Daytime

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.

 Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, in collaboration with the NEA Big Read: Los Angeles initiative, invites you to a two-part workshop that brings together literature, creative writing, photography, and an exploration of the neighborhood of Boyle Heights.

On Saturday, April 19, the first day of the program, a discussion of selected chapters from The House on Mango Street showcase how Sandra Cisneros painted a picture of the story’s protagonist, Esperanza’s, life and neighborhood, which was  informed by her own culture, through vivid imagery in her writing.

Participants will then be invited to walk around the neighborhood of Boyle Heights to capture examples of scenes reflecting their own upbringing and cultural identity through photography.

Cameras will be supplied for participants.

Then on Saturday, April 26, the second day of the program, the photos from the previous week will be printed for participants to view. Discussion and a guided writing exercise will prompt personal reflection of their own life experiences and upbringing. Participants will consider the topics of cultural and personal identity in storytelling through words and images. Participants will share their work with the group and take their personal writing and photos home with them.

For more information, please contact Julian Montenegro, at julian@bharts.org or visit bharts.org

Art in the Park is hosting a series of activities to celebrate this year’s NEA Big Read. All sessions are free and open to the public!

A free copy of The House On Mango Street will be provided, while supplies last, and free coffee and tea will be served. You are welcome to come to any or all of the sessions, an RSVP is highly recommended (so we know how many books to hand out).

Activities:

Reading Circle of Sandra Cisneros book The House on Mango Street 
Saturdays, April 5, 12, 19 and 26, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

A book will be provided to read-along

RSVP at artintheparkla.org/programming/the-big-read/!

Family Puppet Making Workshops
Saturdays, April 12, April 19 and April 26, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
For Community Arts, we’ll be making puppets inspired by Carmela Full of Wishes, by Matt de la Peña, a companion book for very young readers for the 2025 Big Read. All ages welcome!

RSVP at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-KWaCC4SKt64w25S5ZI_B3sPQeQXk4shqBkj9nMiffxXrlw/viewform!

Animation and Puppet Making
Saturdays, April 12 & April 19, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Expanded hours to work on puppets for Wishes and animations to accompany original music of Home. Puppet making inspired by Carmela Full of Wishes, , by Matt de la Peña, a companion book for very young readers for the 2025 Big Read. Music Inspired by The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, the Big Read book of 2025.

RSVP at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-KWaCC4SKt64w25S5ZI_B3sPQeQXk4shqBkj9nMiffxXrlw/viewform!

Puppet Show and Film Screening 
Saturday, April 26, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Screening of animations made to accompany original songs of Home by Community Band, Latin Jazz Band and Rafeal Rafel Bustamante.

Wishes, a puppet show inspired by the book Carmela Full of Wishes, by Matt de la Peña, with illustrations by Christian Robinson, a companion book for very young readers for the 2025 Big Read.

RSVP at artintheparkla.org/programming/the-big-read/!

For more information, visit artintheparkla.org, or call (323) 379-5718 or email info@artintheparkla.org.

About Art in the Park:

Art in the Park provides community based arts and cultural programming, with an emphasis on the diverse contemporary and historical communities of Northeast Los Angeles. We foster community engagement and arts accessibility, creating opportunities by providing classes, workshops, exhibitions and performances conducted by both local and visiting artists.

 

The NEA Big Read: Los Angeles celebrates storytelling, books and readers at the 30th anniversary of the popular Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. The Festival of Books is largest gathering and presentation of all things book-related in the United States. Join book lovers to learn, taste, be inspired, make art, shop and explore on Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on the campus of the University of Southern California (USC).

Stop by the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) booth # 721 in the Orange Zone for information about DCA’s cultural resources and citywide services. Booth activities will include drop-in art activities, such as poetry, zine-making, artists demonstrations, and limited edition giveaways, while supplies last.

This event is free and open to the public!

For more information about the DCA booth and/or NEA Big Read: Los Angeles booth at the Festival of Books, call 213-202-5567, or email elizabeth.morin@lacity.org.

For more information about the Festival of Books, visit: events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/.

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