River Sessions

Reflections: How Does It FEEL?

Art is your emotions flowing in a river of imagination.

~Devin, Los Cerros Middle School, 1999

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.

Our reflection is our connection - the River is both a metaphor and a literal indicator of our own health and self-awareness.

Saturday May 11th, 10am - 12pm | River Session #5: The Great Wall of Los Angeles with SPARC. REGISTER HERE

LA River Arts invites you to join us for River Sessions: a series of guided site visits and walks that explore the art, culture, histories, and communities along the 51 miles of the Paayme Paxaayt, the Tongva name for the LA River. We visit both important and obscure sites along the LA River/ Paayme Paxaayt and its tributaries. In the spirit of Hyonaayn’ar--a Tongva word that means both teacher and student—participants will come to understand the River as a teacher, our greatest collaborator, and a well-spring for the  future of our communities. 

River Sessions are guided by Indigenous Culture Bearers, artists, creative ecologists, historians, and curators. During our walks we may visit existing and ongoing public art projects, local cultural organizations, riverside research facilities and art studios. Each session begins at a new mile of the River offering an artist-led experience that opens unique perspectives on the River and her communities: like hands-on workshops, deep listening sessions, or a flash mob of dance, music, or theater may emerge, delighting us before vanishing around the bend -- just like the River.

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.

Guided Walk times: 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, the National Endowment for the Arts and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Visit www.calhum.org.