BOOKS
THE KEEPERS FOREST. WHERE IS MY DOG?
"Where is my dog?'
When a beloved pet is gone, it can be one of the hardest questions a child will ever ask.
The Keeper’s Forest is a gentle, comforting children’s book about love, loss, and the special bond between a child and their dog. Through a dreamlike journey, young readers discover a peaceful place where dogs are cared for, remembered, and still joyful.
ART INTERVIEWS FOR COAGULA ART JOURNAL
JOHN BALDESSARI
JAMES HAYWARD
MARY CORSE
TIM EBNER
MIKE BIDLO
SUE COE
JOHN MILLER
OSSEUS LABYRINT
MADAM X
The Neighborhood News
2008 - 2021
Created by writer, artist Dianne V. Lawrence
The Neighborhood News covered the events, people, history, politics and historic architecture of communities throughout the Mid-City and West Adams area in Los Angeles Council District 10.
TNN was a 24 page magazine format which started as a black and white magazine in 2008 and began including 8 pages of color in the Oct. 2015 issue.
From 2008 to 2018 TNN distributed 14,000 free copies, 11,000 on doorsteps and 3,000, in public outlets in neighborhoods within the borders of Normandie on the east, Fairfax on the west, Olympic on the north and Jefferson on the south.
Starting in 2019 they reduced their print to 8,000 and distributed to 75 public outlets within their borders.
The hard copy was shut down in 2021 but the website was continued.
www.theneighborhoodnews.net
REPORTING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
2008 - 2021
For 13 years, Dianne V. Lawrence has helmed The Neighborhood News, highlighting noteworthy community members, holding local politicians accountable, and bringing important news and historical stories to the eyes of Mid-City/West Adams readers.
Some of her reports include Garbage, Graffiti and Weeds. Oh My! - City Attorney Sues FAA - Mayor Garcetti shows his support for activists working to improve our neighborhoods. - West Adams proudly clinched the 2015 Best Neighborhood Curbed Cup. - Trashforce tackles local litter issues. - Kenneth Hahn stands out as our very own Central Park, offering a green oasis for residents. - Cell phone grabs are on the rise, reflecting broader urban challenges. And much much more
INTERVIEWS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
INTERVIEWS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
The first thing you notice when you meet Wren T. Brown is his gorgeous deep, full voice and the way he uses it to shape words and thoughts in a courtly and beautifully cultured manner.
So it comes as no surprise to discover his family history has deep roots in African American theater. It is a delightful surprise to find that his own roots are deep in our community.
SUBSTACK
AROUND MY WORLD
HUFFINGTON POST
THE REAL THREAT TO MARRIAGE
The real secret, pervasive threat to the Institute of Marriage?
Childless, single, joyous, happy and free women who just can't get worked up about getting married and who do not want children. And our numbers are growing.
HUFFINGTON POST
AGING. WHAT LIES AHEAD
One of the many jobs I've had was working for a company selling the button that helps old people get up (you know, the "I've fallen and I can't get up!" ads). I was in my 40s and talked with seniors and their families all over America, from all walks of life. I enjoyed our discussions and learned a lot about aging from them.
THE LA WEEKLY
LET'S GET LOST
I haven’t passed an exit in the last half-hour, but one miraculously appears. It’s an exit with a gas station north of the Grapevine. A beautiful oasis, surrounded by flat, golden fields, with coffee and a telephone. My crippled wagon pulls in and clanks to a halt, and I step out into sun and dry desert wind in my hair and the deep quiet of all that uninterrupted space. The unexpected has caught me.
REVIEWS WRITTEN
Film/Art
FilmMonthly.com
Over 30 film reviews including:
Leonard Cohen. I'm Your Man. (2006)
"He has withstood the test of time and, even more difficult, the fickleness of the music industry, and this film will satisfy the interest of anyone wanting to experience the spirit of this remarkable talent. As Mel Gibson observes with surprising poetic insight, 'Leonard Cohen has spent a life seeking purity of expression. He has humbled himself, shunning the superfluous distractions of the material to venture naked and open of heart into that dark night of the soul; to return then with his words, a Sherpa from the depths, bearing missives that tell of the indefinable.'"
Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool (2005)
"The skillful collage of images is key to Freedman’s expert ability to connect the audience with the full expression of McQueen’s vulnerability, tough-minded street smarts, joyful sexy expression of masculinity, dancer-like grace, and aggressive ambition. Very hot, very cool, and highly recommended."
ART
Melanie Pullen @ ACE Gallery
October 2008, White Hot Magazine of Contemporary Art
"At her best, when she is reining in the faux drama or sly commentary, she creates genuinely quiet poetic moments, such as the image of the single dead soldier lying on the beach with a setting sun or in a quiet, snowy forest glen."
PERFORMANCE
Nancy Evans "Tiny Alice"
High Performance, Issue # 37, 1987
"Scottie welcomed the diversion of a third character, Scarlet, played with wonderful comic flair by Patty Podesta. Sensual, mischievous, and indolent, she presented an earthy, playful contrast to dreamy Alice. Lurching through the door holding her glass high and demanding 'INDULGE US PLEASE!' she was drunk, annoyed, and in no mood for advice. Scottie welcomed this delicious distraction from Tiny Alice’s enormous self-concern, making it a noteworthy piece in performance reviews."