Closing Ceremony for Sanctuary Art Exhibit with Special Musical Guests

Closing Ceremony for "Sanctuary" Art Exhibit  with Special Musical Guests Thursday, March 29 at 5 pm in Library Community Room

More than 300 visitors experienced the “Sanctuary” Art Exhibit during its opening on Sunday, March 25 at the South Pasadena Public Library.  The important works by more than 40 highly accomplished artists expressing love, hope, and solidarity with their art on the timely theme were showcased. Many of the artists and their family members were in attendance and expressed great appreciation for the public response and recognition. Co-curator Jimmy O’Balles opened the show with words of thanks and gratitude to the assembled multitude.

Community member Gretchen Robinette acknowledged many of the VIPs in attendance, including Mayor Pro Tem Marina Khubesrian, MD.  Co-Curator Mario Hernandez played the saxophone author and essayist Sebha Sarwar was introduced. Ms Sarwar has previously lived in Pakistan, India, Canada, and a far off, exotic land known as Texas. She offered a potent,  poignant reading from one of her works on living without borders.

- Advertisement -

For the closing ceremony of the exhibit which has attracted still more visitors each day from 3 pm to 7 pm –some of whom have come back for a second time or just to bring their friends or neighbors—a lively Music and Author presentation will be presented.

Jimmy Espinoza and Bobby Robles, two of the star members of Thee Midniters, the legendary 60s East LA rock band, will play at 5 pm in the Library Community Room. Thee Midniters are still together and continue to play concerts all over the Southland and beyond. Their shows at Pechanga Casino each year for Cinco De Mayo weekend are customarily sold out far in advance. Jimmy Espinoza is the bassist and one of their singers –and a former resident of South Pasadena– and Bobby Robles, their guitarist, has also played with Bette Midler, Paul Simon, and Sir Paul McCartney. Thee Midniters were one of the very first rock bands to compose and record songs with Chicano themes. They mixed them into their albums and set lists along  with vibrant rock and soul originals and cover tunes.  For the Library show, Jimmy and Bobby are an absolute lock to play their two biggest hits, “Land of 1,000 Dances” and “Whittier Boulevard,” as well as some pleasant surprises.

PHOTO: Courtesy photo | SouthPasadenan.com | Bassist Jimmy Espinoza and Guitarist Bobby Robles of the legendary East LA group Thee Midniters

After Jimmy and Bobby’s musical  set, author and Cal State Northridge Professor Mario Ontiveros will discuss his book “BACA, Art Collaboration & Mural Making” at 6 p.m. The new book published by Angel City Press tells the story of landmark muralist Judith F. Baca and the Great Wall of L.A. Autographed copies of books will be available for purchase.

 

The Library Community Room is located at 1115 El Centro Street. Admission is free and no tickets or reservations are necessary. Free parking is available after noon at the Mission Meridian Parking Garage located at 805 Meridian Avenue adjacent to the Metro Gold Line Station, only one block from the Library.

Upon request made no later than four (4) business days before the event, the City will provide a reasonable accommodation for a qualified person with a disability to have equal access to the event. Please contact ADA Coordinator and Human Resources Manager, Mariam Lee Ko, at (626) 403-7312 or  fill out the City’s request form available at www.southpasadenaca.gov and email the form to Human Resources at HR@southpasadenaca.gov

The South Pasadena City Council, on October 4, 2017, unanimously introduced an ordinance declaring South Pasadena a “safe and welcoming city for immigrants.” The council passed the ordinance in an effort to protect  the rights and privacy of all residents.