The glimmering city of Los Angeles pulls together people of all different backgrounds and creeds but one crowd that Los Angeles draws in is artists. People who create to represent the world in which they live in come to this city to have their voices heard. These voices were heard through Project Ethos on Friday night at Club Vanguard.
The mission of Project Ethos is to connect indie artists into the mainstream world by featuring them in a three-pronged show that includes painters photographers musicians and fashion designers.
The two-story club on Hollywood Boulevard featured an intimate art show on the first floor with a handful of up and coming new painters and photographers showing their work. One such artist painter Tomer Peretz said he became involved with Project Ethos because its’ events attract the type of crowd who could relate to his art.
Senior Jessica Garcia said the event was certainly a success.
“Everyone who attended seemed really passionate about the display of art Carney’s set and the clothes in the fashion show Garcia said. Personally I found the fashion show the most interesting but the beauty of an event like this is there is something to appeal to everyone.”
“I did a few other art shows during my first year in Los Angeles and I just didn’t feel like I belonged there Peretz said. Project Ethos was targeting the type of people I’m looking for the type of audience I feel suits my work.”
His art featured a variety of colorful portraits with modern twists. One such piece is one face done in profile with sharp angles and bright colors that stretches over four distinct square canvases.
Artist Justin Mentall echoed the sentiments of Peretz and said he liked how exclusive Project Ethos was with its artists. Mentall’s art is very abstract with bright pastel colors in swirls and stripes a style that appeals to younger audiences like the ones Project Ethos targets.
“I’m not doing a show where there is fifty other artists there only like five or six Mentall said. I started doing art in the first place because there is no limits no borders.”
The second level of the club was set up for the second half of the night. It boasted a stage and runway that was used to showcase the rock band Carney and then a fashion show featuring indie labels. One such designer Cheryl Koo presented her label The Other Duck which featured shiny tight fabrics paired with vintage tees big jewelry and big hair.
Frontman of the band Reeve Carney said the band wanted to help with awareness for Project Ethos and its goal to get new artists recognized.
“We actually weren’t told a lot of the details about the performance. They contacted us and asked us to perform we knew they wanted us to perform and we wanted to help raise awareness Carney said.
The band’s set was poignant with a deep rock undercurrent. The song highlight certainly was its emotionally-charged cover of The ‘Beatles I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” Its rendition had the same power and sadness that made the original a part of pop culture’s musical vernacular.
After the fashion show the venue transformed into a club night with DJ Casxio spinning beats for the attendees.
The success of the event was reflected
in the enthusiasm of all the guests
during the night.