James Nachtwey's Wish - See It Live In LA

So who's James Nachtwey, what's he wishing for, and why would you want to be involved?

Who:
Nachtwey is a renowned war photographer, who specializes in capturing people doing their best to go about their everyday lives in conflict zones.

From his photos of the 1981 hunger strike in Northern Ireland to the civil war in El Salvador, his work makes you think. Don't be surprised if you find yourself teary-eyed, smiling, or both.

Wish:
"I have been a witness, and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated."

Nachtwey has been working with the TED organization over the last 18 months to gain access to locations he wished to photograph. These pictures will be unveiled all over the world in early October.

Why:
As far as Nachtwey's work goes, a picture is worth far more than a thousand words. To hear about the background to this project straight from Nachtwey himself and see examples of his work, click here.

Where:
Luckily for us, LA has been picked as one of the five U.S. locations where Nachtwey's work will be shown. See the list below for a location near you.

Sat, October 4, 2208
The 6th Annual LA Decompression Music & Arts Festival
Noon to Midnight
Los Angeles State Historical Park
1245 N. Spring Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Sun, October 5, 2008
Elevate Film Festival
Nokia Theater at LA Live Dowtnwon Los Angeles
2pm-8pm

Thurs, October 9, 2008
Downtown Art Walk
Projection on wall at 6th and Main St.
Info booth inside gallery of Photography show at Phantom Galleries LA Gallery and at the Pacific Electric Lofts 610 Main St.

Fri, October 10, 2008
Pasadena Art Night
Projection in the window of 82 North Fair Oaks during Art Night Festivities. Information at the Phantom Galleries LA Gallery exhibit Dave Lovejoy - Circular Logic at The Majestical Roof Gallery
88 North Fair Oaks, Suite 102, Pasadena, California 91103
7pm-11pm

Sat, October 11, 2008
NELA Art Walk
Screening Slide show during the Art Walk on a montitor on a DVD player at Future Studio
7pm-9pm

LA’s Fashion District: This Ain’t Rodeo Drive

The frenzied streets of LA’s Fashion District seem worlds away from Beverly Hills’ manicured poshness three miles to the west. Reminiscent of a cross-border shopping trip to Mexico, LA’s fashion district is a mecca for in-the-know Angelenos looking for bargains.



Pretty it ain’t…in fact, if you have an aversion to crowds, Mexican-style mercados, or loud noises, be forewarned - this is not the place for you. The draw for me is seeing an actual sidewalk in LA overflowing with people, not to mention knock-offs galore.



Sidewalk vendors cook up hot dogs wrapped in bacon (aka heart attack in a bun) under questionable hygienic circumstances. But it’s easy to overlook when you catch a whiff of the delicious greasiness. Bells from popsicle carts jingle, hawkers shout ‘5 doh-lers, cinco dolares’, and blasting ranchera and techno music energizes and deafens at the same time. All in all, it seems like a real downtown - more of the third world-variety, but a downtown filled with people nevertheless.



Santee Alley – a heavily-congested alley that would make claustrophobes run for cover - is ground zero of the Fashion District. Located between Maple and Santee streets on the stretch between Olympic and Pico Blvds, Santee Alley is notorious for all sorts of bootleg items. You’ll find ‘designer’ handbags, pirated DVDs, let-it-all-hang-out dresses, noisy toys, and assorted ghetto bling. If you’re looking for fabric, bead, rug, and flower stores, they are concentrated north of the alley around 8th and 9th.

Tips:
• Bargaining's almost a requirement, or the chotchkie-pushers will think you’re a pushover
• Most places don’t have dressing rooms
• Bring cash because these shops don’t accept American Express (or Mastercard or Visa for that matter)
• Parking is plentiful. Just bring a couple bucks – lots run about $3 to $6 for the day, depending on when you go