SoCalCultural

Nisei Week in August is a celebration of Japanese American culture.  Two events are coming up this weekend August 10 and 11: Nisei Week in Little Tokyo http://www.niseiweek.org/events-festival/ and the USC Pacific Asia Museum  in Pasadena’s Free Second Sunday “Art & Food”https://pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu/

“Issei” were the first generation immigrants from Japan, and their children are “Nisei” meaning second generation.  Started in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles in 1934 by the Japanese American Citizens League, this year marks the 85th anniversary. The festival is the longest running Japanese festival in California. Only during the WWII years when Japanese and Japanese Americans were sadly sent to internment camps did the festival not happen. At the Nisei festival, you will find colorful streamers, traditional dancing, music, food, martial arts demonstrations, and a parade. The Pacific Asia Museum’s program is free. Discover how food inspires art and cultural identity.  
The site of the Tuna Canyon Detention Center is here locally in the foothill community of Tujunga. Once a Tongva village, later the internment camp, then a golf course and now in limbo. Advocates continue to fight for historical designation. If you want to read more about Tuna Canyon Detention Center: http://www.tunacanyon.org/

LOWRIDER

The Lowrider was born out of Latino culture in Southern California back in the ’40s. It came into global consciousness in 1975 with War’s hit “Lowrider.”  What defines a Lowrider is a car modified with air suspension shocks which raise and lower the car allowing it to “bounce.”  The ethos is “low and slow” – the Lowrider was designed to slowly cruise and show off the magnificent body, paint and rims. Slow is cool.  Each Lowrider is a work of automotive art.  The creativity and ingenuity come from within the community, learned and passed down. The old Imapala rescued from the junkyard becomes the belle of the ball. Old skool music goes along with the cruise.  El Monte, Whittier, Pomona, Compton and are Oxnard hubs for Lowriders.  August 11 3rd Annual Lowrider Car Rally – La Gente Car Club – Oxnard. Free admission, car registration benefits the school. Fred Williams Elementary School, 4300 Anchorage St., Oxnard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDGz0Lqwr1U

Camarillo is in Ventura county and named for founder Don Adolfo Camarillo. Originally one of the last of the Mexican land grants (Rancho Calleguas), the land was owned by the Camarillo family since 1875. Don Adolfo took it over in 1880. Don Adolfo loved horses and he purchased a Spanish blooded white stallion “Sultan” in 1920. Sultan was bred and that began the Camarillo White Horses. After nearly 100 years, the legacy of Sultan lives on. After Don Adolfo’s daughter Carmen passed away, the family sold the horses out of necessity. The current owners retain the “family” relationship and you can see the horses together at the Santa Barbara Fiesta Days parade, the Camarillo parade and the Rose Parade. They are a magnificent sight.

Where else but SoCal can you go to India, time travel to Spanish California, see classic cars, and enjoy a clam chowder festival by the beach all in one weekend? Check out the full event listings in the SoCalCulture Events page.

In some parts of the world, August 1 is called “Lammas” or “loaf mass” day, an event dating back to the Anglo Saxon times to celebrate the first harvests and a time to bake that nice first loaf of bread. It’s a handy day in between the summer solstice and fall equinox. There is an ancient Celtic variation: “Lughnasadh” which similarly celebrates the beginning of the harvest season. So enjoy some fresh baked bread, pick a pretty flower or strawberry, and celebrate a beautiful day.

The annoying Mercury retrograde is over this week and the summer car rally season begins! In California, we have car rallies throughout the year, but it is peak summer that that brings out the classic Mustangs, VW’s, Lowriders and those unique cars that define our culture. The Ford Mustang launched in 1965. Six generations and over 10 million cars later, it is still in production. How visionary for a car coming out of Detroit to define the Southern Californian so well: blonde, suntanned, gleaming white smile and sunglasses. There will surely be some Ponies coming out to play at the Burbank Classic Car Show this weekend August 3 in beautiful downtown Burbank.

Two events this week remind me of the greatness of the Dutch: the passing of actor Rutger Hauer and the Southland’s celebration of Rembrandt in 5 of our major museums
“Keeping it real” is what the Dutch do best in art, film, music, words. To celebrate Hauer, see the film “Soldier of Orange” and by all means, visit and see the Rembrandt collections in person at our museums: Norton Simon, Getty, LACMA, Hammer and San Diego museum the Timkin. Here is the fantastic Virtual Exhibition: https://rembrandtinsocal.org/virtual-exhibition/

In Indian dance, the “Mudra” refers to hand gestures. These graceful movements are associated with body’s energy flow and the elements of nature. A good go-to on Mudras can be found here: https://chopra.com/articles/10-powerful-mudras-and-how-to-use-them. At Descanso Gardens “Dance India,” Sharanaya Mukhopadhyay and her dancers performed Odissi (classical Indian dance originated in the Hindu Temples of Odisha) and Joya Kazi Unlimited dancers brought the glitter of Bollywood to the evening. Ancient dance, side by side with the modern, all in the perfect setting of a botanical garden. Check out the photo slide show on FB @socalcultural