OUT IN TRAFFIK – FEEL MODE 2 DVD RELEASE @ DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT

During last night’s Downtown Artwalk, the Graffiti Art sub-culture was the main focus at the Downtown Independent Theatre during the Art Show doubling as a DVD Release Party/Screening of Feel Mode 2. Although it can easily be argued that this artform is probably the most highly visible and most easily accessible to the general public, the negative connotations associated with the lifestyle of the in your face result of tagging up walls can often deter art lovers from actually accepting this as a valid form of art. The FeelModeInc., behind last night’s event, is trying to help change these viewpoints by establishing a multi media design house specializing in the Graffiti and Urban Arts market and by releasing their Feel Mode Graffiti DVD series which is an ongoing project that started in 2004 showcasing a wide range of some of the country’s most prolific graffiti writers, according to their site, www.feelmode.com.

Last night the Feel Mode crew brought the streets to a more controlled gallery setting taking advantage of the various multi-media facilities available at the Downtown Independent, which included: DJ’s (Zo, King Solomon, Fat Jack), live paintings, projections, and even some impromptu skateboarding on the rooftop bar; paintings and art on canvas prominently displayed on the first and second floor lobbies and walls; and special screenings of Feel Mode 2 in the theatre itself.

Here is the trailer for Feel Mode 2 – “The Game Done Changed”

With last night’s event the Downtown Independent showed it’s versatility as a space that not only lends itself to carefully selected film showings/screenings for music lovers (The Harder They Come, Wild Combination, This Is The Life, The American Astronaut), wine enthusiasts ( Corked!), as well as film buffs (The Guatemalan Handshake, The Times of Harvey Milk, Jake’s Corner), but also often plays host to events (International Festival of Cinema and Technology, LA Japan Film Festival, Zero Film Fest).

Their low ticket prices (most film engagements stay at about $5) and their more than reasonably priced concession stand ( most items are well under $5 including beer and wine) are the equivalent of flipping the bird or sending a “shame on you” message to big name chain theatres. It is definitely worth checking out and even more so if you are a resident of downtown Los Angeles (downtown residents often get discounts for events that have admission fees)

Currently playing is Know Your Mushrooms - “From the award-winning director of COMIC BOOK CONFIDENTIAL, GRASS, GO FURTHER and a host of paradigm-shifting films reappraising the backwaters of popular culture, Ron Mann investigates the miraculous, near-secret world of fungi with his newest piece of cinema, KNOW YOUR MUSHROOMS.”

The Downtown Independent is located at 251 S. Main Street Los Angeles, California 90012. Visit www.downtownindependent.com for more info.