I started going to art & coffee meet-ups with @sethpringle where I reconnected with @keith_art_archive , and met @vince.skelly . Vince had an ambitious idea of getting a space to do some experimental and contemporary shows in the Claremont area. I said I’m in - Keith knocked on some doors at Fairplex, and we ended up curating a huge exhibition at the Millard Sheets Art Center.
Tonight the exhibition Play Pavilion opens for preview night at 5 PM, and you’re all welcome to come see the result of a time crunch of less than three months of intensive planning, installation and lots of daily conversations with my close collaborator Keith. (Sorry Keith for all the texts).
I wanted to give a very special thank you to @willisthegorilla for coming for an early walk thru and envisioning an excellent title wall mural design. He donated time, materials and talent and even secured a wine donation from the incredible @herrmannyorkwine for the reception.
Speaking of muralists, @ellettcheyne painted an incredible mural for his installation. Cheyne is known for his intense passion and work ethic when it comes to large scale projects. His energy propels me to do riskier installs. He’s an inspiration!
Thank you to the Fairplex for giving us access and trusting our process. And sorry to the security guards for providing almost daily extensive lists of access for over 60 artists to come and install their work with us in the space.
While you enjoy the exhibit, please take note of the impeccable install work done by @timothyleeleblanc and Gus Castañeda! The homies.
Special thanks also to @luzdemano for bringing an entire team to install a huge wooden sculpture!
I can’t forget to thank @crystal.rodriguez.leal.art for doing all the crazy admin work and being my ride or die at @theartsarea . This project was made possible through the generous fiscal sponsorship of The Arts Area and Curious Publishing.
Visit the LA County Fair next month and visit the Millard Sheets Art Center for Play Pavilion: A Survey of Regional Creative Subcultures open May 7 - 31 🛝
Play Pavilion is a precarious playground of absurdity, beauty and craft. Claremont Temporary has gathered 63 contemporary artists, spanning over six generations, from Los Angeles to Palm Desert to transform the Millard Sheets Art Center for LA County Fair audiences; it’s here that we have the rare opportunity to return contemporary art to the noise and crowds of real life. Mined from the deep seas of Southern California’s street smarts, this exhibition weaves together the kinetic energy of skate and hot rod culture, the sprawling narratives of muralists, and the DIY urgency of zines, video makers and musicians.
Read the full artist list, and mark your calendar! 🗓️
We’re excited to show work by the infamous @californialocos for Play Pavilion: A Survey of Regional Creative Subcultures, on view during the LA County Fair at Millard Sheets Art Center from May 7-31!
🖼️ Gary Wong, Huellas, 2018, 41”x31”, Ink and acrylic on canvas
Friday, April 10, 2026, @ 6pm, we continue the launch celebration of the ILL Poetry and Art Anthology Vol. 4: Shedding at the beautiful bookstore and community space, @theuntoldstorybookstore_cafe
Join us for powerful words from these incredible featured poets:
@maestrodesean@raquel4poet@guenther5759@misty.magik@medinawrites@ericalopez74@thee_amador@shayneliza
This will be a night of community, poetry, and a collective letting go of what no longer serves us. It will be a memorable one.
Cover art for Vol. 4 Shedding by the talented @alejandra.studio
#illpoetryandartanthology #shedding #spokenword #curiouspublishing #lopezurbanfarm
Claremont Temporary presents: Play Pavilion: A Survey of Regional Creative Subcultures is a precarious playground fueled by absurdity, beauty, fun, and community. Claremont Temporary has gathered over 40 regional contemporary artists to take over the Millard Sheets Art Center, offering LA County Fair guests a site of active discovery where they can experience the true pulse of Southern Californian creativity. Join us in building a communal bridge between the high art history of Los Angeles and the expansive creative subcultures that have defined the region for generations.
Play Pavilion: A Survey of Regional Creative Subcultures
🗓️ May 7 – 31, 2026
📍 Millard Sheets Art Center at Pomona Fairplex - 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA
Located at the @fairplex during the @lacountyfair
Found some old friends today at the Fairplex 🐽
All month we’re installing Play Pavilion: A Survey of Regional Creative Subcultures at the Millard Sheets Art Center. Opening May 7th! Stay tuned for artist announcements and more 🙂↕️
This year, Curious Publishing & Rebecca Ustrell will be vending at the second annual IE Print & Zine Fest at KVCR Public Media, Saturday, March 14, from 11:00 - 4:00 PM. You can find me at table number 80. Shop local, support independent artists in the IE!
March 14, 2026
11:00 - 4:00 PM
KVCR Public Media
701 South Mt. Vernon Avenue,
San Bernardino, CA 92410
Free & all ages!
#ieprintzinefest2026
Long Beach, join us for a night of celebration and poetry as we continue readings for the ILL Poetry and Art Anthology, vol. 3. Saturday, Feb. 28th, at 6pm, there will be some incredible featured poets sharing their art at Page Against the Machine. This event will be a memorable one.
#illpoetryandartanthology #pageagainstthemachine #spokenword
Tonight from 6-8:30 PM, join us at Pitzer College in the Living Room for live readings, community and connection ✨ We’re excited to be highlighting our latest collab with @lopezurbanfarm , the ILL Anthology Vol.3 Cosecha 💌
Look for the huge chandelier 💡
Join us today from 6pm-8:30pm in the Living Room in the McConnell Center: A Community Reading of the 3rd Volume of the Ignacio Lutero Lopez Poetry Anthology (published by Curious Publishing and Lopez Urban Farm). This event is supported by the Teaching, Learning, and Campus Life Committee at Pitzer College.
The ILL Poetry and Art Anthology is a carefully curated collection of art and poems inspired by the life and lasting contributions of Ignacio Lopez. This anthology brings together voices that reflect his legacy in art, culture, and activism, offering a diverse range of artistic expressions that honor his profound impact on the community.
Each poem and art piece captures the essence of Ignacio Lopez's work and spirit, encouraging readers to connect with his vision of creativity, social change, and community engagement. Through the ILL Poetry Anthology, his legacy is passed on, continuing to inspire and ignite new perspectives in the worlds of art, poetry, and beyond.
Please join our community partners, 7C students, staff, and faculty for an evening of poetry, community, and art!
