WeHo Artist Performance Grant

The WeHo Artist - Performance Grant is intended to provide financial support to resident performing artists and entertainers as well as provide the community the opportunity to enjoy quality, accessible arts and culture.

Applications were reviewed and 6 artists were selected by the Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee at their June 10, 2021 meeting and approved by the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission at their June 24, 2021 meeting.

The 2021 WeHo Artist Performer Grantees are: Alx Luke, Alula Yohanes Tsadik, Bvffalo, K. Ryan Henisey, Leopold Nunan Soares, and Natti Vogel.

K. Ryan Henisey
Jesus 3.0: Resurrecting WeHo Jesus
Every Weekend to September 1, 2021

“Jesus 3.0: Resurrecting WeHo Jesus,” K. Ryan Henisey will appear as a pop-art ‘resurrection' of “WeHo Jesus” (renamed Jesus 3.0) in one two hour performance art walk each Saturday and Sunday between Aug 1 and September 1 at various times of day and night on West Hollywood’s streets (Santa Monica, Sunset, and Melrose Boulevards) and through public parks.  Connect with the Rainbow Jesus here: https://kryanhenisey.com/the-hollywood-coming 

About the Artist: 

West Hollywood resident artist, K. Ryan Henisey’s work is heavily influenced by the people, culture, and land- scape of the local community and Golden State. His personal narrative is often interwoven with mythological subjects and symbols, using patterning as a vehicle to make meaning from deconstruction.

K. Ryan Henisey (@kryanhenisey) is also the founding editor of Queer Quarterly Magazine. He is president of TAG Gallery in Los Angeles and founder of Pattern & Matrix, providing press and creative services for artists and organizations. Henisey’s fine art has displayed in institutions throughout Southern California, at the Garroxta Museum in Spain, and most recently in Guangzhou, China.

Henisey a multi-disciplinary artist primarily working across performance, installation, and traditional paint and collage medias. His work is unique in its ability to elevate the Queer experience using historic and spiritual references often barred to LGBTQIA+ peoples. Jesus 3.0 reflects Henisey’s values by highlighting secular messages of advocacy in a provocative, pop-art format. The performative aspects of Jesus 3.0 (costuming, interactive photo-moments, and advocacy messaging) reflect his personal beliefs as an artist and Queer person.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kryanhenisey

Alula Yohanes Tsadik
World Music Performances
Sunday, August 1, 2021, 2-5PM at Plummer Park
& 
Sunday, August 8, 2021, 2-5PM at Plummer Park

Alula will perform on Sundays, August 1 and August 8 on the hour between 2-5 pm in Plummer Park -“GIVING LOVE, PEACE, UNITY AND DIVERSITY THROUGH WORLD MUSIC,” and diverse musical performances.

About the Artist:

Alula Yohanes Tsadik is a West Hollywood resident, multi-talented, self-taught musician, composer, arranger, lyricist, singer and performer with over 7 seven CD’s and 10 videos. Alula has toured the world, performing his original songs in over 10 languages, while simultaneously accompanying on various musical instruments. On stage he uses high energy African and Latin dance to enhance his performances with unique African rhythm.

Alula has appeared on European, African and Middle Eastern Television programs where his spiritual and humanistic approach have been the topic of interviews.

His music is an expression of the pursuit of Freedom, Life, Liberty, Happiness and social justice issues. It gives members of local community an opportunity to sing and dance with one another to promote Alula’s mission of Love,Peace, Unity and Diversity.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alula.tzadik

Bvffalo & Friends 
Crystalline
Saturday, August 14, 2021, 3PM at West Hollywood Park

Bvffalo and friends will perform Crystalline, a multi-genre musical showcase to be held on Saturday, August 14th, at 3pm in West Hollywood Park. 

About the Artist:

Bvffalo is a West Hollywood resident, multimedia artist hailing from Orange County California. While Bvffalo’s current focus is music, they have always had a synchronistic approach to the music process. Every song develops simultaneously with a visual element. Bvffalo also expresses through 3D and 2D art using different mediums such as glass, nail polish, traditional oil paints, audio samples taken from nature and a bevvy of other materials. Bvffalo creates uplifting art with recycled and upcycled materials. Even though they delve into dark themes, the goal is to uplift, always. Bvffalo intends to use every platform to lighten the heavy spirits of the people.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_bvffalo_/

Natti Vogel & The Homoromantics
Live Musical Performances
Saturday, September 11, 2021, 7PM at Plummer Park
&
Saturday, October 16, 2021, 7PM at Plummer Park

Natti & The Homoromantics will perform on Saturday, September 11th and Saturday, October 16th at 7pm in Plummer Park.  

About the Artist:

Young alt-pop mastermind and piano singer-songwriter Natti Vogel has managed to stand out among NYC and LA’s buzziest independent artists. His critically acclaimed orchestral pop EP “Serving Body” and its equally inimitable array of music videos have made him stand above the fray.  The viral visual sensation that is his music video, "Brown Rice“, was a nominee  for Queerty’s Best Music Video of 2018, and PAPER magazine included his song, "I Don’t Want to Find the One“ on their list of Top 100 Songs of 2018.

Natti’s live shows are a healing salve for the soul and his captivating and performance style showcases his full repertoire of skills. With a firm foundation from his classical conservatory education, Natti blends cabaret, jazz, rock, comedy and foreign-language into an intoxicating visual-auditory confection that keeps audiences coming back for more. With his sensational tours across China, various sold-out shows at National Sawdust, 54 Below, multiple SoHo Houses and his intimate penthouse pop-up shows, Natti effortlessly tailors his performances no matter the size or audience demographic. His live shows and recordings have been lionized in domestic and foreign publications from The Huffington Post and Edinburgh Evening News to Shanghai Magazine and NPR.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattivogel/

Leopold Nunan Soares 
The Leo From Rio Sound Machine
Sunday, September 26, 2021, 6:30PM at West Hollywood Park

See Leo perform at 6:30pm on Sunday, September 26th in West Hollywood Park in THE LEO FROM RIO SOUND MACHINE – a 2 hour dance music show extravaganza. This interactive pop up dance event on wheels will showcase Carnaval Parade Costumes, dancers, live drums, capoeira acrobats, drag queens and a DJ on a sound truck.

About the Artist: 

West Hollywood resident, Leopold Nunan is a Brazilian-American multi disciplinary artist (singer, dancer, actor). He's a Los Angeles community leader and queer activist. He was classically trained in theatre and ballet in Rio de Janiero. At 18, he recorded his first international hit single “I’ve Got It". The video aired on MTV and played worldwide. Leopold is known as the first house music singer in Brazil.

After moving to Los Angeles he wrote and released his first single and music video "Multiple Personality." He directed, produced, and edited the video where he played 47 characters. It was followed by singles, "Got to Be Strong" and "Bate Bum Bum". 

Leo co-hosted KPFK’s Dj Potira’s Brazil Show and the Annual Brazilian Carnaval Party, headlined Long Beach Price twice, and created and performed a Samba-Opera musical which brought together Afro-Brazilian dance-expression at Highways Performance Center.

In 2019, he released the song “Banze”, a social-political statement denouncing the Brazilian Government for destroying the Amazon Rainforest. Leopold invited Amazon Xingu tribe leader, Anuia Amaru, to appear in the video.

Leo’s television appearances include: Food Network’s "Worst Cooks Beauty Studio’s “Drag Reacts”,  and the upcoming film, “Being the Ricardos” featuring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/leopoldnunan

Alx Luke 
Alx Luke Circus Cabaret Presented by Lenny Riggs
Saturday, October 16, 2021, 4PM at West Hollywood Park
&
Saturday, October 16, 2021, 6PM at West Hollywood Park

See Alx perform on Saturday, October 16th, at 4pm and 6pm in West Hollywood Park in Alx Luke Circus Cabaret presented by Leggy Riggs, two free performances of original songs with the circus cabaret Leggy Riggs. This is anight where pop culture and cirque cabaret bring our community together. 

About the Artist: 

Alx Luke is a West Hollywood resident dance-pop singer/songwriter and a cirque aerial performer. As an artist, Alx lives with one core belief that nothing is impossible. Impossible just takes a bit more time. After emigrating from Siberia before his 21st birthday, he was introduced to the music industry, and got lucky enough to work with veterans of the music industry - JHart, Mischke, Makeba Riddick, to name a few. As a fresh kid from a different world, working in the hip-hop industry, he felt like he had no choice but to stay in the closet, which was the biggest blockage to his creativity. Then he found cirque. Cirque changed him as an artist and a person. He discovered a new world of possibilities that helped him express his creative and emotional passions.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alxluke/