Free arts and crafts classes offered in Pico-Union

Driving past the dirt lot with graffiti walls, one would not know what to make of The Graff Lab without stepping inside. What appears to be a vandalized, deserted lot on weekdays is actually a sanctuary for Pico-Union residents who are seeking to get in touch with the arts.

But The Graff Lab is just a part of what happens at 1039 Venice Blvd. in Los Angeles. A large building sits in the middle of this lot and it is home to Pico-Union Housing Corporation. And in this same building young children, seniors and families come here throughout the week to access free classes for arts and crafts.

Ricardo Guerrero is the art director with PUHC and he manages The Graff Lab and the various classes that operate on the lot.

“That’s my view here at The Graff Lab that all art is welcome. Whatever it is and you can’t judge another person. We all have to get along,” he said.

One group that he works with is Centro Cultural De Oaxaca and organization that looks to bring arts and crafts to the community in Pico-Union.

One of the volunteers, Nancy Reyes, leads the painting class every Saturday from noon to three. Every week she assists 15 to 20 students with painting on canvases and wet paint.

“I got invited like six months ago. I am here now and I am so happy to be here,” Reyes said.

According to Reyes, the weekly painting depends on what supplies she has to work with and fundraised for.

“We sell food to buy supplies. We will have a pot luck and whatever we sell, we gather that money and I go out and buy supplies with the money we raised, Reyes said.

Two students, Jonathan and Libby who are both nine years old, have been coming to the painting class for months. For Libby, painting is a passion, “Just drawing. I love to draw. I draw almost every day. On the bus on the way home I just take out a piece of paper and draw. And on Sundays I come here.” Libby said.

In the next room, Libby and Jonathan’s parents preoccupy themselves with an art class.

Libby’s mother, Consuelo Ruiz, said she comes to classes every Sunday for time to relax, but also to enjoy the company of new friends and food.

“It has been a year already. I have only made two purses and one wallet. But I usually come because of my daughter. She likes art and she likes the painting. But I like it here because it is like therapy,” Ruiz said.

“You come and concentrate and let go of problems you may have. You just relax and have fun and make jokes. That is why I like to get together with these ladies. They know a lot about knitting. I enjoy coming every Sunday, especially when they bring food,” Ruiz said.

Maria Platas is the one who leads parents like Ruiz in knitting. With eight years of knitting under her belt, she adds on an artistic twist to typical knitting by using soda can tabs.

“I like it because I can recycle and I can work with the ladies and moms who come to knit. My neighbors like drinking beer and I ask them to please give me their recyclables. I go in the street and I find the tabs on the ground too,” Platas said.

In addition to knitting, Platas teaches her adult class how to make clothes for Barbie dolls using napkins and chopsticks.

According to Platas, she tries to incorporate the use of recyclables into her crafts.

Rosa Martinez, also from Centro Cultural De Oaxaca, also sits in on the knitting classes. She stresses the importance of the classes for her and why she’s participates, “My favorite part is to help others. We do this for the community and for the families and kids.”

Beyond the Saturday painting class, Centro Cultural De Oaxaca also offers reading classes, chess and a music lab, according to Martinez.

“The kids need help with reading. Like my son he is a part of the Individualized Education Program at school and he needs extra help with reading,” Martinez said.

More information about future events and classes at The Graff Lab with Centro Cultural De Oaxaca can be found on the Centro Cultural De Oaxaca Facebook page.

Additionally, The Graff Lab and Pico-Union Housing Corporation offer their own free arts classes beginning in January 2017. Future classes will include yoga, Zumba and cooking classes.

Members of Centro Cultural De Oaxaca and its participants are also encouraged to attend the Virgin of Guadalupe celebration coming up this December at The Graff Lab