LA River Public Art Project | www.LARiverPublicArtProject.org

Join LA River Public Art Project to experience art, culture, and place along the 51 miles of the LA River. In the spirit of Hyonaayn’ar--a Tongva word that means both teacher and student--participants will learn about the River’s ephemeral histories and imagine its ecological futures, all while exploring the diverse cultural responses to the water.

Each month we’ll meander a little further down the River with artists, Indigenous Culture Bearers and local experts: beginning in January at the River’s sources in the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains, and concluding in December at the River's end in Long Beach. Watch for surprises around the bend!

MILE 40-38 : Studio City

On April 8th we will walk the greenway along the River as it winds through Studio City. A portion of this stretch of the River has been trasformed with native trees and plants: This section of the River is verdant and inspiring - but is it used and appreciated? Does it feel safe? Could public art help connect people to the River and create regenerative opportunities for even more ecological support?

Come to listen, stay to share your thoughts and ideas as we design potential futures together.

The River Walk through Studio City connects three sites that are each in the midst of major transformation... We will visit all three, beginning with a tour of Radford Studios (formerly the CBS Studio lot where the Gilligan’s Island lagoon was located, Mary Tyler Moore was shot, and countless other films and TV series).

We’ll stroll from there to Weddington Golf Course - a public course about to be transformed into Harvard-Westlake River Park, including sports facilities, public amenities, and a school - and stop for lunch at the beloved Cafe Southwest at the clubhouse and a lunchtime talk by Melanie Winter.

Walking another mile up the River after lunch we’ll pass the now-shuttered Sportsman’s Lodge which the Los Angeles Conservancy attempted to protect, noting, "while not an architectural wonder, [it] has long been considered a site that epitomizes the story of the San Fernando Valley itself -- as a site whose evolving uses, from rural to urban, mirrored the Valley's growth...” What role, if any, could public art and regenerative efforts achieve in this place where trout fishing ponds gave way to an olympic sized pool and now all are backfilled and swathed in parking lots?

Our afternoon concludes with a consideration of all three of these lots in flux. Insights from professionals and discussion/ hands-on design in groups will give everyone a chance to share ideas and play with possibilities. As a group, we will consider what opportunities may lie dormant here - and how art may initiate a new approach along the River.

Talks by Tina Orduno Calderon, TreePeople, Melanie Winter of Studio City-based, The River Project, Elaine Rene-Weissman, architect and co-founder of LA River Public Art Project.

Our meander will include:

• Grounding and talk with Culture Bearer, Tina Orduno Calderon, of Chumash, Tongva and Yoeme descent
• Visit to the former CBS Studios lot -- tour of the new Radford Studio Campus
• Stroll upriver to Weddington Golf Course and Clubhouse
• Clubhouse buffet lunch at Cafe Southwest (add-on option at checkout)
• Talk by Melanie Winter, The River Project
• Walk up past The Sportsman’s Lodge along restored Native planting areas
• Professional presentations and breakout into hands-on design sessions to consider the possibilities!
• Saplings and Native Seed packets giveaway by TreePeople

We suggest that you please bring water, a hat, and wear appropriate walking shoes.

Parasols featuring commissioned art by Jess Gudiel (see her bio below) are available at the event: $75ea. If you buy now at the time of registration, save ten dollars! The limited edition parasol is only $65 as an add-on at checkout.

Tour time: 10am - 230pm (does not include time to walk 2 miles back to starting point)

Walking distance: 4 miles r/t - level ground

__________________________

I wish you would

walk with me here

more often—

--Lewis MacAdams, The River: Book One

Explore art, culture, and place along the LA River in a monthly series of guided walks where the River is the lead artist and teacher.