UPDATE 6/17: Aveson has responded to public concerns at this link.
This issue is heating up our comments page and Gmail -- even tho' we haven' gotten a response from anyone at Aveson because it's the weekend, let's give you what we have so far:
Every year, Aveson Charter School holds its June Jubilee -- a fundraiser/carnival that helps end the year on a positive note.
This year, people are expressing shock at the acts that appeared at this year's June Jubilee last Saturday, June 6 -- graffiti "artists" and hardcore rap acts that use foul language and violent gangster imagery.
And while nobody's connecting the two events, graffiti "artists" struck Eaton Canyon that weekend, vandalizing a wide swath of the park and leaving spray paint cans behind.
Here's Aveson's web page on the Jubilee in Google's cache (it was taken down from their website probably because it's out of date) right here.
It promised "A free concert and art demonstration will feature graffiti artist Jason Walker, singer/songwriter Alin Bean and rap/hip hop artists DoLL-e Girl, Lil Blacky and Big Dave hosted by All Day Everyday Records and Pannes Ave. Recordings. (http://www.myspace.com/alldayeverydayrecords)"
A quick Google search of these artists, record label, and Bean shows that All Day Everyday Records and Pannes Ave. Recordings have quite a few artists in their roster who specialize in gangsta rap, with names such as Lil Sicko and East Side Assasin. A quick listen to the Myspace page will give you the majority of George Carlin's Seven Words You Can't Say on Television.
As for the artists promised to appear or who did appear at Aveson, Altadenablog reader Michael Duncan wrote to express his horror at the following performers. Please note that the videos and audio contain very harsh language:
DoLL-e Girl - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpaUBMVC5w
Lil Blacky - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8p2L1ZHyr8
Jonny U – http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6279105/a/O.G.+Love.htm
Big Dave - http://cdbaby.com/cd/bigdavebully (pick anything)
We have a call in to Aveson School, but don't expect any reply over the weekend. We also found an email address for All Day Everyday Records, and have a message in to them. If any staff, parents, students, or anyone who attended the Jubilee would like to chime in, we'd love to hear from you!
Questions we need answered:
- Who booked these acts?
- Who vetted these acts?
- Who approved having these acts at the carnival?
- Did they perform at Aveson in the manner and style and using the language and subjects that are advertised on the record company's websites?
- Did someone determine that these acts were appropriate for a school carnival, or did it come as a surprise? Why?
- Did the artists also pass out inappropriate promotional material?
- Did the artists realize the nature of the event where they were performing? Did they change their acts onsite to reflect the venue, or did they perform according to their image?
- What was the reaction of school officials to the performance? Did anyone contact the artists or their management during the performance? If inappropriate, was it cut short? If not, why not?
- Were the performers paid, or was this a free gig?
- What was the nature of the "graffiti artist's" work? Where has he appeared as an artist? Describe the demonstration that took place at Aveson --could a reasonable person conclude that it encouraged or discouraged vandalism?
- Could the artist comment on the vandalism that occurred in Eaton Canyon the following day?
- What was the reaction of parents to school management and the jubilee organizers following the performance? Did anyone raise objections at any time, before or after the event?
That's off the top of our head. Feel free to chime in on comments or email.
UPDATE 4:30 PM: There's already been a slew of email and comments regarding the above story, one of which we look at after the jump.
Reader Amy Lyford writes:
Jubilee I just read today, June 13: the implication that it was the Aveson
Jubilee of a week ago - and the school's invitation of hip hop and rap
musicians - that was the "source" of the graffiti spotted in Eaton Canyon
yesterday really disturbs me. What is the evidence that the author has
about this linkage? I find it really hard to swallow such claims of "guilt
by association" or the implication of guilt that is at the root of the
entire battery of claims and questions posted on the blog.
Why is it necessary to demonize the artists and the school in this way,
without any clear evidence of a link between the vandalism and the school's
selection of musical acts for their carnival?
I'd appreciate a response of some sort that explains the hostility embedded
in the post, and the reasoning behind the baseless claims of a link between
the musical acts and the graffiti that occurred a week later in Eaton
Canyon.
First, please note that the story is mostly about the musical artists, not the graffiti. (We would be interested in hearing why these musicians were chosen.) Regarding the graffiti, please also note that we actually say nobody has connected the two events.
However, also note that Aveson's own website said that that there would be an "art demonstration" featuring the graffiti artist -- presumably showing how he does his art. A day later, there is a massive amount of graffiti in a natural area a short distance away. While there's no proof that one led to the other, the coincidence is remarkable, and we believe the question -- is there a link? -- is a fair one to ask, and bears investigation. We don't know the answer, but we don't think it's unfair or hostile to ask the question. If the answer is "there is no link," then there is no link. If we make a "claim," we'd like to know where we do so.
UPDATE 10 PM: we know we're tired, but we missed this claim the first time: Reader Lyford claims the vandalism was a week after the Aveson event, when it was in fact the following day.
