Re: Angel Project

October 24, 2002

To Whom it may Concern,

“…between us…” is an Angel unlike others. The Downtown Women's Center's, (DWC) artists in residence Rochelle Botello and Corina Gamma, together with the program participants, reconstructed this angel with various “bonding” materials. These materials were chosen as a metaphor for the human bonding that takes place within the DWC's homeless women's community. “Women-to-women” connections are the glue and essential to help reconstruct lives and overcome homelessness and isolation. The bonding of the angel also represents the ties between the DWC community and the community at large, as well as the inner-resources that women draw upon in order to empower themselves. The photographs and poetry on the angel reflect some of the everyday experiences and contrasts of living downtown Los Angeles.

Approximately 60 out of 80 angels were chosen by the Community Of Angels to be displayed at the Music Center downtown Los Angeles for two weeks, prior to a Gala Auction, on October 19th. The proceeds of the auction benefited The Volunteers of America, and brought notoriety to the institutions that decorated the Angels. The Downtown Women’s’ Center was given an angel, but was not displayed nor was it part of the Gala Auction. The Women’s Center was told it had been left out of the auctions because of missed deadlines and because the angel was cut apart and glued back together without permission. Neither of these reasons was in fact true, (the women’s center was not informed of a deadline and permission was granted to cut the ‘angel.’) Finally the Women’s’ Center was told that they chose only ‘representative’ angels to place in the auction.

Why wasn’t the angel that was prepared by The Downtown Women’s’ Center included in the auction? Why wasn’t it considered representative? The angel was not decorative. It was cut apart and glued back together, and photographs of skid row are on its wings and belly. Life in a homeless shelter is not pretty. It can be scary and dangerous and it is one part of life in Los Angeles. To claim it is not representative, (not representative of what?) and to not give it the public forum that the other more decorative angels are given, is hypocritical. There is something really disturbing about a community art project that discriminates on the basis of what looks pretty, and what they think people should want to see.

The angel “…between us…” is sponsored by Council Member Jan Perry and Merck.

It is currently up for auction through www.acommunityofangels.com and on display at Figueroa and 7th mall plaza.

For further information call the Downtown Women’s Center at 213.680.0600



Corina Gamma

Artist in Residence, Downtown Women’s’ Center





“…between us…”





Project Participants:

Debra Adams

Karen Alexander

Angela Badura

Rochelle Botello

Jackie Camp

Jackie Caver

Evelyn Furutani

Corina Gamma

Joann Hampton

Fannie Mayfield

Lynn Quint

Lenore Ramoz

Amy Robinson

Stella Ross

Jeanna Saxer





With greatest appreciation to:

Council Member Jan Perry

and Merck for sponsoring the angel

and

Lisa Watson, Executive Director of the Downtown Women’s Center

I am sickened but not surprised at the community's attempt to hide your art. Don't stop showing it.

I think the angel is beautiful, just as so many of the people on Skid Row are beautiful.

As the sister of one of the Artists in residence at the Downtown Womens Center, I am shocked ,appalled and saddended by the decision of the people that are still thinking "In the Box". But not surprised... They have a certain image in their mind and cannot accept anything out of the ordinary or controversial. If they knew the people who created that angel and would have seen the dedication and hard work and pain that went into this project, they might have changed their mind. They did not see the Fiberglass splinters in their arms , or have to listen to their cracked voices after inhaling all the fumes from the materials, nor did they stay awake at night wondering how the Women are doing at the Shelter. It is easy for them to close their eyes and give it a thumbs-down so everything will stay perfect in their world of Los Angeles. I know there will be individuals out there that will see and appreciate this angel which shows another side of Los Angeles. That side is a part of LA ,no matter how hard they try to hide it . and the dedication that these artists have to the Shelter does not with the Angel, it is always there. ..

I give a big Thumbs-up to my sister Corina and her fellow artist Rochelle and...your angel is beautiful and it moves me, it really does....never ever give up what you believe in!!!

blue skies ... love claude

I am constantly amazed and impressed by the artistic prowess shown by the ladies of the DWC. Finding/making beauty out of hardship are talents I have always known you possessed. It really is a shame that the community can turn a blind eye to this angel and the artists who created it.

-Your Former DWC Outreach Intern, Anne