Dear ICA LA Community,

There are only three weeks left to visit the Milford Graves: Fundamental Frequency and Jacqueline Kiyomi Gork exhibitions, and we’ve got some incredible related programs on deck for next week. But first, this Sunday, April 23, join us for a screening of documentaries by international filmmakers presented by the Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) in partnership with MILATIDO and ICA LA.

On Wednesday, April 26, gather for an album release and listening party to celebrate the official launch of a never-before released album featuring Milford Graves, Arthur Doyle, and Hugh Glover. The evening will be hosted by Peter Kolovos (founder of Black Editions recording label) who will be joined by Graves’ fellow musician Hugh Glover, as well as Graves’ granddaughter Tatiana Graves-Kochuthara and filmmaker and director Jake Meginsky. Meginsky will also be with us on Thursday, April 27 for the screening of Milford Graves: Full Mantis, a singular documentary dedicated to this legendary polymath.

On Saturday, April 29, Contemporary Art League (CAL) is back at ICA LA for their monthly, informal gathering that brings together art workers to listen, talk, get inspired, and take action. All self-identified art workers and their families are welcome!

Can’t make it to the museum? Prefer a curator-led tour? Visit our YouTube channel for a virtual exhibition walkthrough of the Milford Graves exhibition, featuring ASL interpretation, with curators Danielle Jackson of Artists Space, New York, and Mark Christman of Ars Nova Workshop, Philadelphia. And in case you missed them, featured below are additional virtual recordings of select programs related to our spring exhibitions.

Whether in person, or online, we hope to see you soon,
Team ICA LA

Upcoming Programs

Service, Meaning, and Purpose: Meet the Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA)
Sunday, April 23, 1–3pm, In-person

Join us for a screening of documentaries by international filmmakers presented by the Social Impact Media Awards in partnership with MILATIDO and ICA LA. SIMA is a media and education organization that distributes powerful short documentaries on social action. The program themes are service, meaning, and purpose. Each screening will be followed by short Q&As, discussion, and reflection activities. Pizza, popcorn, and beverages will be served.

|  RSVP  |

Milford Graves Album Release & Listening Party
Wednesday, April 26, 7pm, In-person

Black Editions celebrates the release of Children of the Forest, a new double album of never-before-heard private recordings from 1976, featuring the late Milford Graves (1941–2021) together with Arthur Doyle (1944–2014) and Hugh Glover (1937). Black Editions founder Peter Kolovos will play the album in its entirety and it will also be available for sale at the event. Kolovos will be joined by featured musician Hugh Glover, co-producer Michael Ehlers, Graves’ granddaughter Tatiana Graves-Kochuthara, and filmmaker Jake Meginsky who will be sharing stories about Graves and the recording of the album.

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Screening of Milford Graves: Full Mantis with director Jake Meginsky, Tatiana Graves-Kochuthara, and Hugh Glover
Thursday, April 27, 7pm, In-person

Milford Graves: Full Mantis is the first feature-length portrait of the renowned percussionist Milford Graves, exploring his kaleidoscopic creativity and relentless curiosity. The screening will include a reflection on Graves’ life and legacy with director Jake Meginsky—who was Graves’ student and collaborator–musician Hugh Glover, and Graves' granddaughter Tatiana?
Graves-Kochuthara. As part of this event, enjoy a sneak preview of never-before-seen footage of Graves that will be included in an upcoming film that will be released with Criterion Collection.?

|  RSVP  |

CAL IRL @ ICA LA
Saturday, April 29, 11am–1pm, In-person

Contemporary Art League (CAL) is a growing trade cooperative building unity, solidarity, and equity among art workers in Los Angeles County. CAL IRL @ ICA LA is an informal monthly gathering for art workers to listen, talk, get inspired, and take action. CAL will share ideas, resources, drinks and snacks. All self-identified art workers are welcome, and families are encouraged. Feel free to drop in at any time in the two-hour window to get together in the spirit of shared causes and collective care.

Visit CAL's website to learn more about their background and vision and sign up for their newsletter.

ICYMI

Milford Graves: Fundamental Frequency Curator-led Walkthrough with Mark Christman and Danielle Jackson
Join the exhibition curators for an introductory walkthrough featuring ASL interpretation of ICA LA's current exhibition, Milford Graves: Fundamental Frequency, as they detail the myriad forms and varied preoccupations of Graves' life and work.

Art Talk: Milford Graves: Fundamental Frequency
Want to dive deeper into the making of the Milford Graves exhibition? Revisit this conversation between curators Danielle Jackson and Mark Christman, moderated by ICA LA Senior Curator, Amanda Sroka.

Drumbeat to Heartbeat: Dr. Julian Thayer & Scott Robinson
Music, healing, and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) are areas of deep research shared by Dr. Julian Thayer and Milford Graves. In this performance lecture, Dr. Thayer (bass) and Scott Robinson (saxophone) present scientific findings and the physiological impact of sonic beats that preoccupied Graves until the end of his life.

Seeing Sound: Discussion with Hamza Walker and Micah Silver
A discussion with Hamza Walker, Director of LAXART, and Micah Silver, artist, curator, and founder of Black Hole, moderated by ICA LA Curatorial Assistant Caroline Ellen Liou, in which they share their experiences and ideas about the presentation of audio, sound, and music in the art space.