LAW + ART + WATER:
Sustainability Issues for Creative People in Los Angeles

In Collaboration with Avenue 50 Studio & Printmaking Collective Los de Abajo

Introduction:

California Lawyers for the Arts seeks to foster a role for the arts in addressing the pressing environmental concerns facing our communities. Since 2008, CLA has presented a series of Dialogues on arts and environmental issues, including a water-themed event in 2013. The Law + Art + Water Day of Learning is a continuation of CLA's effort to advance the conversation regarding the artist’s role in California's water crisis and the urban planning issues surrounding the global quest for sustainable living. The program will take place at Avenue 50 Studio during a water-themed exhibition by the Los Angeles-based printmaking collective Los de Abajo.   

Schedule:

• 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. – Light breakfast and Networking sponsored by Sheppard Mullin

• 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. – Sustaining an Artistic Life in the Urban Sprawl: Housing Issues for Artists

  • Program: Urban planning is an essential part of creating a sustainable future for Los Angeles and its water supply. It is also critical to ensuring that artists continue to have a place in the City's tight housing markets and growing population. In this panel, local experts will provide information about navigating some of the housing issues that Los Angeles artists face. Topics to be covered include resources for finding affordable housing and resolving landlord-tenant disputes, state and federal fair housing laws, and basic landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities.

  • Presenters:

    • Yazmin Guzman, Housing Rights Center

    • Amanda Steele, Actor's Fund Housing Development Corporation

    • Durinda Abraham, Community Corporation of Santa Monica

    • Alice Reeb, California Lawyers for the Arts

• 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. – Art & Water: A Talk With Members of Los de Abajo

  • Program:  Join Los de Abajo and moderator Alfred Fraijo Jr., Esq. for a discussion of the printmaking collective's latest exhibition, on display at Avenue 50 Studio. Topics to be addressed include how water has inspired the work of Los de Abajo, how the printmaking collective strives for sustainability and how they view the artist's role in the California water crisis.

  • Presenters:

  • • Kay Brown

    • Cas Donovan

    • Nguyen Ly

    • Yvette Mangual

    • Poli Marichal

    • Don Newton

    • Marianne Sadowski

• 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. – Practicing Your Art in Harmony With the Environment

  • Program: As the California water shortage intensifies, so does the need for reassessment and reform of our everyday practices. This panel will feature a discussion of art and sustainability. It will touch upon the artist’s role in the water crisis and provide a framework for identifying and implementing sustainable artistic and business practices. 

  • Presenters:

    • Justin Yoffe, Arts:Earth Partnership

    • Carmen Zella, Do Art Foundation

    • Devon Tsuno, Artist

Moderator:

Alfred Fraijo Jr., Esq., Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP  

Free parking is available behind the studio and on the street.

These workshops are made possible, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and The City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs.  Additional support provided by the California Arts Council.