A Celebration of California Women Who Shift Culture • April 29 – May 4, 2025

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Performing Arts Division’s (PERF) EMPOWERMENT project returns for its third year. Honoring women artists and activists who have impacted and redefined the human experience.  EMPOWERMENT is a six day festival-style week of performances, social action, creative workshops, and documentary screenings. In 2025, EMPOWERMENT will honor the work of Academy Award winner Edith Head and Grammy Award winner Etta James. Both American born and rooted professionally in Los Angeles, Edith Head is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential costume designers in the film industry while Etta James is an American singer songwriter famous for her deep and earthy voice bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll is considered to be one of the greatest voices of her century.

The EMPOWERMENT: Edith + Etta celebration will include six days of performing arts celebration for all ages at DCA’s Lankershim Arts Center, located in the heart of the NoHo Arts District at: 5108 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601. All festival events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call: (213) 270-8200.

The Six Day Line-Up:

Edith Head Film Fest

Tuesday, April 29, 8:00 p.m. • All About Eve(1950)
Wednesday, April 30, 8:00 p.m. • The Emperor Waltz (1948)
Friday, May 2, 9:00 p.m. • To Catch a Thief (1955)

Live Music

Thursday, May 1 and Saturday, May 3, 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 3:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Sips & Sounds: PopUp Music Coffee House

Friday, May 2, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Youth Activities

Saturday, May 3
2:00 to 2:30 p.m. • Etta James Sing-a-long
2:30 to 4:00 p.m. • Designing a Superhero Costume
4:00 p.m. • Afternoon Animation Association: The Incredibles (2004)

Documentaries with Talk Backs

Saturday, May 3, 12:30 p.m. • ETTA
Sunday, May 4, 2:00 p.m. • EDITH

Live Dance & Spoken Word

Saturday, May 3, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 4:00 p.m.

Learn more about the 2025 Commissioned Artists performing the LIVE DANCE & SPOKEN WORD performances on DCA’s Initiatives page, click here!

Prior to the colonization of Southern California in the 18th century, Native communities throughout the region deployed controlled fire regimes to ensure the well-being of their local ecosystems. Fire Kinship counters attitudes of fear and illegality around fire, arguing for a return to Native practices in which fire is regarded as a vital aspect of land stewardship, community well-being, and tribal sovereignty. Wednesdays 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m., Thursdays – Sundays 12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m.

In 2019, Lawson answered more than 1,000 questions in his Story File so that future generations can continue conversing with him to learn about his legacy. What would you like to ask Lawson?

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
Thursday, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.
Adults – $16, Seniors and Youth – $9, Members and Children under 5 – Free

The exhibition brings together artists Michael Massenburg, Aiseborn, and Mr. B Baby to explore the intersections of family,
culture, and community. Curated by Guillermo Aviles-Rodriguez, PhD., the works will be on view Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from April 13 to August 2024, with a reception/artist talk and performance by Nedra Wheeler Trio taking place Sunday, June 9 at 1:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Cover image: Helping Families Grow, by Michael Massenburg, Aiseborn, and Mr. B Baby located at Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling and Learning Center

Mark Bradford’s 150 Portrait Tone, a mural-size composition that contains elements of both abstraction and realism, is based on an idea for a work that the artist conceived after the fatal shooting of Philando Castile by a police officer in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in July 2016. Castile, a nutrition services supervisor at an elementary school, was shot after being pulled over in his car—an incident that was livestreamed on Facebook by Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was sitting in the passenger seat next to him.

The painting features excerpts of Reynolds’s dialogue from the video. The title, 150 Portrait Tone, refers to the name and color code of the pink acrylic used throughout the painting. Like the now-obsolete “flesh” crayon in the Crayola 64 box (renamed “peach” in 1962), the color “portrait tone” carries inherent assumptions about who, exactly, is being depicted. In the context of Bradford’s painting, the title presents a sobering commentary on power and representation.

Experience the interior of Hollyhock House at your own pace with a self-guided tour. Docents are on hand to provide information and answer questions. Guidebooks are also available for visitors to use in the house.

Tickets on sale now through January. Tickets for February will be released in December. If it says NO EVENTS on the purchasing calendar that indicates tours are sold out for that date or Hollyhock House is closed. Questions? Email hollyhockhouse@lacity.org.

Sun Valley Youth Arts Center “Stone House” Presents

Free Art Workshops:

Spring Family Art Workshops

Saturday Art Workshop Schedule: April 5, 12, 26, May: 3, 17, 24, 31, 2025, 10AM – 12PM

Spring Egg Hunt

April 12, 2025, Workshop: 10AM – 11:30AM • Egg Hunt: 11:30AM – 12PM

All activities will be held outdoors

*If it rains, workshops will be canceled for that day.

This series of Saturday Family Art Workshops are for the entire family, all materials included! All workshops will be held outdoors and are on a “first come, first serve” basis, while supplies last. Registration sign in required. All participants must be present to be seated once space becomes available. All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

For additional information, please call: (818) 252-4619

Every Saturday, the Market features a dozen local farmers and over two dozen food and artisan vendors who bring a diverse selection of local produce as well as spices, sprouts, breads, nuts, baked goods and fresh flowers each week. The market also hosts monthly events including cooking demonstrations, tastings, and children’s activities.

 

Open Weekly on Saturdays,  10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

This neighborhood market was established in 1992 and features produce from approximately 35 certified California farms, as well as live entertainment, activities and prepared and prepackaged food.  It is a popular site with the local community and draws its customer base from the local Santa Monica and west side communities.

The Pico market is open Saturdays from 8:00am to 1:00pm, rain or shine, and may be closed for selected holidays.

All four markets accept Cal Fresh EBT and WIC-Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks.

The Saturday Pico and Sunday Main Street markets also provide a Market Match program for Cal Fresh EBT customers.  Market Match is California’s healthy food incentive program that matches customers’ CalFresh nutrition assistance benefits at farmers markets.  The Pico Market Match Program (in partnership with Hunger Action Los Angeles) matches up to $20 and the Main Street Market (in partnership with ARP) matches up to $20 for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables.