Outsider Art Sought for Lummis Day 7

For the last six years, the annual has honored the spirit of its namesake by showcasing Northeast Los Angeles's artistry and cultural diversity.

The flavor of Lummis Day's "great gumbo" of art and culture has skewed toward the more traditional in recent years--calling on a familiar stable of local artists and musicians in an effort to create a family friendly event.

This year, artistic curator Terri Lloyd is hoping to add a little spice.

2012's Lummis Day art exhibition, titled Outside, is seeking artists working on the fringes of Northeast Los Angeles arts scene to put their talents on display.

"We're looking to go against the conventional norms of what is expected," said Lloyd. "We don't want any paintings of Suicide Bridge in Pasadena."

An outsider herself in the Northeast L.A.--Lloyd is not affiliated with any of the area's arts collective--she said she is looking to feature talents that have yet to shine in the area.

"We really like to discover some new people," Lloyd said. "We don't want to have the same 30 people doing the same old thing."

Thematically, Lloyd is looking for work that plays on the theme of Outside, either by depicting outdoor scenes in an unexpected and fresh way, or by consciously rejecting established artistic values.

Lloyd's call for artists coincides with news that Los Angeles punk pioneers X will be headlining this year's Lummis Day event.*

Co-founder of the Haggus Society--a group dedicated to showing the work of creative feminists over the age of 40--Lloyd's work focuses on the surreal and absurd.

"I was brought in to curate this show because of what I do," Lloyd said. "They wanted to edge it up a bit. We're looking for people who aren't afraid to throw the boomerang in a different direction."

For artists:

• There is no fee to exhibit.

• 25% of all sales is returned to the organization.

• It is a juried and curated event.

• Please email 6 images plus bio/statement to terri@terrilloyd.net.

• Deadline April 10.

• This is an outside exhibition.

• Artists must have a connection to Los Angeles, specifically Northeast L.A.

Update:

Lummis Day Organizer Eliot Sekuler said that Lloyd's report that punk band X would be headlining this year's festival was inaccurate.

"This is not true. We're still booking music, and though I'd personally kill to get X on our stage, they have not played a part in our discussions," Sekuler said.

Lloyd apologized for jumping the gun.

"I was under the impression from the last Lummis Day meeting that X was playing. We had been talking about Exene from the band. Apparently I got it wrong," Lloyd said.