Eco-art and environmental activism met great live music and burlesque performances at Lucent L’amour on Saturday. An annual event put on by L.A.-based creative collective The Do LaB, Lucent L’amour brought out everyone from the Burning Man crowd to music fans to green-minded artists for a night of carnivalesque fun — that raised money for a green cause too.

I felt very preppily dressed, since a big chunk of the crowd showed up in carnivalesque wear — ranging from skimpy lingerie to flapper dresses to very furry boots — but felt at home with the eco-cause for the fundraiser: Rainforest Action Network’s Protect-an-Acre. That program gives small grants to local groups in forest communities struggling to protect their rainforest homelands.

Working with Critical Beats, a musical artist collective that works to raise money for non-profits working in Amazon conservation and sustainable education, The Do LaB featured a big RAN booth at Lucent L’Amour complete with a silent auction to raise money for RAN’s work. Festival attendees bid on everything from jewelry to cupcakes to cannabis tasting lessons!

I bid on a massage — then walked a few steps over to the the Lighting in a Paintcan project, where artists busily painted murals from reclaimed old house paints that would otherwise have been discarded.

Attendees got to watch the works get created — then could bid on the paintings they liked. Proceeds from the sales went to Sonic Muze, a nonprofit that raises money for art supplies and musical instruments for local schools. Below’s me with my favorite painting — mainly because I’d like to pretend I’m the girl in the painting. Sadly there was no fan behind me to achieve the windblown hair effect. Also, my skin isn’t actually green.

Of course, the biggest draws to Lucent L’Amour were the live bands and D.J.s — like N.A.S.A. and Bassnectar — as well as the carnival show from Lucent Dossier, the Do Lab’s performance troup, and the huge interactive art environments — many crafted with reclaimed materials or with nature themes.

Sad to have missed Lucent L’Amour? The Do LaB’s next big event Lightning in a Bottle — “a magical forest adventure” with live bands, DJs, art, and other performances — happens over Memorial Weekend this May. Follow the Do LaB’s Greenlight blog to find out what eco-friendly initiatives will be part of that festival.

3 Comments