We are thrilled to welcome Corrie Martin as SPARC’s new Development Manager! Corrie brings a wealth of experience in community engagement, event organization, and collaborative projects that align seamlessly with SPARC’s mission. Her passion for art, performance, and activism will be invaluable as we continue to produce, preserve, and promote socially relevant artwork. We look forward to the innovative initiatives and energy Corrie will contribute to our community.
Hello, Friends and Fellow Fans of SPARC!
What an honor to be moving into the role of Development Manager for this beloved and storied organization!
After moving to Los Angeles this past summer, one bright afternoon exploring my new Santa Monica neighborhood I happened to wander into the SPARC Gallery at the Bergamot Station Arts Center. Inside, I was surrounded by the phenomenal mural work-in-progress of the 1960s section of the Great Wall of Los Angeles mural.
Stretching to the ceiling on each of the four walls were vibrant scenes of joyful protest (have you seen our depiction of the Los Angeles Donut Riots?) and inspiring moments from our nation’s great era of everyday people standing up and speaking out for freedom and justice: Freedom Riders departing Los Angeles’s Union Station, the Free Speech rally at UC Berkeley, the East Los Angeles student walkouts, and more.
I sensed immediately that the history of the human spirit had come alive in this space and that this is exactly what we need art to do today.
After officially joining SPARC’s Research Team and delving into the collaborative process behind the mural extension project, my admiration has transformed into passion—dare I say, love–for SPARC’s mission, vision, and impact.
I am thrilled to return to the field of fundraising and development for an organization that creates art that changes lives and improves communities. My dream is to talk to every person in Los Angeles about SPARC, and then everyone in the state! But, then, why stop there? Will you join me?
I’d love to hear from you! Email or call me to share your ideas, questions, and stories!
SPARC is inspired by a question recently posed by Jaclyn Roessel, the Director of Decolonized Futures & Radical Dreams at the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture: How do we collectively confront the invention of Thanksgiving and take on the myth and falsehoods related to the “founding” of the United States of America? …
SPARC Presents an Intimate Evening with Karambu Dear Friends: It is our privilege to host an intimate gathering at SPARC, in Venice, California, where you will have the opportunity to meet Karambu Ringera, hear her speak and ask her questions regarding her work in her homeland of Kenya. She clearly has an impressive command of…
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Emily Winters, a groundbreaking muralist, activist, and co-founder of the Venice Arts Council. Her artistry and dedication to social and environmental justice have left an indelible mark on Venice and the greater Los Angeles community. One of Emily’s most iconic works, Endangered Species (1989-1990), adorns the…
June 7, 2006 Venice, California Letter to Our Community S.P.A.R.C. would like to express a deep concern and regret for the violence that has affected our Venice community, leading to the tragic loss of young Agustin Contreras 16yrs old, a Venice High School student. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family in their time…
