Technotitlan

Join us for a panel discussion and performance with Mas Exitos artist Gary "Ganas" Garay and special guests: Gerard Meraz of Power Tools, Chris "Curator" Gutierrez, and moderator Adrian Rivas.

Technotitlan is visual and sonic experience, archiving and weaving together house and techno records into an electromagnetic mural curated from Garay's personal archive of records with Latin-based samples. For this performance, Ganas has invited famed House/Techo DJs Gerard Meraz and Curator to bring the mix to life within Mas Exitos'  exhibition space in Made In L.A. 2023: Acts of Living.

The performance takes place on the museum’s Annenberg Terrace, with Made in L.A. galleries open late. Cash bar.

Gary Garay (b. 1977) is a multi-disciplinary artist, performer, DJ, and record collector based in Los Angeles. His artistic practice is informed by his lived experiences crossing the U.S.-Mexico Border, recognizing and drawing attention to the rich and dynamic culture of everyday life. He is the founder of Mas Exitos music collective, host of the Dublab program Mas Exitos con Ganas, and co-founder of Discos Rolas, a record label and collaborative project dedicated to the cosmic sounds and musical histories of Latin America. Garay has exhibited and performed nationally and internationally, including solo exhibitions at LaPau Gallery (2022), Vincent Price Museum (2022), Cell Gallery, Los Angeles (2016), Charlie James Gallery, Los Angeles (2016), The San Diego Museum of Art (2012), Santa Monica Museum of Art (2011), National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago (2008), and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (2008), among others. He received his MFA from the University of California, San Diego in 2013 and BFA from ArtCenter College of Design in 2005.

Gerard A. Meraz holds an M.A. in Chicana/o Studies from California State University, Northridge. His thesis An Oral History of DJ Culture From East L.A. (2004) was the first to document the multifaceted contributions of Chicana/o DJs in the music scene. His published articles on Chicana/o culture have appeared on PBS, Artbound, Aztlán: A Journal of Chicana/o Studies, among others. Meraz is the writer, director, and producer of the documentary UNREST: The Making of Chicana/o Studies at CSUN (2006). For almost two decades, he was the executive producer, writer, editor, and co-host of KPWR 105.9 FM “Power Tools,” the longest running DJ based mixshow in the United States. His current musical productions include ChaChaChili and DadBodInTheMix. In addition to his scholarship and creative works, Meraz has been a Lecturer of Chicana/o Studies for over twenty-five years.

Chris "Curator" Gutiérrez was named by KCET as one of “the original backyard party pioneers”

During Chris’s formative years, as a nine year old boy, Ice T, Jazzy Jay and Afrika Islam showed him the ropes at the groundbreaking youth club ”Radiotron“ leading to the invitation from his mentor and program director Carmelo Alvarez, four decades later, to perform at the Radiotron 40th Anniversary on the commemorative Hip Hop 50th Anniversary at Levitt Pavilion. As a founding member of The Alliance led by Richards “Humpty” Vision (Power 106, Power Tools) by age fifteen opened for Dr. Dre, World Class Wreckin’ Cru, N.W.A., Egyptian Lover, RUN DMC, Beastie Boys and 2 Live Crew later performing alongside producers MF DOOM, Flying Lotus and Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez just to name a few.

A current Resident DJ at Little Joy (Echo Park) who has blessed many arenas and nightclubs to include public programs at MoCA, LACMA, Grand Park, Smorgasburg LA and every backyard party from Highland Park to East Los Angeles over the past three decades, to date.

When not performing or curating records for intuitive audiences, Curator collects rare vinyl, enjoys publishing photo books, producing photography, music, consulting on commercial ads, fashion shows and rattling Chagall paintings at LA Museum of Contemporary Art with sound.

Adrian Rivas is an independent curator and Board member of the Vincent Price Art Museum. He is co-curator of Featuring the Lightz and Soundz of: A 30-year Survey of DJ Culture in East LA.