Released on = February 9, 2007, 2:23 pm

Press Release Author = Joey O\'Connor/The Grove Center for the Arts

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = The Grove Center for the Arts announced the launch of its
new website with a video interview of Ronald Lopez, artist and curator of the Los
Angeles-based 18th Street Arts Center gallery show \"Does Religion Kill?\" According
to a 1999 report, Los Angeles has surpassed London and New York as the world\'s most
religiously pluralist metropolitan region. Lopez stated that the purpose of the show
is a response to the more than 600 separate faith communities in Los Angeles
neighborhoods. Interviewed by The Grove executive director, Joey O\'Connor, the
videocast features Lopez explaining the show, his work, and the dialogue he hopes to
promote among people of differing belief systems. The videocast and photos of the
show are available online at www.thegrovecenter.org

Press Release Body = Made possible through a grant by The James Irvine Foundation,
the show featured the works of 12 artists and photographers, including Christine
Morla, Raymond Pettibon, Bill Barminski, Melissa Trochez, Burt Payne, Katrina
Erickson, Noah Haytin, Marquis \"Retna\" Lewis, Zara Kriegstein, Ramsey Robinson,
Amitis Motevalli, and Samira Yamin. The show included an interactive dialogue wall
in which people were invited to write their response to the question, \"Does religion
kill?\" Lopez stated, \"My whole purpose in this show is to promote a dialogue among
people of different faiths. Too often, we know and understand so little about what
other people believe.\" Lopez acknowledged that the 18th Street Arts Center show asks
a very provocative question that many people might be uncomfortable with. \"That is
one of the main purposes of art.\" Lopez continued, \"Art is supposed to get us out of
our comfort zones by challenging us to look at a work and ask deeper questions.\" Mr.
Lopez has worked in the public art arena for over 10 years and has implemented city
art programming in Los Angeles and in Istanbul, Turkey, where he is the director of
the Aden Art Center. He currently curates art shows in both of these cities and
represents artists. His social art project \"Does Religion Kill?\" was first held in
conjunction with the 9th Istanbul Biennial in 2005.

Ronald Lopez is also a grant recipient of The Grove Foundation for the Arts. Founded
in 2003, The Grove Center for the Arts offers retreats, programs and online
resources to nurture the spiritual development and creative vision of artists in the
Church. The non-profit ministry is currently working on developing a national
retreat center for arts in the Church at its twelve acre avocado and lemon ranch
located in Valley Center, California (North San Diego).



Web Site = http://www.thegrovecenter.org

Contact Details = Joey O\'Connor, Executive Director
The Grove Center for the Arts
28241 Crown Valley Parkway, Ste. 154
Laguna Niguel, CA 92673
949-369-6767
info@thegrovecenter.org