griffith Park Adult Community Club). As president of the club, I asked Stephanie to tell us her story, as a way of introducing our readers to this very special community servant, as well as “spreading the word” about the club. “As the president of Griffith Park Adult Community Club, supporting the Griffith Park Adult Community Center (GPACC) and its activities for the 50+ population, I wondered how I got to this place of advocacy. Upon reflection, I believe it is no accident that I found this niche. All of my life experiences pointed me in a direction that had a theme of serving community, My life started in Bakersfield in 1936, and I left at 18 years old to go away to college. However, both of my parents’ families were Los Angeles people beginning in 1923 around the Silver Lake and Hollywood areas. My grandparents were part of the mass immigration in the early 1900’s of East European Jews into New York and into Canada. My father became an optometrist, but starting a practice during the depression was difficult in LA. He answered an ad to open a practice in the back of a jewelry store in Bakersfield. Thus, my parents moved there in 1935. They became very community-minded, joining organizations that helped the community. Therefore, my “consciousness- raising” about serving community began with them and their experiences. My college education was varied, completing a BA from UC Berkeley in 1959. In addition to credentials to teach elementary school and the physically handicapped I got a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Cal State, Northridge. Married life started in 1959, and lasted 42 years. My husband, Fred, died in 2001 after an 8-year struggle with bone marrow failure. In 1966, we bought a house in Silver Lake, where we raised our two children—David and Joshua. I still live in the same house. David continues to live in Silver Lake raising his three children, and Joshua and his family of two young children live in Bishop. I started teaching in San Francisco in 1961, and when I moved to Los Angeles I began teaching the physically handicapped in 1968. My teaching experience has always been with children who were “disadvantaged” or had special needs in a variety of ways, so I learned from those children about barriers and the capacity to overcome when the environment supported their efforts. I became involved with LAUSD Special Education as a consultant under the directorship of Bea Gold (previously honored in “Who’s Who in Silver Lake” and currently serving on the board of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council). Together, we developed programs serving young children with special needs and training special education teachers. From this experience I learned to help adults learn new skills and to create programs from inception through implementation. In 1980, I left the school district for the nonprofit world and the world of adolescents. I joined the staff of the Youth and Family Center, a social service agency that provided services for pregnant and parenting teens. The focus was on case management, and I was hired to create an infant and toddler program for the children of teen-age parents and to provide parent education. I became part of the management team, and in 1996, I retired from the agency as Interim Executive Director. From this experience, I picked up skills of collaboration with a variety of public institutions and organizations in order to make sure that these adolescents could overcome obstacles, as they attempt to complete their education and become good parents. I retired at age 60 to tend to the needs of my husband as he battled his illness. In 2000, I heard there was going to be a meeting at the Silver Lake Recreation Center to discuss with the Facility Director activities for seniors. Thirty-one of us showed up at the urging of Lia LoMedico who gathered signatures from her neighbors. We were told that we had to organize as a club in order to use the facility. I was hooked. My involvement at first followed the needs of my husband. I began a club newsletter that I still do today. My involvement grew as I began to define my life as a single person, after my husband’s death. Three years ago, I began writing a column addressing senior issues for the Los Feliz Ledger, starting a new career in my older years. Today, I feel very privileged to be president of the club and part of an organization that truly represents grass roots community efforts. The club, now with over 670 members, is doing good things on behalf of older adults in our society. I may be the current leader now, but this club’s success is a result of many wonderful people working together for a common goal. I am pleased I have contributed to its success.” The Griffith Park Adult Community Center is located at 3203 Riverside Drive in Los Feliz (next door to Friendship Auditorium). Center Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM. The center has a variety of activities including line dancing, creative writing, yoga, guitar, art, table games, and more. A library, a computer lab, and conference room are also available. Delicious, low cost lunches are provided everyday. The club meets monthly on the 3rd Wednesday of the month for lunch and a program including a gourmet potluck in June and December. With a membership ($10/year) you can take advantage of monthly day trips and receive a monthly newsletter. To learn more, please contact the center (323) 644-5579 or email Stephanie Vendig at vendig@sbcglobal.net Meet Aaron Neubert, AIA: Exploring Architecture, Landscape & the Environment  Aaron Neubert is a brilliant young architect living in Silver Lake. Recognized with Merit Awards from the American Institute of Architects (Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley chapters), Aaron’s work explores the complex relationship between architecture, landscape and urban systems, stemming from the diverse experiences of his youth in the beaches and swamps of south Florida, and later, from the urban environments of New York City and Los Angeles. Born in West Palm Beach, FL, Aaron received a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation in 1997. He holds a Bachelor of Design Degree, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Florida where he studied art and architecture. In 1994, he traveled abroad and pursued studies at the Vicenza Institute of Architecture, Vicenza, Italy. Prior to establishing his architectural practice in Los Angeles in 2000, Aaron served as lead designer and project architect for various New York City offices. He was extensively involved in the renovation and addition to the Asia Society Museum on Park Avenue, the Edison Schools’ Ed-Labs Project and numerous recognized residential projects in New York, Connecticut, Arizona and Virginia. Besides the AIA recognitions, Aaron is the recipient of the Van Alen Prize in Public Architecture. His independent and collaborative designs have been featured in numerous publications including Architecture, the Los Angeles Times, Dwell, Art in America, Architectural Design, Desert Living, Concept, Arhitext, the Art Newspaper, and the monographs Digital Architecture and All-American. He has served as a design instructor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, the Southern California Institute of Architecture, Otis School of Design, Woodbury University, and Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design. Aaron lives in the N-HN House in Silver Lake, a home he designed for his family including his wife, Stacy, an attorney and their two children, Quinn and Penn. He is principal of aNX Architecture Meet: Tom LaBonge, Los Angeles’ Goodwill Ambassador  Editor’s Note: I had the pleasure of meeting Tom LaBonge for the first time at a reception given at the home of J. Russell Brown in the Hollywood Hills in August 2003. The popular Los Angeles councilmember was speaking at Brown’s beautiful Andalusian home, a restored landmark designed by the eminent architect, Paul R. Williams. As LaBonge addressed a large audience of about 300 Hollywood personalities in the home’s elegant courtyard, I was impressed by the number he seemed to know on a first name basis, acknowledging the contributions that each made to the community. It was the influence of that evening, and the relationship that I developed with Russ Brown that sparked my personal involvement in community activism, running for (and being elected to) the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council in September 2003, founding the Silver Lake Beautification Committee in 2003, and serving as SLNC Vice Chair in 2004. Ultimately, that led to the establishment of my community website, “The Silver Lake News” and serving as Silver Lake Correspondent for the Los Feliz Ledger. That’s a personal testimony how a single event or meeting one person can ultimately change your life for the better. (I have borrowed liberally from the Councilmember’s website and other materials as well as my own personal impressions of the man to write this article). The story of Tom LaBonge’s life might start off being entitled, “Local Boy Makes Good!” as Tom began life right here in the neighborhood, born at the old Queen of Angels Hospital overlooking the Hollywood Freeway (now the Dreamcenter) on October 6, 1953. He was seventh in a lineup of eight boys born to Mary Louise Learnihan LaBonge and Robert LaBonge. Tom attended local public schools beginning with Ivanhoe Elementary, and then moving on to Thomas Starr King Middle School and graduating from John Marshall High School in 1971, where he was a standout football player and captain of the team. He would later play for Los Angeles City College and Cal Poly Pomona. His enthusiasm for his hometown was sparked as a teenager when he had the opportunity to serve on Mayor Tom Bradley’s Youth Council. He would later reflect that he “remembered how good it felt, helping someone out. I just new from the very beginning that this was going to be my life’s work-serving the people of Los Angeles any way I could.” After graduating from Cal State LA, he joined the staff of Councilwoman Peggy Stevenson, in 1976, and in 1978 joined Council President John Ferraro’s staff. With Ferraro as mentor, LaBonge learned the complexities of civil service, serving as Chief Field Deputy for 15 years, before being asked to join Mayor Richard Riordan as Special Assistant. After serving the mayor’s office for seven years, he was named Director of Community Relations for the L.A. Department of Water and Power. His record of service within the city council, the mayor’s office and the DWP were exemplary, as evidenced by the many projects he spearheaded and his commitment to “getting the job done.” Tom was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in October 2001, completing the term of John Ferraro, who passed away on April 17, 2001. He was reelected by an overwhelming majority in 2003, and ran unopposed in 2007. He is, without a doubt, one of the most popular political figures in Los Angeles. He has a special, ennobling gift of seeing every person as important. It is not unusual to see LaBonge assisting a street maintenance crew with shovel in hand, clearing a mudslide, or stopping by a Senior Citizen’s meeting to listen and act on a stakeholder’s concern. Even with a non-stop schedule, he seems to find the time to drop by a block party or a neighborhood get-together. Many of us feel lucky to know him personally. His love for the big park in our backyard (Griffith Park) is another reason people are drawn to the man. His stewardship and enthusiasm is evidenced by the frequent community hikes and potlucks he leads into the park, and his response to the devastating fire of May 2007, in which over 800 acres of the historic park were burned. He is also very much involved in the Los Angeles River Master Plan and envisions the river as one of our greatest undeveloped recreational resources in a city starved for parkland. “My love for Los Angeles knows no limits and I strive each day to be the most responsible and responsive representative at City Hall helping to develop and execute initiatives that will maintain, enhance and beautify our unique communities- both for the 4th District as well as the city at large’, he said. (As quoted from his website). Tom is married to Brigid Manning LaBonge. They live with their two children, Mary-Catherine and Charles in Silver Lake, only a few blocks away from his childhood home. Meet Your Neighbors: The Hisserich Family, Devoted Public Servants -by Michael Locke, Silver Lake Correspondent  Meet the Hisserich Family, familiar faces in the Silver Lake/Los Feliz area whose members have spent a lifetime largely devoted to involvement in the life of our community. John Hisserich serves as a consultant to our representative in the California State Assembly, Paul Krekorian on Silver Lake and Los Feliz issues; the Hisserich’s daughter, Helmi is the current Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles for Housing & Economic Development Policy (her partner Tori Patterson is a LAUSD librarian), while their son, Charles is a firefighter for the City of San Gabriel. Daughters Elizabeth and Alexandra play important roles too, Elizabeth is an attorney working at the University of Southern California and Alexandra is an assistant production coordinator at Warner Brothers. Mom, Susan Hisserich works as a sales assistant for a firm representing newspapers and is the “head cheerleader” for the clan. The children are all enrolled in area schools; Charles’ daughter Heather is a student at Glendale College, while Helmi and Tori’s daughter, Madeline, is a student at Ivanhoe. Most of Los Feliz and Silver Lake are represented in the California State Assembly by Paul Krekorian, a Democrat who was elected in 2006. The 43rd Assembly District includes the cities of Glendale and Burbank, as well as most or all of the communities of Silver Lake, Los Feliz, North Hollywood and Valley Glen. Shortly after taking office, Krekorian asked Hisserich, who had met while both ran in the Democratic primary for the 43rd District in 2000 to join his staff. During the campaign, they had developed a mutual respect and friendship, and Hisserich was pleased to have the opportunity to work with him representing the neighborhoods that the Hisserichs call “home”. John Hisserich has lived in the Silver Lake-Los Feliz area for over 30 years with his wife, Susan. In 2005, he retired from the University of Southern California where he served in several capacities, as Associate Vice President for Health Affairs, Deputy Director of the Norris Cancer Center, and professor of Public Health in the School of Pharmacy. (Ironically, Paul Krekorian’s wife Tamar was a student in his class). “I enjoy interacting with people in the neighborhood, especially those who are involved in the neighborhood councils and residents’ organizations”, Hisserich said, “Assemblymember Krekorian stresses the importance of constituent service. I want to make sure that he is aware of how the community feels about the issues that are of concern to them.” Pictured are the Hisserich Family at home in Silver Lake: Seated (L-R) Madeline, Susan, John and Alexandra; Standing (L-R) Helmi, Tori, Charles, Elizabeth and Heather. John Hisserich may be reached at the 43rd Assembly District Office, 620 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, and (818) 240-6330 or by email: John.Hisserich@asm.ca.gov.  Meet Ruth Beaglehole:Changing the World One Child at a Time. Founder of the Center for Nonviolent Education and ParentingRuth Beaglehole is living proof that the challenges a person faces in life can often prove to be a great asset. Growing up in a dysfunctional academic family in New Zealand, her struggle for self-understanding encouraged a life-long journey of discovery of the parent/child relationship. Adding up all those life-defining moments of disappointment and hurt, a sense of destiny drove her to develop a “better, non-violent way” of parenting. This abiding interest earned her a B.A. in Education from Victoria University in New Zealand and a Diploma in Preschool Teaching. Her courage and dedication fueled by her desire for self-discovery led her to establish the Center for Non-Violent Education and Parenting, creating a new paradigm for parent/child relationships, based on “nurturing children as full human beings with respect, healing and connection.” Leaving New Zealand in 1970, Ruth settled in Echo Park and was immediately drawn to the plight of the many working mothers of the community. How do the poor manage to provide the necessary love and support for their children when they are away working all day? This question had no answer in a day when day care facilities simply did not exist. The answer came in the form of a new daycare center, The Echo Park/Silver Lake Childcare Center, known affectionately as the “Playgroup”, a revolutionary idea in its time. From its humble beginnings in a garage, the group eventually received funding from the city and permission to offer childcare in residential neighborhoods. With the Echo Park/Silver Lake Childcare Center firmly established, Ruth saw the need to broaden her skills as a parent educator, and went back to school, earning her M.A. in Marriage, Family and Child Seeking at Phillips Institute in Los Angeles while parent teaching in the L.A. Unified School District. Her newfound knowledge helped crystallize her convictions, and gave birth to the Teen Parenting & Childcare Program at the Los Angeles Technology Center, the child care program that birthed the term, “non-violent parenting”. According to Ruth, “It was a simple genesis; while watching the teens scream and spank their children, I realized that their own childhoods had brought these teens to a covertly violent style of parenting. I made a commitment to create a bottom line within the walls of that child care center. We would love, support and model nurturing to these children”, she recalls. Taken by the program’s success, she was encouraged to launch a pilot program, The Center for Non-Violent Education and Parenting (CNVEP), to extend the influence of her philosophy and practices. The Center’s mission is to “teach effective nonviolent child raising techniques based on empathy and compassion in order to deepen adult-child relationships and move toward a culture of peace and understanding.” The Center serves the greater Los Angeles community with classes, trainings, workshops, presentations, festivals and conferences; both in Echo Park and in schools, home visits and agencies in both English and Spanish. In a day challenged with the complexities of life overlaid by rampant gang violence, single family parenting, and broken relationships, the Center for Non-violent Education and Parenting brings a ray of hope to a broken world. Let’s join Ruth in her crusade! To learn more about CNVEP, visit the center’s website www.cnvep.org call 213-484-6676 or by e-mail info@cnvep.org  Meet Jane Drew- Orphanage BuilderI have always appreciated people who dream big. At her 50th birthday party, Jane Drew, a diminutive English woman living in Silver Lake, shared with her friends her vision of bringing hope to an orphanage in Mali, a land-locked impoverished nation located in West Africa. Jane asked her birthday guests not to bring presents for her, but to support her in raising funds for a school and orphanage with which she had become familiar. “I only have to listen to the music and I am taken there”, explained Jane, “one day I just picked up the phone and called the Malian Embassy in Washington, and asked for help in locating an orphanage in Mali. The embassy spokesperson gave me her brother’s e-mail address in Mali who put me in contact with Bib Sangbo, of the Association Pour la Sauvegarde de L’Enfance (ASE Mali). The orphanage supports 160 orphans in a house with 6 rooms and 4 smaller storerooms. One room has a nursery carrying for 21 babies, three weeks old to two years, including two sets of twins, one set of triplets with 2-4 babies to a crib and one little guy who was found in a trash bin a week earlier.” Her dream took a big step to reality when, in August 2005, she took her first trip to Mali with $6,500 she raised at the birthday party. The money was used to buy critical supplies including baby formula, cooking oil, rice and beans, medical supplies, and some clothes and toys. The trip also raised awareness in Mali. On the second day of her arrival, the Mayor of Bamako (the capital city of Mali) came to meet her along with the press and local television. Local village chiefs agreed to donate two acres of land in the village of Kamale to build a new, larger orphanage. Popular Malian Musician, Habib Koite came to visit her. Malian-born Architect, Habib Sissiko (now living in Los Angeles) has agreed to lend his expertise in designing the orphanage/school. An article was published in Le Monde in October 2005, followed by a Silent Auction Fundraiser in October 2006 (at Ghettogloss Gallery in Silver Lake), raising additional funds. The Silver Lake event was attended by a supportive crowd, including Rock Singer/Songwriter Jackson Browne (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) and Habib Koite. A benefit concert is in the works; Jane hopes to stage it at the Greek Theatre with Browne, Koite and other well-known Malian musicians, including Salif Keita, Amadou and Miriam, Tom Diakite and Oumou Sangare, all of whom have agreed to participate. Pictured are Jackson Browne, Jane, and Habib Koite at the Ghettogloss Gallery Silent Auction to benefit the Mali Fala Fund. For more information, please visit www.malifalafund.org.  Cheri Gaulke, Artist for the Public(Editor’s Notes: I first learned of Cheri Gaulke from Dr. Cheryl Revkin, prominent local Chiropractor and President of the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce. I invited Cheryl to be interviewed for “Who’s Who in Silver Lake” and while honored, asked that I first get to know Cheri Gaulke, the artist who was selected in a recent public art competition sponsored by the Neighborhood Pride Initiative of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council. I have since learned of her many amazing and important contributions to the community through her art. I know you will be excited about meeting her as well). Cheri Gaulke has made a significant impact on our world through her art which by design raises “consciousness, invites dialogue, and transforms culture”. She recently won a local competition sponsored by the Silver Lake Neighborhood Pride Initiative to develop a series of permanent medallions to be hung at major entrances to Silver Lake that “celebrate Silver Lake’s Traditions of Diversity, Innovation & Harmony;” a cause that reflects and defines the artist herself. Gaulke’s art and life were profoundly changed in 1975, when she moved from the Midwest to Los Angeles to be involved with the Feminist Studio Workshop at the Woman’s Building. She worked primarily in performance art from 1974-1992, addressing themes such as religion, sexual identity, and the environment. She also co-founded collaborative performance groups Feminist Art Workers (1976-81), which merged feminist art and education techniques into interactive performances; and Sisters of Survival (1981-85) which wore nun’s habits in the spectrum of the rainbow and presented their anti-nuclear performances in Europe and the U.S. Gaulke’s earlier feminist art strategies that she innovated in the ‘70s have continued in her work today. She sees her work as a vehicle for social commentary and as a way of telling stories of the under-represented in society, embracing a variety of media including video presentations, installation, artist’s books and public art. She has completed three public art projects including a Metro Rail Station in Los Angeles that tells stories about the Los Angeles River, an outdoor sculptural piece for a library in Lake View Terrace, and three stainless steel and glass glowing “pillars of community” for the City of Lakewood. Her current projects include the Street Medallions for Silver Lake, a Filipino World War II Veterans Memorial (at Lake Street Park in Historic Filipinotown) and designs for three bridges over the Los Angeles River. She was honored with a prestigious mid-career fellowship from the Cultural Affairs Department (COLA grant) in 2004-05. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1954, Cheri lives in Silver Lake with her life partner, Sue Maberry, and their twin daughters, Marka and Xochi, in their duplex home/studio on Lake View Avenue. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Minneapolis College of Art & Design and a Master of Arts Degree in Feminist Art & Education from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. She teaches Video Art at Harvard-Westlake School, a private high school in Los Angeles where her students have created award-winning work. Recent Who's Who articles: Fr. Michael Senyo Julius Shulman Dwain Wilson Buzz Hayes Mark Carlson Vince Brook Vaughn Davies Michael Kearns Dr. Kenneth Williams Dion Neutra Dominick Domingo Dana Hollister David Hyun Marc Abrams Mario Nugara Thomas Barquee Gedde Watanabe Bea Gold |
