Amongst the Changes in the Neighborhood, Leimert Park Remains a Popular Place for Many Filmmakers and Creatives in Los Angeles

On Saturday nights, music can be heard all over Leimert Park’s Degnan Boulevard.

The neighborhood’s renown arts scene has gone through much reinvention over the years, attracting some of the city’s finest Black artists.

Critically acclaimed filmmaker, John Singleton and well-known jazz performer, Barbara Morrison are just two of the many members of the Leimert Park community.

Today, artists come together in the neighborhood to create and express themselves in many different ways ranging from: studio art, stage performing, filmmaking, and music.

One of Leimert Park’s well known community members, Ben Caldwell, has been around for 30 years. Over the past few decades, Caldwell has reshaped the way locals approach the art in the community by providing an open space for studio artists, performers, and filmmakers. Caldwell runs the KAOS Network which is a creative arts studio and space that allows artists to come together, create, and form connections. He frequently uses the internet to create an open source environment where local artists and event planners can contact him. “I provide the space but these guys advertise themselves,” Caldwell says. The KAOS Network rests on the corner of Leimert Park’s W 43rd Place and Leimert Boulevard.

The KAOS Network provided a night where students of color could express themselves and their artwork in an engaging and communal space. “Not only will silenced voices be heard, but they will also be supported by like minded individuals-creating an environment of love and an atmosphere of encouragement to be felt by all who attend,” promoted the showcase’s Facebook page.

The event was filled with young artists and students that were looking for an outlet for their lyrical poetry, rap, and singing.

Featured artists included Jessica Vieux, Damaris Eison, Tiah Barnes, Tola Oseni, Amir Kelly and Jackie Fey.

Deja McCauley, a student at USC, has attended a few of the events hosted at the KAOS Network and attended BSA’s CreEx Artist Showcase.

“[The KAOS Network] allows artists the opportunity to meet others like them in the community,” she said. “The space is cool; It encourages collaboration and inspires people to learn about emerging arts forms.’’

Deja is majoring in religion at USC and has many friends who are artists that often times come to Leimert Park. In the past, she has come with her friends who have showcased their work at the KAOS Network.

“The arts scene is big in L.A. but there’s something with Leimert Park that makes it good at blending Afro-centric art and culture,” she said.

Caldwell has a long standing relationship with USC and other local universities. In the past, the KAOS Network has hosted a range of events that have been primarily run by college students or faculty members.

One of Caldwell’s main priorities is to launch creative arts programs that reach a wide range of young, artistic students. He has frequently launched initiatives and programs with universities to help raise awareness for artistic youth in the local community.

NOTE: How do you embed a soundeslide? Go to this URL: http://tinyurl.com/ssembed and paste in the URL of your uploaded audio slideshow. Resize the audio slideshow to 455x375 IF you want to use the box on the right. ... you'll see that option after you click on "continue" ... it's at the bottom. After it resizes, copy-and-paste the embed code into this HTML template.

On November 11th, 12th and 13th Leimert Park hosted the 6th annual “I’ve Known Rivers” Film Festival.

The 3-day event featured over 40 films that were screened in five venues throughout Leimert Park. The film festival helps raise awareness and money for FAMLI Inc.’s See A Man, Be A Man program. See A Man, Be A Man, is a mentorship program for young, at-risk males at Locke High School that helps inspire children to pursue music and the arts.

Torrence Brennen-Reese founded FAMLI Inc. in 1992 after moving from New Orleans and performing as a jazz singer in Louisiana’s historic French Quarter.

“The film festival helps raise money for an important cause in trying to help these young children become closer to what they want to do” Brennen-Reese said. “We help these children take a step closer to their future and it has been something I have always been passionate about,” he said.

A few of the films screened at this year’s film festival included “Cooley High”, “The Black Panther’s, Vanguard of the Revolution”, “The Spook Who Sat by the Door”, “What Happened Miss Simone?”, “13th”, “Iceburg Slim, Portrait of a Pimp” and “Free Angela, and All Political Prisoners”.

One of the Brennen-Reese’s film festival attendants said that most of the festival’s audience members were people they knew or people that just walked by the building. People said they didn’t even know about the film festival which is definitely something they’ll be taking into consideration next time.

Although Leimert Park’s creative scene has done wonders for the community, it is still hard for some creative businesses to be run. With increasing gentrification and building prices, much of the area’s history is being challenged. Although the neighborhood still has a strong roots to its culture and traditions