Friday, July 31, 2009

Association for Preservation Technology 2009 Conference to be Held in L.A.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             

June 17, 2009

 

For further information contact:

Dana Saal, Conference Manager

217.528.2460 or dana@apti.org

 

Nathela Chatara, Administrative Director

217.529.9039 or info@apti.org

 

APT LA 2009 Conference Registration Open

 

The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) is accepting registrations for its Annual Conference scheduled for November 2–6, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Registration can be completed on-line at www.apti.org. Rates increase after September 7 and again after October 18.

 

Los Angeles represents the quintessential American city of the late 19th and 20th centuries. Technological and social changes allowed an interconnected, yet scattered, collection of towns and villages to grow (sprawl) into one of the world’s major metropolitan regions comprising five counties; more than 200 towns, cities, and municipalities; and more than 15 million residents. At the hub of this metropolitan agglomeration, Los Angeles invites rigorous debate between those seeing an urban utopia—complete with fast cars, movies stars, high-tech jobs, surf boards, fruit orchards, and mountain resorts—and those who envision a dystopian nightmare of race riots, air pollution, traffic jams, endless sprawl, and rapidly increasing density. Somewhere in the middle, for better or worse, lies the real Los Angeles, the model for the post-war 20th century American metropolis and (sometimes considered jaded) blueprint for the World City.

 

Now that we have moved into the 21st Century, both philosophical and pragmatic questions arise regarding the conservation and management of the World City…

  • How do we wisely use and improve a now historic built environment that was conceived under a set of assumptions that are no longer sustainable?
  • How do we evaluate decisions as to whether or not preserve materials that were not designed for permanence and, and, if so, how?
  • What constitutes appropriate technology in a world where the pace of technology development is increasing and where technological tools that once took generations to change now evolve day-by-day?

 

The APT LA 2009 Conference in Los Angeles will address the scientific, engineering and technical ramifications of preserving the modern metropolis and its expansive body of historic resources through the four Conference tracks in the program.

 

Conference Highlights

Keynote Speaker

Tuesday, November 3

Preservation in an Age of Economic Challenge—More Necessary Than Ever

Kevin Starr, University Professor and Professor of History at the University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA, USA, will argue that the preservation of historic structures at a time of economic challenge, such as we are now experiencing, makes more than mere economic sense.


College of Fellows Lecture

Wednesday, November 4

“First Principles” in the Conservation of Asia’s Heritage: Lessons Learned from the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Awards Competition

Richard A. Engelhardt, UNESCO Charge de Mission, Senior Advisor to the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, UNESCO Professor of Heritage Management, will discuss how we balance the preservation of the unique heritage significant of our built environment with the transformations required by modernization and sustainable development.

 

Paper Sessions

Wednesday, November 4 and Thursday, November 5

The peer-reviewed paper presentations will feature experts discussing their work in four tracks:

  • Material Matters: Preservation of Historic Building Materials
  • Preserving Modernism and Post War Heritage
  • The Public Domain: Infrastructure of Urban and Suburban Landscapes
  • LA Unconfidential: Lessons Learned in Preserving the World City

 

Workshops and Symposium

Monday, November 2–Tuesday, November 3

Workshops offer hands-on experience in

  • Architectural Ceramics
  • Advances in Seismic Retrofit
  • Injection Grouts

The symposium—Capturing the Past for Future Use: Integrating Documentation with Repair, Design and Construction Practice in Historic Buildings—will establish the background context for recording of existing buildings, and introduce the state of the art in the documentation techniques, as they relate to the design and management of change to historic buildings.

 

Field Sessions

APT Field Sessions offer participants the opportunity to see unique aspects of the conference host region while gaining valuable insight into local preservation history. This year the choices are:

Wednesday, November 4

  • Frank Lloyd Wright’s Textile Block Houses in Hollywood Hills
  • Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco Landmarks
  • Mid-Century Modern Houses by Rudolf Schindler and Richard Neutra
  • Preserving Synergy of Natural and Modern Landscapes and Architecture
  • An Afternoon at the Getty Conservation Institute

Friday, November 6

  • Fernando Rey de España and Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
  • The Desert Bloomed Modern—Palm Springs in the 20th Century

 

Tours

APT Tours offer participants a glimpse into LA just for fun:

Tuesday, November 3

  • Fernando Rey de España and Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
  • The Desert Bloomed Modern—Palm Springs in the 20th Century

 

Invitation

All industry professionals—preservationists, architects, engineers, conservators, consultants, contractors, craftspersons, curators, developers, educators, historians, landscape architects, students, technicians, scientists, and others—are invited to join APT in this culturally-rich city where you can learn about the latest in preservation technology from around the world. Registration can be completed on-line at www.apti.org.

 

Created in 1968 in Québec as a joint venture between preservationists in Canada and the United States, APT continues to be the premier international outlet for sharing technical preservation information. Headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, APT is a nonprofit organization in both the US and Canada, with regional chapters across the continent and in Australia. 



Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Pasadena Museum of History August 2009 Events

Pasadena Museum of History

Calendar of Events: August 2009

470 W. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91103; Free Parking.

Information/Reservations: 626.577.1660, ext. 10, or at www.pasadenahistory.org.

PROGRAMS

“I Said It Once, and I’ll Say It Again…Don’t Throw That Out!”

Saturday, August 15, 2:00 to 4:00 pm in Avery Dennison Auditorium

(150 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena)

Once again we demonstrate how simple objects can be used to tell fascinating stories from history in an encore presentation of the successful program held last year, “Don’t Throw That Out.” Members of the community present an array of intriguing objects as a panel of local historians and antique experts provide historical context. If you have an item you wish to share at this program, call (626) 577- 1660, ext 16.

Tickets: Museum Members free; Non-Members $ 5. Reservations: 626.577.1660, ext. 10.

Un Dia de Fiesta de Verano

Sunday, August 23, noon to 4:00 pm

Bring the whole family and celebrate Latino traditions on a summer afternoon in the beautiful gardens of the Fenyes Mansion. Enjoy delicious food, lively music, and dance. Join in the special workshops for Folklorical dance and Mexican arts and crafts. Bid on items in the silent auction. Admission is free but there will be charge for food, beverages, and special workshops.

Sponsored by the Pasadena Mexican American History Association; funds raised will support the Family Stories exhibition.

Tickets: Free admission; information at 626.577.1660, ext. 10.

TOURS

Fenyes Mansion Tours

Mansion tours available by 7-day advance reservation only during the summer months.

Tickets: $4; For information and reservations, please call 626.577.1660, ext. 10

Family Stories: Tastes, Tales and Tidbits

Fridays through November 2009; Tours 12:15 pm; Luncheon 1:30 pm

Docent-led one-hour tours of the Family Stories exhibition to explore one of the six featured communities. Each session will include a brief overview of the exhibition, an in-depth look at the local history of one featured community, a story sharing time with a family or community member, and a preservation tip related to family objects such as photographs, documents and letters, textiles and costumes. Visitors may complete the cultural immersion with an optional special lunch at a restaurant of the featured ethnicity.

Tour Schedule:

African-American Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles – August 7, September 25, November 6

Armenian-American Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at Sahara Restaurant – September 11, October 23

Chinese-American Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at Fu-Shing Restaurant – August 14, October 2, November 13

Euro-American Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at The Raymond – August 21, October 9, November 20

Japanese-American Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at Japon Bistro – August 28, October 16

Latino Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at El Portal – September 18, October 30

Tickets for the tour are $4 for Museum Members and $8 for Non-Members. Reservations and pre-payment are required due to space limitations. The optional luncheon is $20, payable at the restaurant (cost includes a $4 tax-deductible contribution to the Family Stories exhibition). For additional information and reservations, please call 626.577.1660, ext. 15.

EXHIBITION

FAMILY STORIES: SHARING A COMMUNITY’S LEGACY

Six longtime Pasadena families share their personal, multi-generational chronicles in Pasadena Museum of History’s groundbreaking exhibition, Family Stories: Sharing a Community’s Legacy. The stories of the Duncan, Gertmenian, Lowe, Stevenson, Kawai, and Mejia families will help the Museum shed light on the experiences of our African-American, Armenian-American, Chinese-American, Euro-American, Japanese-American, and Latino communities, respectively.

Hours:12:00 - 5:00 pm Wednesdays through Sundays through January 10, 2010 at Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St., Pasadena 91103.

Admission: $5 General, $4 Seniors & Students (with I.D.), free to Museum members and children under 12. For additional information, please visit www.pasadenahistory.org or call 626-577-1660, ext. 10.

Save the Date: LA as Subject's Archive Bazaar!

Save the Date!
L.A. as Subject will be hosting their 4th annual Los Angeles Archive Bazaar on October 17, 2009 at USC Davidson Conference Center from 10am to 4pm. More details will be forthcoming, but save the date and visit their site for more information.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Rare Films Unveiled at two remaining Silent and Classic Movie Nights

From Heritage Square Museum...

Los Angeles, CA – On Saturday, July 18 and 25, Heritage Square Museum presents its annual Silent and Classic Movie Nightsprogram. Featured films will include Douglas Fairbanks in A Modern Musketeer (1917) on July 18, and Corrine Griffith in The Garden of Eden (1928) on July 25. Also scheduled are a few short features, including “A Visit to Los Angeles” from 1916 and classic cartoons.

With our eight historic landmarks serving as the backdrop for the evening, this special screening will take place on the lawn near the Palms Depot. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to sit on, a small picnic to eat before the movies begin, and warm clothing. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase. Films generously provided by Flicker Alley, who save and restore silent, rare and classic movies from all over the world.

Admission to the Silent and Classic Movie Nights is free for museum members and a $10.00 donation for the general public. Heritage Square Museum will open at 7:30 p.m. for picnics with the show starting each Saturday at 8:00 p.m. For more information about the program and featured movies or actors, call the museum offices from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at (323) 225-2700.

Celebrating 40 Years of Preservation and Interpretation of the History of Southern California, Heritage Square Museum is an open-air, living history museum dedicated to telling the story of the development of Los Angeles. Heritage Square Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays, from 12 to 5 PM. Admission is $10/adults, $8/seniors, $5/children ages 6-12. The Museum is located at 3800 Homer Street, off the 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway (110/Pasadena Freeway) at Avenue 43, just north of downtown Los Angeles. For further information, visit our website at www.heritagesquare.org.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Special Events at the Mission San Gabriel


Don't miss the special history events at the Mission San Gabriel!

Every First Saturday of the month from 11am to 4pm, the Mission and neighboring historical institutions are a destination for fun and education with Museum Saturday! Ramona Museum of California History (no fee) and San Gabriel Historical Society and Hayes House (no fee) are within about two blocks of the mission. Old Mill (no fee) in nearby San Marino . and Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe (no fee) in nearby Montebello are also both open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

On July llth, the mission will be hosting a "Meeting of Museums and Historical Places." Besides a free guided tour of the mission starting at 10am, the day also includes a a free training session about how to be successful with a museum booth or display at public events at the Ramona Museum of California History in the mission district at 1:30 p.m. There will be about 2 hours of discussion on topics of interest to historical groups. More details are here.

On August 1st, the mission will have a History Challenge. Anyone visiting the Mission with regular admission will have a chance to complete the challenge and receive a prize. It's also the first Saturday of the month, which means it's Museum Saturday [see above].

Volunteer Resources for Surviving and Thriving During Tough Times

From CaliforniaVolunteers:

We are pleased to announce that we now have all the resources that were available at the Surviving and Thriving During Tough Times conferences – including a full conference video – available online.

http://www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php/Volunteering_in_CA/detail6

It’s our hope that these resources will help your organization find innovative, high-impact ways to approach your fiscal and operational tactics, volunteer management and other activities during these challenging economic times.

An additional resource you’ll want to check out is the results of the survey completed by nearly 1,200 California nonprofit leaders who registered to attend the conferences. This data is presented in both a statewide Executive Summary as well as by region.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Free Online Trainings

GuideStar, the leading website that gathers and publicizes information about nonprofit organizations, also offers resources like free, online seminars. These programs, known as webinars (because they are done on the web instead of in person), offer convenient and effective ways to enhance what your non-profit is doing. Check out the schedule and register for one here. Space is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

(You can also view past webinars here at your own rate on your own time.)

Get Free Supplies for Your Non-profit

If you're a non-profit in LA City, this is for you! (And if you're not, read on to find out how you can partner through the LA Heritage Alliance.)

The City has a special program with the non-profit LA Shares to provide office supplies and resources to non-profit organizations. This program is set up to avoid sending usable products to the landfills and finding a way to reuse sometimes new supplies and equipment. Check out their site here and you can sign up for free at the bottom of this page.

Now, if you're a not a non-profit located within the City limits, this is also a great time for for your to develop stronger partnerships with groups inside of the City limits to take advantage of this program. With strategic partnerships, you might be able to represent one organization to gain access to the free resources, but then share those resources with other organizations. Everyone wins as unwanted corporate items are diverted from landfills and find new homes with your organizations.

Indpendence Day Celebration at Fort Moore


From the Fort Moore Garrison and Fort Moore Memorial Committee...

To all Fort Moore supporters and patriotic fellow Americans:

We have one opportunity per year to really send a LOUD message to those in LA and surrounding areas about what it means to be an American at our annual Fourth of July flag raising.

The Fort Moore Garrison and the Fort Moore Memorial Committee will raise a HUGE garrison-size flag and play loud patriotic music at 10am on Saturday, July 4th at the Fort Moore monument & flagpole (on Hill Street just north of the 101). You can either have someone drop you off at the monument on Hill Street or park in the Pueblo below and hike up to the event. We plan on having the flag raising at 10 a.m., so please come by 9:30 if you can. Please come appropriately attired in period clothing, but even if you can't, still come and support the flag raising.

Any questions? Please e-mail or call Paul Hoffman at (949) 212-9233 (cell) or pachoffman@cox.net.

Historic Walking Tour of NoHo

From the Museum of the San Fernando Valley...

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is pleased to announce its July walking tour of the historic NoHo district of North Hollywood, on Saturday, July 11th from 10:00a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Following the tour, participants can enjoy one of the area’s many restaurants.

The tour begins at the corner of Magnolia Blvd. and Tujunga St. at the statue of Amelia Earhart in NorthHollywood Park. Tour highlights include: a walk through St. Paul’s First Lutheran Church with its beautiful stained glass windows, past the 1886 Southern Pacific Depot, the El Portal Theatre (1926), the NoHo ArtsDistrict, the Lankershim Arts Center (designed by theatre architect, S. Charles Lee), and the Lankershim Elementary school where Marilyn Monroe once attended. Tourists will learn about real cowboys, pioneer families, movie television and recording stars, the Spanish conquest, Mexican ranchos, great steam trains,vast ranches and orchards, land barons, wars, and much more.

The July walking tour will be led by historian Richard Hilton. Aside from his work as a board member of The Museum, Hilton is a long time docent of the Los Angeles Conservancy. “North Hollywood has a long,fascinating history with many hidden gems,” said Richard Hilton, Board Member, Docent, The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

Reservations for the tour are on a first-come, first-served basis. Tourists may reserve a place by leaving their names, addresses, and emails at either museumsfv@gmail.com or by calling 1-(818) 609-1665. A$10 donation is requested at the onset of the tour. Street and metered parking is available in the area.The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is currently developing historic walking tours for other areas of the Valley.

“Mr. Hilton’s walking tours are of genuine importance. They promote a hands-on experience with the history and culture of a Valley that is the heart of the Creative Center of the World. The tours directly infuse money into the local economy, and provide an impetus to return for a theater performance, a casual dinner, or shopping, said Dr. Gerald Fecht, President, The Museum of The San Fernando Valley.”

About The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is in its developmental stage; obtaining input and gathering support from valley residents, gaining support from the business, public, private, and non-profit sectors.The Museum’s organizational goals and objectives will always be a work-in-progress; to meet the changing needs of a dynamic society. At the present, the San Fernando Valley has no significant museum of history and culture, which serves the entire Valley residential population.

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is an educational and cultural institution. Its purpose is to acquire, display, and preserve artifacts, documents and records related to the San Fernando Valley and its residents. It strives to accomplish this through interactive exhibits, an interactive website, tours for schools and organizations, performances, lectures and an artifact loan program for San Fernando Valley.
The Museum's collections of art and historical items exist for scholarly research and for public enjoyment.The Museum collects, preserves, and shares with the entire San Fernando Valley important works of art as well as folk art and crafts.

Contacts:
Dr. Gerald Fecht, President; Tel: (818) 437-1665; email: gfecht@sbcglobal.net.
Michel Stevens, Vice President, Development; Tel: (310) 890-9182; Fax: (818) 276-1547;email: MuseumSFV@gmail.com.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Great Music, Architecture, Food and Culture Come Together

From Heritage Square Museum...

On July 16, July 23, July 30 and August 9 step out of your car or get off the Metro Gold Line on your way home from work for one-of-a-kind free concerts at Heritage Square Museum. Join us as we present great musical acts, local food vendors and costumed docents in a venue that brings you out of the present and into Southern California’s past. No need to drive – take the Gold Line to the nearby Heritage Square station. Concerts are made possible thanks to the support of Supervisor Gloria Molina / LA County Arts Commission, the Recording Industries Music Performance Fund, and the Highland Park Neighborhood Council.

Doors open to the public at 5:00 PM. Arrive at the museum early to see the historic architecture up close. Visitors will have a chance to try local food and drink and shop in the museum store. Costumed docents will be on hand to enliven the evening. On hand to receive honors will be ten Community Heroes that have made a difference in improving the lives of those living in Northeast Los Angeles in meaningful, tangible ways. Community Heroes recipients will be announced July 1.

On July 16, Mariachi Divas will be the headline act. Founded and directed by trumpet player Cindy Shea in 1999, the all-female Mariachi Divas are making big waves on the national music scene. In 2009, the group won the American Grammy award for Regional Mexican Album for their latest CD, Canciones De Amor. Mariachi Divas are a unique, multi-cultural ensemble imbued with the true flavor of Los Angeles and have been represented by women of Mexican, Cuban, Samoan, Argentinian, Colombian, Panamanian, Puerto Rican, Swiss, Japanese, Honduran, Peruvian, Tongan and Anglo descents. Cindy Shea states, "Music is a way of uniting our cultural backgrounds."

Mariachi Divas have appeared at Southern California venues such as the Arrowhead Pond, Universal Amphitheater, Staples Center, the Greek Theatre, the Santa Barbara Bowl, the House of Blues, the LA Forum for the 2005 Premio La Gente live TV awards show and the Shrine Auditorium for the 2006 Alma Awards. They have also accompanied Grammy- winning artists including Joan Sebastian, Jenny Rivera, Marco Antonio Solis, Pablo Montero, Graciela Beltran and Paulina Rubio and Mariachi Vargas.

On July 23, Dennis Kay will lead the Pasadena City College Swing Band, who will play big-band standards, swing favorites, and ballroom classics from the likes of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and many more. Don’t let the name fool you – the Pasadena City College Swing Band consists of extraordinary students, faculty and professionals who come together to present a rockin good time!

Not to be outdone, on July 30th, the ever-popular Susie Hansen Latin Band returns to us for what promises to be an unforgettable performance. Electric violinist Susie Hansen plays fiery Latin Jazz and Salsa, creating music that brings audiences to their feet, dancing in the aisles. Susie and her Los Angeles-based band have been acclaimed by many critics, such as Phil Elwood from the San Francisco Examiner who describes them this way: "It's a sizzling, swinging Salsa band. Hansen can solo as if her bow was afire. The whole room was jumpin' for joy." Mark Holston wrote in JAZZIZ Magazine that Susie Hansen’s “violin speaks the language of Latin Jazz with total fluency." A long-time favorite in Los Angeles, Susie and her band play 175-200 live performances per year, including such events as the Playboy Jazz Festival, Fiesta Broadway, San Jose Jazz Festival, LA Salsa Festival and Newport Beach Jazz Festival. She has toured nationally with her band, and has appeared with such big names as Tito Puente.

On August 9, join us as we present the combination rhythms of Salsa & Rumba to give you SalSumba, a group of multitalented musicians from all parts of the world. The combined talents of these musical artists creates a contagious energy that is sure to bring you to your feet & on the dance floor with their Afro/Caribbean rhythms of Salsa, Rumba, & Latin Jazz.

For more information on Mariachi Divas, please visit www.mariachidivas.com/. For more information on Susie Hansen, go to www.susiehansen.com/. For more information on Salsumba, visit www.myspace.com/salsumbadelafe.

Founded in 1969, Heritage Square is a living history museum dedicated to telling the story of the development of Los Angeles. At the museum, eight historic structures, saved from demolition and moved to the site, provide a glimpse of Southern California as it looked 100 years ago. The Museum is located at 3800 Homer Street, off the 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway (110/Pasadena Freeway) at Avenue 43, just north of downtown Los Angeles. For further information, please visit our website at www.heritagesquare.org or our blog at http://heritagesquare.blogspot.com

Unlock the key to the history of Los Angeles at Heritage Square Museum.