Zócalo Public Square

The headlines that make breaking news in the art world most often concern a piece’s financial worth, which nearly always means how much a private collector paid for it. But for most of us, the value of art has very little to do with a dollar amount. Rather, art provides an avenue to a diverse range of critical discussions, evokes a feeling or a memory, helps us process deep emotions, or calls us to action—and the stronger the response, the higher the value. Where do these economic and non-monetary forms of value meet? How can art world movers and shakers—artists, curators, museum professionals, and nonprofits—continue to leverage the money and attention around blue chip artists into support for social change and community building? And what larger, deeper questions posed by art does our obsession with skyrocketing price tags obscure?

The week before the international art fair Frieze Los Angeles descends upon Southern California, contemporary artist and activist Andrea Bowers; artist, cultural organizer, and co-founder of Meztli Projects Joel Garcia; and LAXART director Hamza Walker visit Zócalo to consider the value of art beyond a financial investment.

Live from ASU California Center at the historic Herald Examiner Building. Tech entrepreneur Nonny de la Peña, author Charlton McIlwain, and internet activist Ethan Zuckerman joined Zócalo and Future Tense to ponder human decision-making’s impact on the digital world–and the ways that code, in turn, has impacted humanity. This event was hosted on January 31, 2023 and was moderated by Torie Bosch, editor of "You Are Not Expected to Understand This”

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Live from ASU California Center at the historic Herald Examiner Building: Iran analyst Holly Dagres, artist Sahar Ghorishi, and anthropologist Pardis Mahdavi joined Zócalo to discuss if young women hold the key to a just future for Iran. This event was recorded on December 6, 2022 and was moderated by Porochista Khakpour, author of "Brown Album"

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Live from ASU California Center at the historic Herald Examiner Building: The night began with Beau Sia performing “We Voting,” and Sekou Andrews and Steve Connell performing “Water Stained Black,” followed by a conversation with the poets about the ways artists engage with politics, and fuel democracy. This event was co-presented with Da Poetry Lounge and moderated by poet and art organizer Alyesha Wise.

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Everybody loves a debut novel. The thrill of discovering a new literary voice, the culmination of years of solitary work, and the possibility of so much more to come will always be catnip to publishers, reviewers, and of course, readers. First-time novelists often pour much of themselves and their family experiences into these works—lending a particular richness and depth. Emerging from a diverse, dynamic place like Los Angeles, debut novels invite us to step into unknown neighbors’ hearts, minds, and milieus, and offer us new ways to behold and understand our city and our world. What is the experience—creative, intellectual, emotional—of writing a first novel, and how is it different than working on a short story, poem, or screenplay? When first-time novelists explore the world in a place like L.A., can the city—its mood, its vastness, its populations—become a crucible for forging new visions and ideas? And how do these writers approach perhaps the most daunting question: What’s next?

Debut novelists Fatimah Asghar, Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi, and Ryan Lee Wong visit Zócalo and ALOUD to read from their books, and to discuss the excitement and challenges of putting out a first novel, what inspires their craft, and why Los Angeles had to be a part of it all. This event was streamed live from Los Angeles, CA on Thursday, November 10, 2022 and was moderated by Zócalo Public Square editorial director Eryn Brown.

Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA

For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway:

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Los Angeles City Council member Mitch Englander went to prison for taking gifts from casino interests. Jose Huizar turned his city council office into a criminal enterprise, an indictment contends. Mark Ridley-Thomas faces charges of taking bribes from USC. And three more councilmembers conspired with a top labor official to influence redistricting—spewing racism and hatred on tape and disgracing themselves. Often, such scandals seem like the only times Angelenos hear about their councilmembers. Is the L.A. City Council—overshadowed as it is by the mayor, five county supervisors, and powerful state and national politicians—still worth the trouble and embarrassment? Can the body be saved by reforms, or by making it bigger? Or should L.A. replace its council altogether and turn instead to innovative methods of government decision-making—from lottery-selected citizens’ panels to the online environments used to govern cities from Madrid to Montevideo?

Public Access Democracy director Leonora Camner, California 100 executive director Karthick Ramakrishnan, L.A. city councilmember Nithya Raman, and Weingart Foundation president and CEO Miguel Santana visit Zócalo to discuss where things went wrong, and imagine new futures for L.A.’s city council.

Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA

For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway:

Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events.

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The pandemic was bad for schools. It was even worse for rural schools, which are often the centers of daily life, culture, and economy in their communities. Poor internet connections made remote learning inaccessible and downright impossible in many cases. Attendance dropped. Rural schools, which struggle to attract and keep staff even in good times, hemorrhaged teachers and administrators; staff who remained were exhausted and prone to leaving. How can rural schools and districts recover from such damage—and how can state and regional governments best support them? What sorts of changes must rural schools make to adapt to the environmental, economic, and technological threats to rural communities? And what will it take for rural education to survive the 21st century?

California Collaborative for Educational Excellence assistant director of systems of support Julie Boesch, Cal Poly Humboldt executive director of initiatives Connie Stewart, and Small School Districts’ Association executive director Tim Taylor visited Zócalo to explore how rural schools can prosper. This event was streamed live from Bakersfield, CA, on Thursday, November 10, 2022 and was moderated by KQED correspondent and co-host of “The California Report” Saul Gonzalez.

Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA

For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway:

Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events.

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Since the beginning of time, people have gazed up at the stars and wondered: Are we alone in the universe? Now, this question is stoking controversy as the U.S. military continues its release of videos showing “unidentified aerial phenomena”—about which former President Barack Obama admitted, “We don’t know exactly what they are.” It’s time we put together a game plan—preferably one we can all agree on—to guide us when extraterrestrial guests ultimately do arrive. What will contact with a new intelligent lifeform mean for humanity’s future? Can the close encounters Hollywood has imagined help us plot our way forward? And, is it possible that humanity will find unity in how we present ourselves to the new arrivals?

Senior operations specialist Corey Gray of LIGO Hanford Observatory, ASU astrobiologist and theoretical physicist Sara Imari Walker, and Afrofuturist poet, fiction writer, and editor Sheree Renée Thomas visited Zócalo–not to discuss whether there is life out there, but to reflect upon how we should prepare to meet it. This event was streamed live from Los Angeles, CA, and was moderated by New York Times national security reporter Julian E. Barnes.

This event is a part of Experience ASU, a month-long series marking Arizona State University’s expansion in California.

Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA

For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway:

Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events.

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It sometimes feels like we will never laugh again, and that levity’s moment has passed. But comedians have always grappled with difficult topics in difficult times, helping the rest of us better understand ourselves—and let off a little steam in the process. Comedians dare to go where others can’t. Satire, stand-up, and skits can take on the topics that most divide us: race, nationality, gender, religion, class. What is the relationship between dissent and comedy? Is there civic virtue in laughter? Are there any issues that it is “too soon” to joke about? Should comedians around the world draw inspiration from American humor? And can comedy break through apathy, discontent, and division in a democracy under pressure—serving as release valve, remedy, and respite?

Political satirist Bassem Youssef, and playwright, actor, and performance artist Kristina Wong visited Zócalo to discuss the current comedic zeitgeist, and why the joke can be mightier than the sword. This event was streamed live from Los Angeles, CA, and was moderated by Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano.

Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA

For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway:

Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events.

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In the weeks preceding the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Gov. Gavin Newsom called on California to continue to serve as a “beacon of hope” for those seeking abortions. But even within the state, geography often determines individuals’ reproductive rights—access to abortion, but also access to prenatal and pregnancy care, contraception, sex education, and institutions that support parents. In South Los Angeles, community groups and public officials have worked for years to address disparities, including maternal and infant mortality rates that have been dramatically higher for Black families. What strategies have succeeded in getting more people better reproductive care in South L.A.? And how might they inspire other people and organizations, at the community, state, and even national level, in post-Roe America?

Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Janette Robinson-Flint, executive director of Black Women for Wellness, Allegra Hill, midwife and co-owner and co-founder of Kindred Space LA, and Dr. John McHugh, representing California's district of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, visited Zócalo to discuss how future battles for reproductive justice might resemble those that have already been waged in South L.A. and other California communities. This event was streamed live from Mercado La Paloma in Los Angeles, CA, and was moderated by Sandy Banks, columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA

For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway: https://zps.la/3zrepgJ

Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events.

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