Photo by Joe Mello

Photo by Joe Mello

The Blue Party was held just a few blocks north of the much larger and more established street party vibe of the 6th Annual Pink Party. While the Pink Party was held on a closed two block portion of 1st Street in the heart of the LB Art District, it was the smaller 1st Annual Blue Party that combined arts, music and the ideals of the Pride Weekend successfully. With a focus on art, the Blue Party brought the various parts of Long Beach’s diversity together in one space showing the potential of a vibrant Long Beach Arts District.

Photo by Joe Mello

Artists Diane WIlliams piece titled "Hysteria" overlooks the open bar area as two wait for drinks. Photo by Joe Mello

Photo by Joe Mello

What the Blue Party had was one of L.A.'s hottest urban music duos, "She-Jay" TLa Storm and singer Tre Azure putting the start-up party on par with the best of L.A.'s urban club scene.

"She-Jay" TLa Storm. Photo by Joe Mello

The backdrop for the musical dual however was not a slick night club or outside stage, but an art space with a collection of art from 30 artists brought together in an exhibition called Progressive Views on Gender and Sexuality.

Add blue themed drinks from an open bar, black bean bag chairs surrounding the dance floor, exhibition artists discussing their art and local Long Beach artists working on their art pieces and you had the Blue Party taking on a hip diversity that metropolitan neighborhoods aspire towards, but few achieve. The Blue Party's mixing of art and artists, music and dancing, white and black, gay and straight, locals and visitors, young and old-all was an urban planners dream come true and something that has until now eluded the LB Arts District.

Artist Gary Navarro Pickens and his assistant Francisco Moreno worked on a huge mural that will be installed on the northeast corner of Market St. and Long Beach Blvd. Eighteen years ago Pickens tapped into the now defunct Long Beach Shared Youth Employment Training for some young assistants. His assistant Moreno has been working with him ever since.

Artist's Assistant Francisco Moreno working on North LB mural. Photo by Joe Mello

Long Beach artist Steve Elicker was working on his art piece composed of black lights, fluorescent paint and a metal screen. Using words submitted by others, Elicker arranges and connects the submitted words in a crossword puzzle fashion by drilling each letter out and coating the hole in florescent paint.

Artist Steve Elicker and light art. Photo by Joe Mello

Another feature of the Blue Party was the "Prom Wall." Pictures of dressed up "prom couples" will be featured on a "marriage equality" wedding cake made out of tiles.

Photo by Joe Mello

Artist Greg Pickens does a Prom Pic. Photo by Joe Mello

The Blue Party was the brainchild of ArtExchange CEO Nicolassa Galvez and ArtExchange volunteer Carolyn Wysinger. The two had originally met as members of the 2012 and 2013 Long Beach Leadership Classes and were now working together at the ArtExchange. Needing a fundraiser to buy film equipment for a planned ArtExchange women’s film festival called Queer Women of Color, the Blue Party was born (the name chosen as a contrast to the Pink Party)

After learning about the plans for a Long Beach Dyke March (LBREPORT.com coverage here and here), Wysinger contacted the march organizers and the Blue Party was named the "official after party" of the march. That official designation however did not alter the vision for the Blue Party -- a mix of art, music and the celebration of women during pride weekend. Competing with four other Dyke March parties around town, the "official designation" did not bring many of the early evening marchers to ArtExchange's later "official after party."