Like a Flazh!

An artist in his own right, Joe Flazh!'s Flazh!Alley gallery is a stylish and sophisticated gallery highlighting the alternative (and outstanding) in art

BY JONATHAN RIGGS

Joe Flazh! (yes, the exclamation mark is part of his name) has always been fascinated with the arts, especially photography. He's shown his own work to great acclaim (and multiple awards) and curated multiple gallery exhibitions before launching his own Long Beach-based gallery, Flazh!Alley.

“I felt it was time that a venue for artists creating excellent alternative art be established,” Flazh! says.

According to their mission statement, Flazh!Alley is a space dedicated to showing erotic and adult-themed work exclusively.

“Flazh!Alley is not here to feed your stomach, but rather your other senses by serving up banquets of fresh and exciting works of art by a cadre of emerging artists to satisfy your artistic palate,” it goes on to say. “For that reason, Flazh!Alley never has a buffet. Only champagne, water and ART.”

Feedback for Flazh!Alley has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Since we did our first show, 'Men In Tutus' by Miriam Preissel in 2004, we've been covered almost constantly in both the straight and LGBT press always with a positive spin,” he says. “And our audiences, like most of our artists, are people coming from as far away as Palm Springs, San Diego and Santa Barbara.”

He says that his attendees appreciate Flazh!Alley's combination of accessibility and high-quality art without pretension.

“I think we have achieved in some measure what we set out to do: create a salon where people gather to discuss art, important ideas, and be inspired aesthetically,” Flazh! says with a smile. “I also want to stress our invitation to all LGBT artists engaged in creating art that is specific to those communities.”

Flazh!Alley's upcoming lineup reflects its range and inclusiveness: future exhibits include “Inked Hearts: The Tattoo Portrait Series,” a collection of 12 portraits by San Francisco lesbian painter, Suzanne Shifflett; independent documentary filmmaker John Middelkoop's new series, "Inside Red: A Photographic Exhibition," of female erotica; and celebrated gay artist Wim Griffith's latest paintings modeled after the look of the 1940s detective films called, "Noir”; to name a few. Their last show, “Horowitz By Arbus: The Lost Diane Arbus Portraits,” made art history by featuring 15 never-before-printed Diane Arbus photographs, an achievement for any gallery, especially a young one like Flazh!Alley.

“A famous photographer once said that great art is always revolutionary,” Flazh! says. “Great art makes an internal revolution in the thinking, feeling, and passion of the sensitive viewer. Art frequently makes visible what would otherwise remain hidden or dismissed.”

For more information, visit www.flazhalleystudio.com.

COMMUNITY

A Sobering Experience

Choices Recovery Services offers help to Long Beach residents

BY JAMIE WETHERBE

Like many recovery cen-ters, Choices Recovery Services seems to burst with stories—one resident left home and starting selling himself at 13; another, not even 20 years old, spent his days on the streets huffing drugs out of a paper bag. “There's no quick fix—there's no magic pill for this,” says Sean Zullo, executive director and founder of Long Beach-based Choices Recovery Services. “The people here need help.”

Choices Recovery is not rehab for the rich and famous: Sometimes residents, often in their late teens and 20s, come straight from various social agencies, psychiatric hospitals, and prisons—and many have been diagnosed with mental illnesses. “Our program is centered, basically, for the misfits,” Zullo explains.

In 2002, Zullo and his then-partner, Philip Santarelli, started Choices with one site catering to the LGBT community. Since then, some 2,000 residents have been treated, and the program has grown to 150 beds with sober-living locations throughout Southern California (nine in Long Beach, one in Santa Ana, and most recently, a location in Glendale). For Zullo, sobriety is more than a professional cause. “It's fundamental to my own recovery,” says Zullo, who's been sober and on mental health medications for nearly a decade.

While certain clients have stayed at Choices only minutes before disappearing out the door, residents can stay as long as they like—if they participate in the program. “Everyone here has a job,” explains Zullo, “and everyone is engaged.” Jobs range from simply focusing on treatment to working with residents—for example Rob Wallace, Choices program director, had been in and out of over a dozen different treatment centers before calling Choices his home for the past five years. “[Zullo] stood beside me when my own family didn't,” he says. “It's not just a business to him—he really wants to help people.”

Still, recovery doesn't come free. Residents can work at Choices (jobs include everything from office work to cooking) to help cover room and board, which can run $750 a month, but as Wallace explains, “no one gets turned away because they can't pay.” And unlike many treatment facilities, residents don't get kicked out if they relapse. “We strive for abstinence,” says Zullo, “but relapse can be a part of recovery.”

When someone first enters Choices, Zullo asks two questions: “'Do you want to be here?' and 'Do you like it here?'” he says. In the same way addicts find drugs, “someone who wants to stay here will find a way to stay here.” Even if it means staying sober.

No More Tears

Long Beach AIDS Foundation creates a festive event to commemorate World AIDS Day

BY JAMES F. MILLS

World AIDS Day Observances are traditionally somber events, as we remember those who’ve died. But the Long Beach AIDS Foundation is taking a different approach with a family-friendly festival event designed to be both fun and educational.

“What we heard from the HIV/AIDS community was that they were tired of going to funerals. Although there are reflections on and remembrances of AIDS and those who have passed on, it was sort of speaking to the choir,” says Gary Bowie, executive director of the Long Beach AIDS Foundation. “So our goal was to pump things up, to create sort of a Disney-esque experience where people are completely wowed.”

Their World AIDS Day festivities will have a spectacular multimedia presentation, live performances, dancing, games, food and beverages and a tour of Long Beach's Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA), which is hosting the event. There's also a health fair offering HIV/AIDS information as well as on-site HIV testing.

A student art competition followed by an auction of that art work will cap off the festivities. Designed to reach young people and get schools involved, the competition received 32 pieces of art, entered in three different age categories—middle grade, high school and 18+. Event sponsors J Brand Jeans and Alliance Bank have provided prize money for both the schools and the students.

“These kids were amazing,” Bowie says of the art that has been entered. “Their geo-political awareness is stunning. It's clear they're attuned with the world.” Youth were free to create any type of art as long as it incorporated the red AIDS awareness ribbon.

By creating a free, fun and inspirational evening, they're hoping to attract underserved communities which many HIV/AIDS outreach/educational programs have often overlooked; communities that often think they aren't affected by AIDS. “A lot of times the underserved communities don't have access to health care or to the internet,” says Bowie. “That's who we're trying to reach.”

In the Long Beach area, those underserved communities are African American, Latino and Cambodian. According to statistics from the Long Beach Health Department, the high percentage of new HIV infections is among African-American heterosexual women, followed by Latino heterosexual men and African-American heterosexual men.

The Cambodian community has also seen an alarmingly high percentage of infections. Long Beach has approximately 30,000 Cambodian residents, the largest Cambodian community outside of Cambodia. “There's a 30 percent illiteracy rate even in their own language,” says Bowie. “So we really need to reach them, to get information to them.”

Staffed entirely by volunteers, The Long Beach AIDS Foundation was created in 2004 when it separated from the Center Long Beach to focus solely on HIV/AIDS. “We don't receive any government grants,” says Bowie. “So we are freer to think outside the box and approach things differently.”

The World AIDS Day festivities are Saturday, Dec. 1, from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alameda Ave. in Long Beach. For more information, visit www.lbaidsfoundation.org or call (562) 987-5200.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Retro Block Party

Retro Row throws a block party for their annual “Holiday Open House on Retro Row.” Bands and street musicians will perform while the vintage shops on 4th St. between Cherry and Junipero stay open late on Thursday, Nov. 29. The Center Long Beach and other non-profit agencies based there will also host open houses. “This is a chance for locals to come out, have some fun and celebrate Long Beach,” says Kerstin Kansteiner, president of the area business association and owner of Portfolio Coffeehouse. Attendees who get special cards stamped by Retro Row businesses will be entered in a drawing for $200 at the end of the night.

Gay Yuletide with South Coast Chorale

South Coast Chorale, the Long Beach-based gay and gay-affirming chorus, sings seasonal favorites in their annual holiday concert. “Make the Yuletide Gay” will also perform new music composed especially for the concert by the chorale's Grammy-nominated pianist and arranger, Jim Grady. The concert is the debut for the chorale's new artistic director John Lehrack who previously worked with groups in Hawaii and San Francisco. The show is Sunday, Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 241 Cedar Ave. in Long Beach. Tickets are $35. For more information, visit www.southcoastchorale.org or call (562) 439-6919.

Long Beach Unites for Tots During the Holidays

Silver Fox and the Sunday Brunch Bunch are teaming up this holiday season to garner community support in their efforts to help needy children in Long Beach with this year's Toys for Tots fundraiser. Taking place at the Silver Fox on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m., with the price of an unwrapped toy as admission, attendees will enjoy cocktails, a buffet, and live entertainment. “This will be an incredible event because people can stay 'holiday festive' with cocktails, live entertainment and a buffet, yet help a great organization at the same time,” said Brad Shore, founder of the Sunday Brunch Bunch. Silver Fox is located at 411 Redondo Ave. in Long Beach. For more information, visit www.silverfoxlongbeach.com or www.sundaybrunchbunch.org.

In Memoriam - Kent Speirs - 1944-2007

The LGBT community lost a beloved member with the recent passing of activist, friend, and community leader Kent Speirs. Speirs volunteered his talents and services to countless agencies that serve the local HIV/AIDS community including Strength for the Journey, CARE and the Long Beach AIDS Foundation. Speirs served on the Event Advisory Committee for the Long Beach AIDS Foundation and was a client of many of the services the foundation helped fund.

Speirs consistently raised more than $1000 each year for the Long Beach AIDS Walk and was a constant advocate of quality nutrition for HIV/AIDS patients. The Long Beach LGBT community is grateful for the time Speirs lit up the community with his work and passion.

—SYLVIA RODEMEYER