
Unprecedented doesn’t even begin to describe what our community has been through over the past few weeks. From the bluffs of the Palisades to the foothills of Altadena, the spread of catastrophic wildfires has flattened entire neighborhoods and torn apart the lives of thousands. And while we are heartened by the outpouring of donations and volunteers and the bravery of our service personnel, we also know that the trauma is ongoing. Nothing about this is easy.
Normally, our Metro x We Like L.A. collabs are all about pinpointing a plethora of entertaining possibilities around the L.A. area. We let you know about fun things to do for the weekend. We tell you how to get there car-free. But this time around, it’s seems like a moment to reflect on our shared future. How do we rebuild in a way that makes sense? How do we prevent a disaster like this from happening ever again? What does it mean to live in a landscape evolved for fire?
Fortunately, our city is enriched by some of the strongest intellectual and cultural institutions in the world. And upcoming programming at a pair of these locations is a great starting point to aid in understanding what we are facing. One art exhibition. One discussion event. In tandem these offerings give us the opportunity to assess short term challenges, rethink our relationship to the land, and navigate longterm adaptations to an ever-changing climate.
And of course, per usual, both the events are Metro accessible, which is awesome because you can’t disconnect climate from consumption, and reducing reliance on single-occupancy vehicles is one of the most impactful ways to reduce one’s carbon footprint! Now let’s see about those to-dos…
Fire Kinship at Fowler Museum (ongoing through July 13, 2025) -> The Fowler Museum’s second PST Art exhibition, Fire Kinship, could not arrive at a more timely and dramatic moment in Los Angeles history. The exhibition posits a counter-narrative around the use of fire that seeks a return to Native practices in which fire is regarded as a vital aspect of land stewardship, community well-being, and tribal sovereignty. Fire Kinship includes installations, objects, videos, documents and multimedia works that explore Native communities’ ongoing partnership with the land, and inspire visitors to rethink attitudes of fear and illegality around fire. The exhibition opened this past week and remains on view through July 13, 2025. It’s free to visit Wednesday to Sunday. Go Metro: Take Line 602 to Westwood UCLA Amtrak Bus Stop OR take Line 2 to Hilgard / Wyton.
How Can Our World Rethink Climate Mobility? (February 6) -> Nobody in the city engages ideas in live settings better than Zócalo Public Square, and this February their bringing their series to the new NHM Commons Theater for a panel conversation oriented around climate change, human movement, and international resiliency and cooperation. Discussion participants include artist Tanya Aguiñiga, paleobotanist and curator Regan Dunn, climate mobility scholar Liliana Gamboa, and New Nomad Institute co-founder Badruun Gardi. Plus, the post-event reception features food and beverages by Flavors from Afar, international sounds by dublab DJ Rani de Leon, and vinyl deep listening sessions exploring global themes by Tana Yonas with Sounds from Afar. Free to attend with RSVP! Go Metro: Take the E line to Expo Park / USC station.
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