MENDing the community one grocery bag at a time
Valley food bank answers the call for those in need during the pandemic
Imelda Canales packages food to be distributed at MEND's biweekly Food Bank in Pacoima, Calif., on March 9, 2021. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Cars start lining up by 7:45 a.m. on San Fernando Road in Pacoima, to...
These Walls Tell Stories
Hidden inside studio walls in The Brewery Artist Lofts in Los Angeles, vibrant colors dance on the walls as Andre Miripolsky proudly displays his LA-centric work in almost every inch of his creation space. It is in this city that he has truly discovered his creative muse that has allowed him to be self-employed since 1982.
“Looking at my life,...
Pushing your limits
The lifter starts almost sitting down; knees bent, hands on the dumbbell in a wide grip.There is an explosion upward as the lifter brings the full weight above his head in one motion. He stands there with his arms extended, balanced. This isn’t lifting to look good. This is utility over aesthetics. The lift is called the snatch, and...
Silent No More
Swarms of college students blend together, holding their textbooks, coffee cups and laptops, consumed in thought as they hurry to and from class on the University of California, Los Angeles campus. A bright red hat upon a confident young woman’s head makes a statement, standing out among the crowd.
The white capital letters embroidered on the hat read “Make...
Missing Gene
Photo by: Lynn Levitt
It was Christmas Eve 1984, and 15-year-old Lisa Gonzales listened to the buzzing sound of the electric razor as it shaved clean the hair from the back of her head.
“The surgery took place and somewhere through the entire process I thought the brain tumor was caused from making bad lifestyle choices, like my use of drugs,”...
Ipods and earbuds
Photo by: Amy Au
The smell of pot wafted in the air of the Saint Rocke club. An enthusiastic and determined group of three men took center stage and the first notes rang out into the atmosphere. Drunken patrons were swaying and unconsciously rocking out to the opening band.
Long before their performance that night bandmembers of Olio sit hypnotized by...
Pretty tough
It’s early in the morning at the Pierce College Farm. The sound of the wind whips the grass, the smell of soil and animal manure are the first to invade the senses. A ray of sun hits the field and the sweat rolls down one’s forehead signaling the beginning of a workday.
It’s time for animals to be fed, for...
Fugitive finders
A variety of tattoos cover his arms. His salt and pepper hair is accompanied by honey brown aviator sunglasses. This 6’5” military veteran quietly sits underneath the bright sun, remembering a time when he never imagined he would become a professional bounty hunter. A raspy voice shares his experience working alongside his wife traveling the United States.
When someone fails to...
Creating the Odd
The exterior is painted a dull red color. The outside walls, chipping, are holding large windows together. The building is more window than wall. If one were to walk by the storefront on a regular day, they might think an abandoned building was situated between a coffee shop and a film studio. But on certain days, this dusty storefront...
Life Illustrated
It starts with a blank sheet of paper. Concentrating, while a cascade of ideas release from the lead of a pencil onto the page, is how animation begins.
Animator Scott Claus used to work on one drawing an hour, sometimes for 10 to 12 hours.
Born and raised in Oregon, Claus studied motion pictures and television at the University...