L.A: City of Jazz
The abstraction, the contrasting difference to mainstream Black art, and the color palette of L.A: City of Jazz represents the unique pathways of St. Elmo Village. A cofounder of St. Elmo Village, an art haven where Black members of the community can freely express themselves without criticism in Los Angeles, Roderick Sykes encouraged the exploration of creativity unlimited to the constricted expectations of mainstream art, as quoted by Sykes, “Do What You Love - Love What You Do.” Founded in1969, St. Elmo Village exists today as a nonprofit organization that houses artists in the renovated bungalows on the site to continue to host workshops.
Written by Naomi Ramos Benitez, c/o ‘24