Daytime

America’s suburbs are undergoing significant transformation. The traditional view of suburbs as predominantly white, middle-class areas no longer reflects reality. Today, they encompass a diverse mix of residents—rich and poor, Black, Latino, Asian, immigrants, and the unhoused. This shift is especially evident in Los Angeles, where many suburbs have become majority-minority. The New Suburbia explores the experiences of Asian Americans, Black Americans, and Latinos who moved into formerly exclusive neighborhoods.

In 1759, the Diamond sailed to unspecified ports in the Americas, Jamaica, Panama, Colombia, and more unspecified destinations in what was then known as the Spanish Caribbean, embarking and disembarking human cargo as part of the slave trade. The Diamond serves as an entry point into a discussion of the movement of Africans and African-descended captives to the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea-bordered regions, the ocean memory of those human cargo lost to the voyages through the Americas, and how that loss reverberates into the present.

Stream films on Kanopy or Hoopla, both on-demand streaming film services. They both have an extensive library of African American cinema and documentaries that are free with your Los Angeles City or Los Angeles County library card.

kanopy.com/en/category/40898?frontend=kui

 hoopladigital.com

The Los Angeles Public Library and the Los Angeles County Library cards give you access to many resources, including two amazing online music collections. Freegal features unlimited songs, and Hoopla lets you check out full albums. These two databases have endless amounts of music from the African and African American diaspora to explore, from famous hits to underground sounds.

hoopladigital.com/search?q=African+American+music&scope=everything&type=direct&kindId=6

freegalmusic.com

This December, the William Grant Still Arts Center proudly presents its 44th Annual Black Doll Show, titled “in need of good folk… ‘MAGIC FOLK LIKE US’,” curated by the visionary Aiysha Sinclair. This year’s theme invites visitors to journey through a magical world where Black folklore and fairytales are celebrated, woven together through the power of storytelling and art. The show is an homage to the oral tradition and its limitless possibilities, seen through the lens of Black artists and doll makers.

Several artists and staff, who have been essential in producing the William Grant Still Arts Center Black Doll Show, were recently featured in Netflix’s acclaimed documentary, “Black Barbie.” Monica Bailey shared her inspiring personal journey toward self-love through dolls, while Amitis Motevalli and Billie Green conveyed significant historical Black doll moments. Also included in the documentary was Stacy McBride-Irby, who participated in our 2018 Black Doll Show, reflecting on her time at Barbie and her decision to develop her own Black doll line. These powerful voices underscore the deep connection between Black dolls, identity, and self-empowerment. In this 44th year, the Black Doll Show remains as relevant as ever.

This year’s theme, “in need of good folk… MAGIC FOLK LIKE US,” taps into that same empowering spirit, reminding us that within the realm of imagination, we are limitless. Aiysha Sinclair, the Los Angeles-based Children’s Book Author, Performer, and Doll Artist curating this year’s show, is known for her exploration of the magic and wonder within the African diaspora. Her work, which spans across folk tales, fairy tales, and folklore, invites visitors to reconnect with their roots and explore the cultural richness that Black storytelling has offered the world.

“These stories are haunting as well as uplifting,” says Sinclair. “I don’t think I’ll ever tire of learning from them. It is an honor to share my stories, and those of my ancestors, whether through writing, mixed media, or creating dolls.”

Celebrating Black Folklore and Tradition

At the heart of this year’s exhibit is a celebration of the countless stories that Black people have passed down through the ages—stories of tricksters, supernatural beings, heroic women, and enslaved ancestors. This is a space where imagination and memory collide, and where dolls become more than just objects—they become storytellers, sharing the influences of villages, families, and community dynamics. Like a griot passing tales from one generation to the next, the artists in this year’s Black Doll Show continue a tradition of storytelling that transcends time and place. The exhibit will showcase dolls and mixed media pieces that bring to life Black folklore, reflecting the joy, resilience, and spirit of Black culture.

The Legacy of the Black Doll Show and Its Connection to Civil Rights

The Black Doll Show began in response to the 1940s doll tests conducted by Mamie and Kenneth Clark, which revealed how systemic racism impacted Black children’s self-esteem and led them to prefer white dolls. This became pivotal evidence in civil rights lawsuits, including the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. To counteract these negative self-images, artists Cecil and Miriam Fergerson started the Black Doll Show in the 1980s, bringing together handmade Black dolls to celebrate the beauty and cultural significance of Black identity.

Through this tradition, the William Grant Still Arts Center has continued to create a space for Black artists to reshape narratives and redefine self-worth. The presence of doll artists like Monica Bailey, Amitis Motevalli, and Billie Green in “Black Barbie” speaks to the deep importance of this work. Their reflections in the documentary on how Black dolls have shaped their own lives are echoed in this year’s show, where the tradition of using dolls to convey cultural and personal stories continues.

An Invitation to Experience Magic and History

We invite all who believe in the power of storytelling and Black cultural heritage to join us for this year’s Black Doll Show. Whether you are a longtime fan of the exhibit or newly inspired by the stories shared in “Black Barbie,” the magic of this year’s theme, “in need of good folk… MAGIC FOLK LIKE US,” will speak to your heart.

This is a celebration not just of art, but of identity, history, and community—an affirmation that the stories of Black people, whether told through dolls, folklore, or film, have the power to inspire, uplift, and transform.

Event Details:

Opening Reception: December 14, 2024, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Exhibition Dates: December 14, 2024 – February 15th, 2025

Doll Workshops

• December 21, 2024
• January 11, 2025
• February 8, 2025

Additional Events During the Black Doll Show Run:

• Panel Discussion Jan 18
• Stories & Books (Zine Making Workshop) Feb 1
• Tea Time (drink tea with your dolls) closing Feb 15

Together, let us celebrate the magic of our stories and the good folk who continue to tell them.

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) presents Danila Cervantes: Laberintos de huesos floreciendo, an inaugural exhibition for Los Angeles based-artist Danila Cervantes, curated by Arts Associate Jennifer Payan. Join us for our Opening Reception on Sunday, March 9, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

Cervantes’s works explore the profound interconnectedness between humans, animals, and nature, drawing inspiration from life cycles and behavioral parallels across species. Themes of decay, transformation and renewal are central to the exhibition, offering a poetic meditation on existence and the ways life emerges from endings. The agave plant serves as a poignant metaphor; as it dies, it produces a towering stalk from its core—its corazón—flowering to ensure the continuation of life. Similarly, the xenophora shell, which adopts foreign objects for protection, reflects themes of adaptation, identity, and environment. Other works reference natural phenomena like whale falls, where the lifeless body of a giant becomes a thriving
habitat for deep-sea communities, and volcanic landscapes, where destruction gives way to fertile new beginnings. Infused with personal narratives, they examine cycles through their border identity, queerness, and familial connections, grounding their vision in the interconnectedness of all living things. Through rich symbolism—their imagery conveys movement, transition, and a sense of belonging in flux. The works suggest surrendering to nature’s cycles, embracing decay as a portal to growth, and finding home not in a single place but in a perpetual state of transformation.

The exhibitions open March 6, 2025, through May 18, 2025.

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) proudly presents Step & Repeat, a group exhibition curated by Nancy Meyer and John Weston. Join us for our Opening Reception on Sunday, March 9, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

Inspired by the historical Pattern and Decoration movement of the mid-1970s and its impact across our region, Step & Repeat highlights 46 Southern California artists who engage with themes of pattern and decoration. The exhibition seeks to create a dialogue around those concepts, encompassing both direct explorations of the subject and works that approach it peripherally.

The exhibition’s title, Step & Repeat is a term used for publicity backdrops at special events, particularly red carpet premieres. While this slightly tongue in cheek reference to Hollywood hints at LAMAG’s physical proximity, it also reflects the repetitive and systematic qualities inherent in patterns within the works on view.

The exhibitions open March 6, 2025, through May 18, 2025.

Artist included in the exhibition :

Liv Aanrud, Merrick Adams, Nick Aguayo, Michelle Andrade,
Amelia Baxter, Linda Besemer, Raghvi Bhatia, Carole
Caroompas, Fritz Chesnut, Edi Dai, Tomory Dodge, Roy
Dowell, June Edmonds, Sharon Ellis, Edie Fake, Amir H. Fallah,
Asad Faulwell, Patricia Fernández, Terri Friedman, Ishi
Glinsky, Valerie Green, Mark Steven Greenfield, Sabrina
Gschwandtner, Sherin Guirguis, Channing Hansen, Zach
Harris, Lorenzo Hurtado Segovia, Jim Isermann, Soo Kim,
Ahree Lee, Emily Marchand, Allison Miller, Dianna Molzan,
Jaime Muñoz, Milena Muzquiz, Elyse Pignolet, Antonio
Adriano Puleo, Caris Reid, Ana Rodriguez, Aili Schmeltz,
Mindy Shapero, Brooklin A. Soumahoro, Jen Stark, Astri
Swendsrud, Mark Dean Veca, and Bari Ziperstein

An in-depth installation of Jean-Michel Basquiat features all 13 works by the artist in the Broad collection, including three works on view for the first time at The Broad: Santo 2, Deaf, and Wicker.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays – 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Thursdays – 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.,
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Michael Jackson’s fashion sense has always been iconic. Our display of original artifacts on loan from the Michael Jackson estate showcases memorable pieces, including beaded jackets Jackson wore during the Jacksons’ 1984 Victory tour. Also featured is our original short film about making Jackson’s Thriller music video.

Sundays & Mondays, Wednesdays – Fridays 11:00 noon – 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.