SAT, DECEMBER 14: Tina Calderon and Writers in the Wild
Join our lead Tongva Advisor and Culture Bearer Tina Orduno Calderon and Los Angeles Poet Society’s Writers in the Wild for a soulful journey into the heart of nature, where we will tap into our instincts and embrace the beauty around us through the art of writing. Wander freely on your own, or pair up with a fellow writer, as we explore some of the headwaters of the Los Angeles River. We will gather to share poems and experiences and celebrate our connection with each other and the River landscapes that inspire us.
SAT, JANUARY 11, 2025: The Bad, The Rad, and The Sad: A Guided Tour of DTLA's Public Art
Join us for a guided tour of the best, worst, and most overlooked public artworks in DTLA with LA River Arts' executive director, Jenna Didier! Together, we'll dive into the artistic landscape of this historic area, learn the stories of each piece, and engage with our creative community in all corners of downtown. Whether you're an artist, an art enthusiast, or just looking for an opportunity to explore the area, this tour will offer you a unique perspective on public art and the city. Don't miss this journey into the heart of LA's public art scene!
SAT, FEBRUARY 15, 2025: Poet Laureates on Wheels, aka Rodada laureada
In this collaboration with BiciCrófono L.Á. & Los Angeles Poet Society, poet laureates from across Southern California will join us on our first ever River Session Roll (or rodada laureada, laureate spin) — a bike ride along a stretch of the LA River, stopping at points of interest to listen to poets recite their work and tap into our own poetic responses.
Art by Belen Islas
Our reflection is our connection - the River is both a metaphor and a literal indicator of our own health and self-awareness. The 2024 River Sessions explore our emotional connection to the River, Nature, and each other via poetry, art and sound.
Last year, in our first series of River Sessions, we visited sites along the River in the spirit of Hyonaayn’ar -- a Tongva word that means both teacher and student. We learned creative tactics from many artists and Indigenous Cultural Practitioners who were our guides. What emerged is that the River is trying to heal herself --and our communities need healing too.
The LA River—also known in Tongva as Paayme Paxaayt—was once home to dozens of indigenous communities. Then, the River was not only seen as a vital source of life, but its water was understood as a teacher, a healer, and a gift. Today, however, the LA River--channelized and encased in concrete--no longer meanders, and much of that history and connection has been all but forgotten.
During our River Sessions, participants will reconnect, redefine, and reconsider their understanding of the River. Following the lead of our advisor, Tina Orduno Calderon, a Culture Bearer of Gabrielino Tongva, Chumash and Yoeme descent, our walks and site visits hope to deepen our connections to each other, the many riverine ecologies and communities on our route.
Through these monthly excursions, we aim to raise the visibility of artists and communities that populate the 51 miles of the River, give back to the River by cleaning up as we go and discover potential sites and partners for community-led civic art projects.
We hope you will join us as we meander the LA River Basin/ Tovaangar.
*How to pronounce the Tongva name of the river, Paayme Paxaayt.
River Sessions Details
Guided Walks and Site Visits: Mostly 2nd Saturdays, Hours Variable.
During cooler months, most walks will begin at 11am, during hotter months, we will shift to early golden hour evenings.
Rain or Shine (Event may be postponed due to EXTREME WEATHER)
Maps/ Directions and More Details will be sent to participants after registration
Ticket Pricing of the Guided Walks are variable, typically $15-$40 per person - we will ask for an optional donation during registration to help us offer free community tickets for low-income locals whose communities we are visiting
All session registrations include a 5% Gift of Reciprocity. Funds from this fee will cover compensation for the Tribal Elders and Culture Bearers who accompany most River Sessions.
Thank you to all our participants and Community Supporters!
RIVER SESSIONS is made possible with support from the California Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
LA RIVER ARTS supports LOCAL BUSINESSES!
Would your business like to partner with us for an River Session?
Reach out to admin@lariverarts.org
Your employees can join us for a private River Session!
Reach out and ask us about Employee Engagement!
Contact events@lariverarts.org
Concluded River Sessions
JAN 2023: Mile XX-51 | Canoga Park & Calabasas
Headwaters in Canoga Park to Sources in the foothills/ Chumash Elder Jim Garcia, Tongva Singer Joe Calderon, & Ecologist Kat Superfisky
MAR 2023: Bonus Tour | MOCA Geffen
VIP Tour of Judy Baca/World Wall @ MOCA Geffen/ Curator talk by Assistant Curator Anastasia Kahn.
FEB 2023: Mile 47 | Reseda
Guided walk w/ artists Miles Lewis, RFX-1 and 11:11 Projects co-founders Addy Gonzalez and Erin Stone to recently completed murals. Muralists gave artist talks at each mural - plus performance by Gr818ers!
MAR 2023: Mile 40 | North Hollywood
The Great Wall by Judy Baca / Guided by SPARC historians and contributors
APR 2023: Mile 40-38 | Studio City
Talks by Tina Orduno Calderon, TreePeople, Melanie Winter of Studio City-based, The River Project, Elaine Rene-Wiessman, architect and co-founder.
MAY 2023: Mile 31 | LA State Historic Park
We welcomed visitors to the LA FREEWAVES festival, Heal Hear Here. Pictured: River Ramblers who became our social sculpture, BE THE RIVER!
JUN 2023: Miles 27-26 | Frogtown
Start the day with Tongva Culture Bearer, Tina Calderon, alongside one of the prettiest parts of the River. Participate in a hands-on textile art workshop with renowned artist, Tanya Aguiñagas at her studio, then walk to a picnic in a riverside park with LA-Más and Mercadito.
AUG 2023 : Mile 21 | Boyle Heights & 6th Street Viaduct An immersive consideration of the vibrant Sixth Street Viaduct, an iconic bridge that connects the downtown arts district with Boyle Heights. The golden hour event included readings by Arturo Romo from his novel, co-authored with Sesshu Foster, ELADATL, a bespoke letterpress print by Daniel Gonzalez for each participant, tacos, and hands-on artmaking with Self Help Graphics! At sundown, El Rio performed on a sacred hill overlooking the 6th Street Bridge.
OCT 2023 : Mile 10 | Watts & Willowbrook : Visiting three special places in Watts and Willowbrook, a stones throw from the LA RIVER. Jess Gudiel, the Watts Towers Artist-in-Residence met with us to talk about the Native Plant garden she is cultivating there. Dominique Moody gave an artist talk at the next site on the tour: MLK Medical Campus. Lastly, visited the award-winning Magic Johnson Wetland Restoration Park.
DEC 2023 : Mile 0 | San Pedro A special year-end session with Tina Orduño Calderon, the Gabrielino Tongva and Chumash Culture Bearer, at the beach where land meets water exploring the rich cultural heritage and connection to the River and the Sea, followed by hands-on learning at AltaSea, an ocean research institute, with family-friendly activities fostering a deeper connection and understanding of the aquatic world.
JUL 2023: Miles 24 | Metabolic Studio
Dive into the work of Metabolic Studio by Lauren Bon! Bending the River is an infrastructure artwork underway in the river channel. This early evening session will include tours of the River Lab and Undevelopment 1 & 2. Don’t miss this in-depth look at a historic work in progress.
SEP 2023 : Mile 15 | South Gate South Gate, a community that celebrates its connection to the LA River each summer with the SELA Arts Festival that takes place IN the LA River channel. Did you miss it? Then you won’t want to miss this River Session as we dive into SELA and why they love the LA River right along the 6th Street Viaduct.
NOV 2023 : Mile 6 | Wrigley Greenbelt Guided by talented artist Angela Willcocks. Explore the Wrigley Greenbelt along the LA River and connect with communities in the area. Angela's diverse artistic mediums and community-focused approach promise a unique experience. Gained insights into the impact of industrial pollution and the intersection of animals, history, culture, and social justice.
JAN 2024: Mile 10 | Long Beach: Deforest Park HOW DOES IT FEEL? Creative Field Research led by poet Nancy Woo and Kathryn Dressendorfer, Surfrider Foundation. First in a series using poetry and art to explore the interconnection of nature and self.
MAR 2024 | Mile 27 | Elysian Valley
Nancy Lynée Woo and Mike the Poet at the Glendale Narrows/ Frogtown and the Taylor Yard Bridge. Part of a series using poetry and art to explore the interconnection of nature and self. Our first River Sessions of 2024 focused upon the emotional impact that the channelized River has upon us, led by poet Nancy Woo, our 2024 Creative Corp collaborator. These sessions are part of a community-led, multi-disciplinary art project that invites participants to reflect upon the LA River, climate change, social justice, and the emotional interconnectivity of these phenomena, culminating in a printed zine and public performance.
APR 2024 I Mile 0 | San Pedro
Join poet Nancy Lynée Woo for a walk at Point Fermin Park and artists at Angels Gate Cultural Center for hands-on art-making and closing reception with Lynk Collective, featured in the "Material Recovery" exhibit. Conduct creative field research and prompts from Nancy Lynée Woo as inspiration to connect with your own emotional landscapes.
A segment of Judith F. Baca’s Great Wall of Los Angeles, with LARA River Sessions participants in the background. Photo by Stephen Linsley.
May 2024 | The Great Wall of Los Angeles with SPARC
JUNE 22, 2024: DAYLIGHTING SFV
SUMMER SOLSTICE RIVER SESSION & REFLECTIONS PERFORMANCE
Richard Lillard Outdoor Classroom in Studio City
An arts festival along the LA River, on the greenway between Fulton and Coldwater Canyon. Showcasing immersive public art and hands-on workshops by 10 SFV artists and the performance, Reflections: How Does it Feel? featuring 15 poets, musicians and dancers. Zine giveaway to all attendees!
JUNE 29, 2024: REFLECTIONS: HOW DOES IT FEEL? - COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE OF SPOKEN WORD, MUSIC & DANCE
Billie Jean King Main Library in Long Beach
An intimate afternoon of performances exploring our emotional connections to the River, nature and each other. Zine giveaway of poems and art considering the LA River as an artistic collaborator.
JULY 2024: Children’s Art Show
Celebrate the culmination of LA RIVER ARTS Camp with music, a children’s art show, and hands-on art-making activities under the canopy of the mature sycamores at Hermon Park in NELA. The event is hosted by our summer camp partner, Art in the Park.
SEPTEMBER 2024: Miles 31-32 | The Glendale Narrows
Creative field research engaging Glendale Narrows, where soft-bottom portions of the River commingle with the northern edge of Griffith Park, a Miyawaki micro forest and active equestrian trails. Guides: urban ecologist Kat Superfisky, plant horticulturist Katherine Pakradouni, and special guests from Los Angeles Equestrian Center.
Courtesy of Gerth Archives and Special Collections. University Library. California State University, Dominguez Hills.
NOVEMBER 2024: Mile 15 | Brackish Water Los Angeles + the Dominguez Channel
A guided tour and talk with Debra Scacco, the co-director of the multi-year research project Brackish Water Los Angeles, a Getty PST ART: Art & Science Collide exhibit named for water that results from saltwater and freshwater meeting. The project considers the larger implications of in-betweenness, including issues of access, inclusion, ecological racism, and cultural/class system interchanges along Los Angeles’ waterways.
+ A visual encounter and discussion with the Dominguez Channel guided by artist Arturo Gonzalez, founder and executive director of East Side of the River.
