Skip to main content

Down by the River

Support Provided By

Taking the students down to the river was like dipping our toes into an ancient stream... made of concrete. A strange dichotomy, but a beautiful concept to grapple with.

The students saw the river as a place where graffiti speaks and birds mingle between moss and storm drains.

Down by the River: Sightings

Down by the River: Sightings
As we headed down the Glendale Narrows we discovered the dangers of non-point pollution - all the junk that you can't pinpoint to a specific source. It was hard for the students not to roll up their sleeves and start to pick up some trash.

Down By the River: A Bit of Clean Up

Down by the River: A Bit of Clean Up
For those who don't believe.... here's proof that there's fish in the river - carp and other species.

Down by the River: Fish

Down by the River: Fish
We ended the day at the Cornfield Park where the remains of the Zanja Madre, LA's first aqueduct system, stand fenced behind the Metro rails.

Down by the River: Zanja Madre

Down by the River: Zanja Madre
Justin Cram - my dear co-producer in this endeavor - asked the students for a word that would describe their first impression of the river. And here it is:

Down by the River: Last Words

Down by the River: Last Words
Cool, dirty, big, trashy, resourceful....

That's the river for you.

Support Provided By
Read More
Ed Fuentes, artwork Colette Miller (preview)

In Remembrance of Arts Journalist and Advocate Ed Fuentes

Collaborator and friend James Daichendt remembers Ed Fuentes, a longtime advocate of the arts, who passed away this week.
mount_baldy_photo_by_daniel_medina

The San Gabriels: The Remarkable History of L.A.'s Threatened National Monument

An exploration of the rich history and culture of the San Gabriel Mountains and its eponymous river.
Boyle Heights Street Vending. Credits: Feng Yuan

Is Los Angeles Finally Legalizing Street Vending?

Trend-setting entrepreneurs versus “illegal” street vendors is a confusing dichotomy that has become the center of many conversations.