Gennia Cui
Gennia Cui
City: Lancaster City
Position Seeking: Mayor
Question 1: Please share the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up.
I grew up in Chicago, a city with world class museums and attractions that I was exposed to often and from the time I starred in my kindergarten play through the time I was 16 and sold buttons for the S.D.S in front of the Chicago Art Museum to pay for the bus ride to Washington DC to protest the war, I assumed everyone was an artist and an activist.
Question 2: What do you think should be the role of City Council in the development and support of the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?
Having produced a local cable access TV show 25 years ago in another community, I have long pushed to open up our city’s own cable channel for a lineup of other artists to do the same. As a city human relations commissioner I tried to promote “the Heuristic Council, a theatrically based way to understand another person’s position by placing yourself in it after allowing yourself to hear and understand it. As usual, entrenched interests rarely value vision or actual mechanisms of change.
Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in achieving that vision?
Add to question 2 a sports league consisting of martial arts skill and no personal injury resulting in positive effects that prepare for a multitude of other pursuits, including dance.
Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 7 jobs in LA County is supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. What strategies, if any, would you pursue to enhance the region’s creative economy (i.e. cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit organizations)?
I am an artist. What I do now is write (4 unpublished books, 1 real good one) and publicly demonstrate how one should engage in positive civic involvement.
Owen Newcomer
Owen Newcomer
City: Whittier City
Position Seeking: Mayor
Question 1: Please share the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up.
Theater Appreciation was the title of the class at Los Angeles Valley College. It sounded boring, but easier than my other options when I was a student. I enrolled and discovered live theater. I married a lady who teaches ballet, and she even has roles for me in her students’ performances. I have portrayed the father in the Nutcracker and the king in Sleeping Beauty. The arts enrich my life.
Question 2: What do you think should be the role of City Council in the development and support of the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?
Whittier has a long history of supporting community theater and art in public places. Our city Community Theatre hosts Whittier’s plays and musicals. Our Art in Public Places collects a fee from new developments to fund art throughout the city. Developers also have the option of placing art in their new projects instead. We have even combined art along our Greenway Trail, which is an abandoned railway and now home to a bicycling and hiking trail with landscaping and mobiles.
Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in achieving that vision?
Art makes us feel. Usually, it makes us feel good–good about ourselves, good about our community and good about our neighbors. Art in public places makes those locales more interesting. It also makes it easier to arrange meetings. When I say, let’s meet at the Red Dress, you know exactly where I will be. There is only one Red Dress sculpture in Whittier.
Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 7 jobs in LA County is supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. What strategies, if any, would you pursue to enhance the region’s creative economy (i.e. cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit organizations)?
Whittier has many art related businesses, and one of the longest operating local art collectives in the region: the Whittier Art Association. The Whittier Conservancy has promoted tours of historic homes districts, along with the historic businesses. The Whittier Uptown Association promotes art themed pub crawls and holiday events with art as featured part of the celebration, such as Dia de los Muertos art exhibits.
Oley Olsen
Oley Olsen
City: Avalon City
Position Seeking: Councilmember
Question 1: Please share the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up.
Classical Music My parents loved classical music and played it all the time. My first lp album was The Nutcracker.
Question 2: What do you think should be the role of City Council in the development and support of the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?
The city should remove and roadblocks that organizers of events bring to their attention.
Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in achieving that vision?
The City needs to encourage organizers of events to enlarge their offerings and diversity of opportunities in Avalon. We now have 3 art festivals, 2 music events, and a film festival. The city needs to help increase the number of events.
Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 7 jobs in LA County is supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. What strategies, if any, would you pursue to enhance the region’s creative economy (i.e. cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit organizations)?
As Avalon’s economy is entirely based on visitor spending any thing we can do to add additonial oppurtinuties for are visitors will help the citizens of Avalon.
Dave Atkinson
Dave Atkinson
City: El Segundo City
Position Seeking: Councilmember
Question 1: Please share the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up.
Type Herefrom the very beginning of Art being taught and participating in art itself opened up a whole world for me. The beauty of art is the great number of the different ways and types there are to view and participate in
Question 2: What do you think should be the role of City Council in the development and support of the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?
Type Here The involvement of the City Council in art is a must. The more exposure of the arts that we can promote and endorse will result in greater awareness. This improves our very culture
Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in achieving that vision?
Type Here We are very fortunate in El Segundo. The El Segundo Museum of Art opened a few years ago. This resulted in 3 Art Walks, bringing many people to town, that may never had visited our great city
Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 7 jobs in LA County is supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. What strategies, if any, would you pursue to enhance the region’s creative economy (i.e. cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit organizations)?
Type Here I believe the more exposure of the arts will only help us all to develop our very own creativeness. There is art ability in all of us, it just needs to be unlocked. Push for more art expo’s.
Dan Reid
Dan Reid
City: Lawndale City
Position Seeking: Councilmember
Question 1: Please share the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up.
In my younger days, I not only participated in a few plays, I was also in our high school marching band. We had friends in the local Performing Arts Theater and enjoyed their performances. It has been a few years since our family has gone to a Live performance at a Theater, I would like to see More of an emphasis available in our schools.
Question 2: What do you think should be the role of City Council in the development and support of the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?
City Council is a key element in encouraging and promoting the various cultural and art activities which we have within our community each year We encourage our residence to not only come to see performances of our various groups but to also participate in programs throughout the community which are sponsored by the diverse groups and entities which are active This includes our activities at Harold Hofmann Community Center, our Library and the Fairs which we put on annually. We have also incorporated Musical Themes and citizen Artwork in our recent park designs.
Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in achieving that vision?
Art & Cultural are such a large part of our diverse culture, that it is not only a great cornerstone to build community functions on, but is key to embracing our ability to thrive side by side here in the Heart of the South Bay! I encourage anyone reviewing this to come to the Lawndale Spring Fair.
Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 7 jobs in LA County is supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. What strategies, if any, would you pursue to enhance the region’s creative economy (i.e. cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit organizations)?
I am happy to assist in promoting businesses and non profits who are serving our youth in expressing themselves through Art & Cultural programs in our community. I have sponsored trips for youth and volunteered with several local youth programs so I am aware of the direct result they have in the growth and exposure to the Arts within our young generation. One of the most memorable was National Competition of Teens & Talent where our local youth group excelled in the awards, trophies & scholarships they secured by the talent we nurtured.
Jay Garacochea
Jay Garacochea
City: Culver City
Position Seeking: Councilmember
Question 1: Please share the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up.
The most meaningful are and cultural experience that I had growing up was visiting the Hearst Castle at 10 years old. I was amazed by the pool, the grounds surrounding the property, and how the castle sat above the clouds. Unfortunately life passes us by so quickly, it was until last summer that I finally returned for visit. It was equally, if not more meaningful, as an adult to visit it again.
Question 2: What do you think should be the role of City Council in the development and support of the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?
The city council’s role should be one of support. The current and past councils have been and are moving in the direction of supporting a vibrant and strong art district in Culver City. The ground work in our city has been laid and we as council members will need to continue supporting those efforts.
Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in achieving that vision?
My vision for the city is for it to become one of the premier cities on the west side. Culver City has always taken a backseat to some of the surrounding cities but in recent years it has become one of the powerhouses. I believe that art and culture do play a role in that vision and I also believe that the city made a great choice by organizing the Cultural Affairs Commission. The commission is a great advocate for the need of arts and culture in our city and I will continue to support their recommendations.
Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 7 jobs in LA County is supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. What strategies, if any, would you pursue to enhance the region’s creative economy (i.e. cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit organizations)?
The city council, private, and nonprofit organizations need to work together to develop the creative economy of our city. We need to encourage our schools to promote creativity through arts, music, and design to feed the region’s creative economy. The issue is funding, but with a collective effort we should be able to make a positive change.
Dan Holloway
Dan Holloway
City: La Puente City
Position Seeking: Councilmember
Question 1: Please share the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up.
Living in the Palms area of Los Angeles in the 1950’s, adjacent to Culver City, I would go with my family each year to the week long La Ballona Days Festival which was a cultural celebration of Culver City’s Spanish and Western heritage. Begun in 1951, La Ballona Days had people go to events and even to work dressed up as Native American Indians. rancheros. señoritas. cowboys and cowgirls. The early fiestas evoked pride among the descendants of the first families and offered the entire community a playful opportunity to connect with its history.
Question 2: What do you think should be the role of City Council in the development and support of the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?
As mayor, in 2012 we started the La Puente Art Walk. This event brought artists from all over Southern California to show their art in downtown La Puente. This included music and poetry readings as well as crafts and jewelry exhibits. Having served on our school district’s Visual and Performing Arts Commission I believe the arts are an important part of our communities cultural fabric.
Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in achieving that vision?
I believe the Arts are an important piece of of a city’s culture and should not only honor the past but also look to the future. We are now beginning a civic/public art project we hope will bring art to the masses.
Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 7 jobs in LA County is supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. What strategies, if any, would you pursue to enhance the region’s creative economy (i.e. cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit organizations)?
In a small town like La Puente, where we have no vacant land and a low to middle income population. there are few chances to influence the larger creative arts economy of Southern California’s (jobs and tourism). Our key role is to educate our students and population at large about the importance of the arts, their beauty and significance and encourage them to reach out beyond our borders to experience, work in and enjoy the Southern California art scene.
Bella Cristobal
Bella Cristobal
City: Walnut City
Position Seeking: Councilmember
Question 1: Please share the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up.
Growing up in the Philippines art and cultural events aren’t as many as there is now I’m fascinated with almost any form of art may it be painting, performances, dancing, choreography, designs or crafts My exposure was more on cultural shows folk dancing in particular where I participated in various presentations in schools and other events and venues We learned not only our country’s folk dancing but also those from other countries. I developed the love of performances as a child which I carried with me as an adult. I made dancing and choreographing as my hobby.
Question 2: What do you think should be the role of City Council in the development and support of the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?
The City Council should consider a program that will promote the development of project in arts and culture. Have a dialogue with existing organizations to determine how to incorporate such activities that are beneficial to the community.
Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in achieving that vision?
I look forward to a City that has a well defined art and cultural program. An organization with programs centered on students, helping develop their minds and cultivate their talents in arts and culture that will lead to higher learning. To celebrate this type of development, an annual arts and cultural show or festival should be considered in the future.
Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 7 jobs in LA County is supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. What strategies, if any, would you pursue to enhance the region’s creative economy (i.e. cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit organizations)?
Partnering with the arts and culture sector will help develop and enhance the economy. People can pursue their artistic expression when there’s the opportunity, the exposure , the availability of organization/s or programs that will help and guide those with interests and talent. This is aimed to obtain jobs which in turn will enhance the creative economy.
Drew Boyles
Drew Boyles
City: El Segundo City
Position Seeking: Councilmember
Question 1: Please share the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up.
Growing up in Chicago, I was fortunate to have incredible opportunities to learn from the wealth of museums and different cultures in that city: some of my fondest memories are of field trips to the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science & Industry and the Field Museum. In my youth, I drew avidly, often sketching for hours on end. In my teenage years, I played guitar in a band and later was a member of a breakdancing group that would perform at various functions.
Question 2: What do you think should be the role of City Council in the development and support of the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?
City leadership should support creative ways to cultivate art and cultural experiences throughout its community. As both a Board Member of ESMoA and the Chairman of El Segundo’s Economic Development Advisory Council, I have been involved in multiple discussions to make El Segundo more of a destination for arts and culture. In fact, I introduced a local gallery owner to various people in town as she spearheaded the successful Art Walk last summer. Additionally, I commissioned a 500-square foot mural painted by El Segundo artist Damian Fulton on our commercial property in the Smoky Hollow area
Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in achieving that vision?
I believe a wide variety of cultural and arts experiences should be woven into everyday life from early childhood through the later years, so I envision an eclectic and culturally vibrant El Segundo, in which art influences all ages, all industries and all walks of life. El Segundo has tremendous potential to become the hub for innovation, where technology, entertainment, media and the arts meld into breakthrough combinations. Creativity and the arts will become increasingly important to our economy and our future, providing both a balance and complement to more and more tasks being automated with technology
Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 7 jobs in LA County is supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. What strategies, if any, would you pursue to enhance the region’s creative economy (i.e. cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit organizations)?
As the current Chairman of El Segundo’s Economic Development Advisory Council, my mission is to attract and retain businesses. In that role, we have been educating the business community and our City Council on the dependence of the creative sector on our businesses’ continued success. We have industry thought leaders present on a regular basis, and I have cited the Otis College Report on the Creative Economy time and again over the past couple years to that council. I will continue to be a bridge-builder between government, commerce, academia and the arts if elected to City Council
Scott Wyant
Scott Wyant
City: Culver City
Position Seeking: Councilmember
Question 1: Please share the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up.
I earned my undergraduate degree at UC Irvine in the early 70s. The School of Fine Arts was a hotbed of scholarly work, great teachers and great artists. I was from a small California town and knew nothing when I arrived. The faculty included such luminaries as Tony DeLap, John Paul Jones, Phil Leider, Moira Roth, Barbara Rose, Edward Moses and Frank Roth. Chris Burden was a student and bought my roommates motorcycle (not the one he used in The Big Wheel) By most meaningful single experience was the Art History Class taught by Phil Leider. Best teacher ever.
Question 2: What do you think should be the role of City Council in the development and support of the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?
As a city, Culver City has been encouraging the growth of our Arts District along East Washington Blvd. and La Cienaga, and we can continue to do so with support of the annual Art Walk. The city also supports such events as the IndieCade Festival, various film festivals, and can encourage the use of the newly renovated Veterans’ Auditorium as a venue for music and dance performance. Our two theaters (Actors’ Gang and Kirk Douglas) enjoy enthusiastic support from the populace and the city administration alike.
Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in achieving that vision?
As I walk the city seeking votes I am struck by how the vast majority of Culver City residents are delighted with the current state of the city and the direction they see it heading Our new downtown Parcel B development will include a dedicated outdoor performance space and our Arts Commission will certainly be ready to attract events to that venue The city already has an art-in-public places ordinance which encourages the ongoing arts dialog in the city The new downtown east that’s springing up around our Metro station offers even more room for performance and arts venues.
Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 7 jobs in LA County is supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. What strategies, if any, would you pursue to enhance the region’s creative economy (i.e. cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit organizations)?
Our economy in Culver City is already primarily based on the creative sector (Culver Studios, Sony Pictures Studios, the new internet and creative companies occupying the Hayden and Blackwelder Tracts, along with hundreds of home-based recording studios, architects, designers and internet entrepreneurs). One of my primary campaign platforms is to make sure that those creative businesses and non-profits have what they need to thrive — including the high speed fiber optic network we are building to tie all the disparate parts of our economy together — including our schools. Our future is very bright.
