PLEASE JOIN US
THIS SATURDAY! MAY 4th FROM 4:00 - 6:00 PM
FOR A BOOK SIGNING WITH
MELODIE McDANIEL: RIDING THROUGH COMPTON
and a conversation with contributors
AMELIA FLEETWOOD AND MAYISHA AKBAR

 
“According to the US Census Bureau, one-third of the population of Compton, California is under the age of eighteen and one-fourth of its population lives at or below the poverty line. Despite the latter statistic, Compton has been home to significant athletes, musicians, scientists, writers, and pioneering public officials. Over decades young people have found a way to overcome the socioeconomic odds against them when their life begins in this city. For the last thirty years, the streets of Compton have been the stomping grounds of a youth riding and equestrian program under the leadership of Mayisha Akbar. Designed to provide the kids of Compton with meaningful year-round after-school activities, members not only learn to ride, but to care for their horses - developing responsibility, discipline, and self-esteem. 'Riding Through Compton' (published by Minor Matters Books) pairs three years of documentary photographs and formal portraits by Melodie McDaniel with interviews by Amelia Fleetwood conducted with participants, guardians, and volunteers involved with the Compton Junior Posse. In addition, Poet Laureate of Los Angeles Robin Coste Lewis contributes an excerpt from her poem "Frame", and an afterword by Walter Bodle places the photographs and the importance of the CJP program in historical context."

Please come to Arcana on Saturday May 4th between 4:00 and 6:00 PM to meet and greet Melodie McDaniel as she signs copies of her lovely new Minor Matters Books' title, and to listen to Amelia Fleetwood and Mayisha Akbar engage in what promises to be an intriguing discussion about the book and history of The Compton Junior Posse. PLUS, the Art Center College of Design Photography Department is generously providing refreshments for this celebration of illustrious grad, Ms. McDaniel!

If you cannot attend but would like to purchase a signed copy of "Riding Through Compton", please place your order here or call us at 310-458-1499.
  

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Melodie McDaniel is an American photographer and director who graduated in 1991 with a BFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, and whose work challenges prevailing motifs of American identity, with a deep investment in the exploration of sub- and countercultures. She has created over two hundred advertising campaigns to date for companies that include Nike, Target, Yahoo, Sony, Disney, Levi’s, Chrysler and Delta. Her work has been published in magazines such as Vogue, Dazed, Interview, GQ and Spin. “Riding Through Compton” is her first monograph.
 
A contributing editor for Santa Barbara Magazine and LALA Magazine, writer Amelia Fleetwood is based in Ojai, California, and has also been published in Architectural Digest, At Large, Domino, C Magazine, Huffington Post, and Du Jour, among others.

Mayisha Akbar’s life-long love of animals and her dedication to the youth of the Richland Farms neighborhood of Compton lead to her creation of the non-profit organization "The Compton Jr. Posse Youth Equestrian Program”. It is a place where kids learn the value of hard work, teamwork and competition. Many wonderful opportunities are offered to youth through the program, including apprenticeships with internationally-known trainers including Olympic gold medalists.