Los Angeles is often described as an “unfinished city,” constantly evolving and resisting traditional urban models. From its origins as a Spanish colonial settlement to its emergence as a global metropolis, LA’s development has been shaped by cycles of rapid expansion, reinvention, and cultural blending.
Unfinished City
Today we face a crushing housing crisis. It is incredibly expensive to build in Los Angeles, to the point that for many there is no place to live. Labor costs weigh down project budgets such that material selection for projects with narrow margins is driven more by cost to install than cost to procure. Construction material supply chains set up to address mass housing and construction booms of a century ago drive material selection to a few common denominators.
In this series, we ask how we got here. We read the built environment for the political past and present by focusing each lecture on a specific material, the land it comes from, and the labor that puts it in place.
Join us at the Craft Contemporary on September 19 for a gallery tour of the museum's Clay Biennial exhibit, tierra on September 19 for a gallery tour by Danila Cervantes, with Joanna Keane Lopez and Jackie Amezquita on their works and practices, followed by a conversation with Joanna, Jackie, Carol Zou and Tracy Fenix, in the courtyard outside.
Speakers
Joanna Keane Lopez - Artist
Jackie Amezquita - Artist (in Residence for tierra)
Tracy Fenix - Curator, MUD KIN project
Carol Zou (moderator) - Cultural worker
Event Details
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 5-8 pm
Location: Craft Contemporary, 5814 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tickets: Sliding Scale / pay what you can
Event capacity is limited to 45 guests.
Light refreshments will be offered.
Interactive table centerpieces by Leo Alas
Please note: a portion of this event will be held outside and the event is ADA accessible. Street parking is limited. Public transit and rideshare are encouraged.
Pay what you can
This event is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts grant for LA Forum's Unfinished City: 250 Years of Los Angeles and the American Experiment project.
