Theater/Arts: Check out Cal State Long Beach’s 1st outdoor sculpture in 3 decades

The Cal State Long Beach campus welcomed an innovative addition to its artistic landscape last week.

Nancy Graves’ sculpture Sequi took its place on the lower quad on Friday, Aug. 25, marking the first outdoor sculpture collection piece to grace the campus in three decades.

Gifted to the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum in 2022, Sequi holds historical significance as one of the artist’s most pivotal works. After months of careful planning and preparation between museum leadership, this captivating piece found its new home near the College of Professional and Continuing Education.

Sequi seamlessly embodies the spirit of innovation while remaining rooted in tradition. The sculpture’s elements, for instance, were cast using enlarged molds derived from actual plants, a technique originating in the ancient world and developed during the Renaissance. But the surface of the sculpture boasts a coating developed by NASA contractors for space exploration vehicles.

This synergy of disciplines echoes the ethos at the core of both the museum’s collection and Graves’ artistic journey.

The museum, in fact, currently houses quite a few works by Graves, including 18 sculptures and two murals.

The dynamic legacy of Graves extends beyond Sequi, as the museum plans to unveil an engaging exhibitions for the fall. Mark your calendars for the Museum Fall Party and Opening Reception on Thursday, Sept. 14.

This event sets the stage for a variety of exhibitions, including “Drag Show” in the main gallery, works by Nery Gabriel Lemus in the mini gallery, “The Emancipation of P.P.” (a solo exhibition of Pau S. Pescador’s vibrant and arresting works) in the main gallery corridor, and the playful, yet deeply personal work of Félix González-Torres in Constance W. Glenn Court.

You’re invited to attend a remarkable summer film series and community dialogue, “Conscious Cinema,” beginning today.

“Conscious Cinema” is a Black-centered film series delving into civil rights stories from the past and social justice issues from the present.

Screenings of three thought-provoking films, free to the public, will be accompanied by panel discussions featuring subject-matter experts whose personal experiences encompass the civil rights movement and social justice advocacy.

The journey will begin with a screening of “Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power” on Thursday, Aug. 31, at Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave. Through impactful archival footage, this documentary offers an intimate portrayal of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’s struggle for both voting rights and Black Power in Lowndes County, Alabama.

The second film in the series will be shown at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at Grey Long Beach, 237 Long Beach Blvd. The film — “The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975” — candidly documents the people, society, culture and style that fueled an era of rapid change.

Finally, “Conscious Cinema” will conclude with a showing of “The Big Payback” from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Martin Luther King Park, 1950 Lemon Ave., ffollowing Black Agency’s Long Beach Black Worker Center Career Fair. In this 2022 documentary, follow rookie Illinois Alderwoman Robin Rue Simmons as she ushers in the first legislation of its kind in the United States: Resolution 126-R-19, devoting funds to local reparations for Black residents in Evanston, Illinois.

This film series is an opportunity for Long Beach residents to be part of a dialogue for change through an exploration of the rich history of civil rights.

For more information, including film trailers, visit lbforward.org/consciouscinema. For tickets, RSVP at lbforward.org/consciouscinema or email [email protected].

Embark on the smoothest, jazziest, yachty-est voyage you’ve ever imagined this Saturday with “Yachty by Nature” at Gaslamp Long Beach.

This one-of-a-kind musical event promises not only a fun experience but also a taste of the good old days: 1970s and ’80s soft rock and pop.

Yachty by Nature — a six-piece band originating here in Southern California — aims to pay homage to the iconic artists who defined an era.

With the powerhouse vocals of Courtney Cruise and Scotty McYachty, backed by the rhythmic prowess of Captain Carl, Ben Shreddin’ and Big Wave Dave, how could you possibly go wrong?

The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Steal away and ride like the wind to reserve your spot by calling 562-596-4718 or emailing [email protected].

Join Long Beach Playhouse on Saturday, Sept. 2, for opening night of its production of “As You Like It.”

William Shakespeare’s delightful comedy typically takes place in the Forest of Arden.

But in a twist, this production is set in Central Park in the 1950s. An eccentric band of characters flee the rigid confines of Fifth Avenue elitism as they explore the true meaning of freedom and love — both the required and unrequited variety.

“As You Like It” is part of a series of shows to cap off the 2023 season at Long Beach Playhouse. The remaining Mainstage shows include the intrigue of “Frankenstein 1930” by Fred Carmichael at the end of September, the wit and wisdom of Jane Austen’s “Emma” (adapted by Michael Bloom) opening in November, and the magic of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” in December.

Duke Senior describes the Forest of Arden as a place with “tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones and good in everything.” As summer turns to fall, you’ll find something to enjoy and ponder in “As You Like It” — and every remaining show of Long Beach Playhouse’s season.

For information, go to lbplayhouse.org.

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