Helms Design District

Creative Perspectives Art Exhibition at HD Buttercup | Coco Republic
2023-05-05 - 2023-06-06 | H.D. Buttercup | Coco Republic, 3225 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles,, CA, 90034, United States
Free
Creative Perspectives: (01) Monica Perez by Coco Republic
A series of art exhibitions exploring the talents of creatives across California by Coco Republic. Explore the work of the first inaugural artist, Monica Perez. Her artwork explores what has disappeared, yet still lingers in our hearts and minds, offering a unique perspective on our world.
Coco Republic, the renowned Australian furniture store, has just made its US debut at HD Buttercup Design Center. Now exclusively available at this premier destination for interior design, Coco Republic offers a unique range of furniture, homewares, and stylish décor items that reflect the brand’s signature blend of classic and contemporary design.
Viewing Hours:
Mon- Sat: 10am – 6pm
Sunday: 11am – 6pm

A reception, lecture, and discussion with Lorcan O’Herlihy, FAIA
2023-05-11 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Join us on Thursday, May 11, 6:30-8:30 pm, for a reception, lecture, and discussion with Lorcan O’Herlihy, FAIA
In collaboration with the Helms Bakery District and the Cal Poly SLO LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Free Parking is available at the corner of Helms Ave. and Venice Blvd.
Lecture is Free and Open to the Public
RSVP

Lorcan O’Herlihy
Lorcan O’Herlihy is an internationally renowned architect and urban designer with offices in Los Angeles, California and Detroit, Michigan. After a career working with esteemed firms including Kevin Roche, I. M. Pei and Steven Holl, O’Herlihy founded Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects [LOHA] in 1994 where he is the Founding Principal and Creative Director. He has built a robust portfolio of work rooted in embracing architecture’s role as a catalyst for change. Enacting a powerful alliance of inventive designs with vigorous social ideals, O’Herlihy’s work prospers whether it is supportive affordable housing in South Los Angeles, working with grassroots neighborhood advocates in Detroit, or designing cultural institutions like Chapman University Dance School. In addition to building over 100 projects across three continents Lorcan has been published in over 20 countries and recognized with 150-plus national and international awards, including the 2021 AIALA Gold Medal, Architect’s Newspaper Best of Practice North America Firm Award, the AIALA Firm of the Year Award, the AIA California Distinguished Practice Award, and was ranked the #1 Design Firm in the US by Architect Magazine in 2018.
Introduced and moderated by Stephen Phillips, FAIA, PhD, Principal of Stephen Phillips Architects (SPARCHS) and professor, director, Cal Poly LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo).
Photos (left to right): Image of Sandi Simon Center, Image of Isla Intersections: Here and Now Agency, and Image of Lorcan O’Herlihy.

Westside Urban Forum Breakfast Talk: Al Fresco Dining in the Public Right-of-Way: Whose Space is it?
2023-05-18 07:45 - 09:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
How are Different Cities Responding to the Shifting Landscape of Outdoor Dining?
Thursday, May 18th, 2023
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City
8:30 am – 9:30 am PST
Doors open at 7:45 for registration, breakfast and networking.
RSVP Required!

Members Register Here

Nonmembers Register Here

On March 4, 2020 Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Many jurisdictions followed with local emergency orders which called on residents to limit all activities outside of their homes. These restrictions included prohibiting restaurants and retail food facilities from providing indoor dining in coordination with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The financial impact of the public health emergency was particularly difficult for small restaurants.
Soon after came the temporary outdoor dining programs that have helped to alleviate the financial stress of the indoor dining prohibition. These new programs often suspended certain regulations in order to provide restaurants and other food establishments with an alternative to full indoor dining – temporarily.
Now that we moved from the pandemic to an endemic and full service indoor dining is allowed, how do cities transition and take the best of what outdoor dining offered during the height of the pandemic into the future? Can cities reclaim the public right-of-way from the very businesses that provided the public a safe respite and gathering place? Will businesses be able to adjust as regulations are enforced and the cost of outdoor dining increases for operators?
How has the urban landscape shifted, literally and figuratively, and who do our streets and sidewalks belong to after all? Join us to discuss these questions and more.
Panelists:
Andrew Thomas, CEO, Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.
John Keho, Director of Planning and Development Services, City of West Hollywood
Raimonda Gintaliene, owner of Uppers Cafe and Bakeshop, Santa Monica
Madeline Brozen, Deputy Director, UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Moderator:
Annette M. Kim, Ph.D, Associate Professor, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
Registration Fees
$50 Members
$65 Non-Members
$10 Student Members & Retired Members
$15 Student Non-Members & Retired Non-Members
Pre-registration closes on Wednesday, May 17th, at 4:00 PM. After Wednesday, May 17th, onsite registration will be available at the cost of an additional $10. No refunds or credits will be provided after this day.
Event Time
7:45 am – 9:30 am
7:45 am – Registration & Light Breakfast
8:30 am – Panel Discussion
Location
The Helms Design Center is located at the Helms Bakery campus at 8745 Washington Boulevard in Culver City.
Directions
Avoid the stress of rush hour and skip traffic! The Helms Design Center at 8745 Washington Blvd in Culver City is conveniently located a short, pleasant walk from a number of transit lines, including:

Metro Rail “E” (Expo) Line Culver City Station (1 block west at Washington and National Blvds), and
Culver City Bus “1” and “1C1” lines (at the adjacent Washington Blvd/Helms Avenue street corner).

Protected bike lanes along Washington Blvd. connecting to Culver City’s larger bike lane network also provide a convenient, safe way to get to the Design Center.
For those who choose to drive, parking is available in the adjacent interior parking garage at 8711 Washington Blvd (look for the red banners), or there is parking available throughout the Helms Bakery complex.
Parking Map
Sponsor Provided Tickets
Thanks to the generosity of our annual Sponsors, WUF has a small number of free tickets available to members of the community. If you are not able to join as a member or purchase a ticket for this month’s panel presentation, but would like to join us, please write us at info@westsideurbanforum.com to inquire if we have any remaining sponsor provided tickets.
Thank You for Your Donations…
As a non-profit organization we are dependent upon donations in order to continue our monthly programming. Please keep this in mind when registering for this event; we appreciate contributions of any amount.
www.westsideurbanforum.com

A reception, lecture, and discussion with Nima Javidi and Behnaz Assadi of JA Architecture Studio
2023-05-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Join us on Thursday, May 18, 6:30-8:30 pm, for a reception, lecture, and discussion with Nima Javidi and Behnaz Assadi of JA Architecture Studio
In collaboration with the Helms Bakery District and the Cal Poly SLO LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Free Parking is available at the corner of Helms Ave. and Venice Blvd.
Lecture is Free and Open to the Public
RSVP

JA Architecture Studio
JA Architecture Studio, a Toronto-based practice led by Iranian-Canadian architect Nima Javidi and landscape designer Behnaz Assadi, combines the rootedness of a local architecture firm with the broad interests of an international design studio. From small to medium sized buildings that confront detail-level building constraints to ambitious international competitions, the studio’s work tries to find meaningful tangencies between iconographic, geometrical and formal properties of architecture of different backgrounds and invests in inventing new architectural hybrids as responses to the diverse realities of 21st century cities.
Nima Javidi is a registered architect in Toronto and the 2021 Gwathmey Professor of Design at the Cooper Union Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, where he teaches and coordinates core design studios. Nima’s interest in design is in the intersection of geometry, structure, and typology in architecture. He has a Master of Architecture degree from University of Tehran and a Master of Urban Design from University of Toronto. Prior to joining the Cooper Union, Nima taught architecture design studios at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.
Behnaz Assadi is a Landscape designer and a founding partner at JA Architecture Studio. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at the University of Toronto. Behnaz holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from University of Toronto and a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from University of Tehran.
In 2022, JA received The Architectural League of New York Emerging Voices Award, Architectural Record Design Vanguards, a Progressive Architects Award and the Wallpaper Magazine Architects directory.
Introduced and moderated by Stephen Phillips, FAIA, PhD, Principal of Stephen Phillips Architects (SPARCHS) and professor, director, Cal Poly LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo).
Photos (left to right): Image of Forno Cyltura Bakery Toronto, Image of Behanz Assadi and Nima Javidi, and Image of One and A Half.

A reception, lecture, and discussion with Jennifer Bonner from MALL
2023-05-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join us on Thursday, May 25, 6:30-8:30 pm, for a reception, lecture, and discussion with Jennifer Bonner from MALL.
In collaboration with the Helms Bakery District and the Cal Poly SLO LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Free Parking is available at the corner of Helms Ave. and Venice Blvd.
Lecture is Free and Open to the Public
RSVP

Jennifer Bonner
Jennifer Bonner is Associate Professor of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Bonner founded MALL in 2009, a creative practice that stands for Mass Architectural Loopty Loops or Maximum Arches with Limited Liability—an acronym with built-in flexibility.
Born in Alabama, Bonner is a recipient of the 2021 United States Artist Fellowship, Architectural League Prize for Young Architects + Designers, Emerging Voices Award (AIA/ Young Architects Forum), Progressive Architecture (P/A) Award and Next Progressives (Architect Magazine). Her creative work has been published in architectural trade publications including Architectural Review, Metropolis, Gray, Azure and Wallpaper*, as well as, more experimental journals including a+t, DAMN, PLAT, Offramp, Room One Thousand, Flat Out, and MAS Context. She is the co-editor of Blank: Speculations on CLT (with H.Kara), author of A Guide to the Dirty South: Atlanta, faculty editor of Platform: Still Life, and guest editor for ART PAPERS special issue on architecture and design of Los Angeles. Bonner has exhibited work at the Royal Institute of British Architects, National Building Museum, WUHO gallery, HistoryMIAMI, Yve YANG gallery, pinkcomma gallery, Armstrong Gallery at Kent State, Yale Architecture Gallery, Istanbul Modern Museum, Boston’s Rose Kennedy Greenway, and the Chicago Architecture Biennial.
Bonner received a Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University and a Master of Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
Photos (left to right): Exterior Image of HouseGables (photo by NAARO), Image of Jennifer Bonner (photo by Chris Dibble), and Interior Image of HouseGables (photo by NAARO).
Introduced and moderated by Stephen Phillips, FAIA, PhD, Principal of Stephen Phillips Architects (SPARCHS) and professor, director, Cal Poly LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo).

Creative / Perspectives: Exhibit (02) Visual Contrast Studio
2023-06-08 17:00 - 19:00 | H.D. Buttercup | Coco Republic, 3225 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles,, CA, 90034, United States
Thursday, June 8th, from 5:00-7:00 pm
H.D. Buttercup | Coco Republic
3225 Helms Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232
Join us this Thursday for opening night of the second installment of Coco Republic’s newest art exhibition, featuring Los Angeles based art studio Visual Contrast as they display their custom collection at H.D. Buttercup | Coco Republic.
Visual Contrast brings a thoughtful new approach to the production of fine art. Looking to the shape, color, and texture of Coco Republic furniture and furnishings to dictate the designs. This collection was created by their team of artists exclusively for Coco Republic.
RSVP HERE
The exhibition will remain on view thru July 6 .

L.A. GOAL and Helms Bakery District present Moving Together, an Inclusive Art Exhibit
2023-06-10 11:00 - 15:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Inclusive Art Exhibit Moving Together Explores Movement Through Art
Saturday, June 10th, from 11 am to 3 pm
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
L.A. GOAL, a non-profit organization committed to creating opportunities and equity for adults with developmental disabilities so they can live more fulfilling lives, presents Moving Together, an inclusive art exhibit exploring the theme of “movement” through various art forms.
Moving Together is an art exhibit that explores various interpretations of “movement” through art created by artists in Los Angeles County. The exhibit will showcase the artwork of L.A. GOAL’s professional Artists with developmental disabilities alongside artwork created by artists from the broader community.
“We are thrilled to showcase the incredible talent of our Artists at L.A. GOAL, who have put their hearts and souls into creating beautiful pieces that embody the theme of movement,” said Petite Konstantin, Executive Director of L.A. GOAL. “The exhibit is a celebration of the power of art to unite people from different backgrounds and abilities.”
All the artwork displayed at the exhibit will be available for sale, and sale profits will go towards defraying the costs of L.A. GOAL Artists’ salaries and supplies. Additionally, handmade and designed products by L.A. GOAL Artists will be available for purchase.
The Moving Together exhibit is an opportunity to support the creative expression of individuals with developmental disabilities and to promote the inclusion of all members of the community in the arts.
For more information about the exhibit or to learn more about L.A. GOAL, please visit: https://www.lagoal.org/

Book Signing at Arcana with Jason Lee: CA | TX 17
2023-06-17 16:00 - 18:00 | Arcana: Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Join Arcana for a Book Signing with Jason Lee
Saturday, June 17th | 4:00 – 6:00 PM
For the past fourteen years, artist, actor, and skateboarder Jason Lee has traversed America making quiet, reflective photographs detailing the landscape and its oft-overlooked and forgotten places. TX | CA 17 is the first time Lee has published images from a single outing.
They are presented in geographical and (rough) chronological order – North Texas, NM, AZ, the California desert, and finally DTLA, where we see the gentleman awaiting his bus. The exposures were made primarily along and surrounding Highways 287, 40/66, 62, and 10.
Book designed by Ed Templeton

If you cannot attend but would like to purchase a signed copy, please call Arcana Books at 310-458-1499 or visit their site.

Design & Art In California, a curated collection of books by Cisco Home & Burntsienna Research Society
2023-06-22 12:00 - 17:00, 2023-06-23 10:00 - 17:00, 2023-06-24 10:00 - 17:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Cisco Home and Burntsienna Research Society have curated a collection of books centered around Design & Art in California for the Los Angeles Design Festival.
Cisco Home is honored to partner with Burntsienna Research Society, an independent institute of art book reference and design thinking founded by Jason EC Wright. Burntsienna builds reading rooms and programming around art and design books and teach principles on responsible research and design thinking.
Jason and the Cisco Home team look forward to welcoming you to view the Cisco Showroom and talk about design, books, art and beauty.
Cisco Home
8705 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232

Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip-Hop Architecture
2023-06-22 12:00 - 18:00, 2023-06-23 12:00 - 18:00, 2023-06-24 12:00 - 18:00 | Close to the Edge Exhibition, 8707 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip-Hop Architecture explores the multidimensional influence of hip-hop on our urban fabric.
Curated and designed by Sekou Cooke, and jointly presented by SoCalNOMA, the A+D Museum, and Helms Bakery District, this dynamic exhibition dives into the rich and vibrant world of hip-hop, from its fundamental elements of emceeing, b-boying, and graffiti, to its influence on the world of design and architecture.
The exhibition shows how hip-hop has been translated into the creation of innovative spaces and structures, effectively introducing a new narrative in architecture. The works on display include groundbreaking contributions from students, academics, and practitioners, ranging from experimental visualizations and innovative installations to façade studies and urban development proposals. Also on show: a wall newly graffitied by Los Angeles artist Prime.
Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip-Hop Architecture is more than an exhibition. It’s a journey into a revolutionary design movement, revealing a shared vision for the future of architecture that’s deeply rooted in the core ethos of hip hop: identity, process, and aesthetics.
Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip-Hop Architecture opens on June 22, with an opening reception on June 24th from 6 pm to 9 pm. It will be accompanied by talks and tours presented by SoCal NOMA, A+D Museum, and Helms Bakery District.
Curator: Sekou Cooke
Exhibition Design: Sekou Cooke
Graffiti Artist: Prime
Artwork above: HHA Signifyin’ project by Nate Williams, 1993.

The exhibition is free and open to the public.
8707 Washington Blvd, Culver City CA 90232
Exhibition Dates: June 22 – September 17
Hours: Thursday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

RSVP HERE

Close to the Edge Exhibition at SpringBox in St.Paul, MN.

Close to the Edge exhibition at Center for Architecture, New York, NY. Photo Erik Bardin.

Close to the Edge Exhibition at SpringBox in St.Paul, MN.

Susan Maddux Art Exhibition
2023-06-22 12:00 - 18:00, 2023-06-23 12:00 - 18:00, 2023-06-24 12:00 - 18:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Los Angeles artist Susan Maddux uses origami-inspired folding to transform paintings, creating hybrid objects that exist in the space between painting and sculpture.
As a 4th generation hapa-Japanese born and raised in Hawaii with stints on the continent growing up, Maddux has a complex relationship with her heritage. This work explores reconnection with personal history and place through the transformation of material and the ritual of gesture.
Maddux has a degree in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute, and worked professionally as a surface pattern designer for many years. A decade ago, she began creating powerful pieces by gently folding paintings composed of repeating patterns. Forms that bring to mind a kimono or a cape began to appear, bringing together her interests in the figure, spirituality, and textiles.
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

The Latinx/e Experience in Design
2023-06-22 17:00 - 18:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
A panel of Latinx/e Designer/Educators discuss their pathway to graphic design as students, professionals and educators.
They will discuss how their experiences inform their teaching, practices and how design, as an industry, can become more inclusive and supportive of Latinx/e design and designers.
Speakers: Shannon Doronio + Michelle LeClerc + Alma Juarez +Ana Llorente + Hazel Mandujano
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

RSVP HERE

Photo above of Shannon Doronio

Wine and Weave with George Haroonian of The Rug Warehouse
2023-06-22 17:00 - 20:00 | The Rug Warehouse, 3260 Helms Ave., Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Join George Haroonian for a design talk about the rug industry today, in addition to The Rug Warehouse’s creative offerings.
Sip some wine, socialize, and snack while you discover The Rug Warehouse’s custom rug opportinities and new collection. Gift bags will be given to the first 50 guests.
The Rug Warehouse
3260 Helms Ave. Culver City, CA 90232

Creating Gen AI Tools with and for Designers
2023-06-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Join members of the Adobe Design and Community teams for a very special event, as they host a conversation with local designers about the design process behind Adobe’s Gen AI tools.
Panelists will discuss how they’re currently using AI in their design workflows, touch upon what’s ahead, and talk about how it takes a human touch to make and create the next generation of design tools. There will be a brief demo, followed by the panel discussion, and wrap with audience Q&A.
Speakers: Tomasz Opasinski + Annie Lu + Lisa Carney + Nick Longo + Chrysanthe Tenentes
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Projecting "Design for the People"
2023-06-22 20:30, 2023-06-23 20:30, 2023-06-24 20:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
PosterTerritory presents 70+ posters by international designers and graphic artists to celebrate design, creativity, inclusiveness, freedom and love, to coincide with this year’s theme.
The exhibition will be projected each evening on the entrance of the Helms Design Center at 8745 Washington Boulevard for street-side viewing.
Poster Territory is a platform for graphic design campaigns, contemporary poster contests and art shows in cities across the US and around the world.
June 22 – June 25 | 8:30 pm – 1:00 am
Helms Design Center Projections
8745 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA

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Helms Bakery District Open Studio Tours
2023-06-23 14:00 - 18:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Join the Helms Bakery District Showrooms for open studio tours.
Experience the latest interior and exterior collections from the Helms Bakery District showrooms and retailers. View the latest introductions and seek one-on-one guidance from the Helms design experts. The following showrooms and retailers will participate in Open Studios from 2:00-6:00 pm on Friday, June 23rd.
Arcana | Books on the Arts
Cisco Home | Furniture Showroom
H.D. Buttercup | Coco Republic | Furniture & Homewares
KOHLER Signature Store | Bathroom Fixtures & Home Accessories
Rejuvenation | Hardware, Lighting and Furniture
Room & Board | Home Furnishing, Retail
The Rug Warehouse | Fine Rugs and Carpets
The Shade Store | Window Treatment
The Splash Lab | Commercial Sinks, Fixtures, and Accessories Showroom

Open Studio with Room & Board and artist Marcos Lutyens
2023-06-23 14:00 - 18:00 | Room&Board, 3231 Helms Avenue, Culver City, CA, 90034
Free
Join Room & Board and local artist Marcos Lutyens, to view and explore one of a kind Olfactory Haptic therapeutic sculptures.
Olfactory Haptic sculptures aim to provide therapeutic benefits to neurodivergent people, enhancing their engagement with the environment and aiding in recovery. By activating multiple senses, these sculptures have the potential to evoke emotions, trigger healing responses, and contribute to overall mental well-being, with prospects for further development and application in treating various mental health challenges. The smells within the sculptures will include evocative aromas such as bubble gum, freshly cut grass, the fresh breeze of the ocean and more.
These fascinating Olfactory Haptic therapeutic sculptures will be on display and can be experienced during Open Studios at Room & Board.
Room & Board
3231 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034
June 23, 2023 | 2 pm – 6 pm

Illusionistic Design: Art Informed by the Visual and Emotional Effects of Color
2023-06-23 16:00 - 17:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Curated by Saatchi Art
We will discuss the ways in which artists use principles of color theory to inform their art practice and ultimately how that affects the design space in which the artwork is placed. We will explore how color is able to evoke profound sensations, stir emotions, and communicate ideas and how artists harness the power of color to create visually captivating and emotionally resonant works.
Speakers: Kelsey Overstreet / Jayes Caitlin / Seda Saar
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
June 23, 2023 | 4 pm – 5 pm

Foresight, Futuring, and Prospective Design
2023-06-24 15:00 - 16:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Nu Goteh of Deem Journal in conversation with Radha Mistry about foresight as practice and industry.
Radha Mistry is Arup’s Americas Foresight Leader and an Associate Principal in the Los Angeles office. Radha’s background spans architecture, narrative environments, and strategic foresight and she has been a leading voice in the development of foresight both in professional practice and academia, building foresight fluency across organizations like Autodesk, where she served as Foresight leader, and working with executive leadership to drive key foresight-led initiatives. Radha serves on the Foresight Advisory Council for the Middle East Institute and teaches as part-time faculty on the MFA Transdisciplinary Design program at The New School (Parsons) and the DesignMBA program at the California College of the Arts.
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip Hop Architecture Curator Led Walk-Through
2023-06-24 15:00 - 16:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Join the A+D Museum and curator Sekou Cooke for a walkthrough and insightful discussion of Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip Hop Architecture.
Gain unique insights into the exhibit as Sekou shares behind-the-scenes details and the innovative minds that bridge the world of hip hop and the built environment. From vibrant energy to evolving urban landscapes, explore how the ethos of hip hop has influenced architectural form and design.
8707 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Photo: Close to the Edge exhibition at Center for Architecture, New York, NY. Photo Erik Bardin.

RSVP HERE

Curator Interview: Sekou Cooke
2023-06-24 17:00 - 18:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Join us for a conversation with Sekou Cooke, curator of Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip Hop Architecture, and Nu Goteh of Deem Journal.
Sekou Cook is an architect, urban designer, researcher, and curator. Born in Jamaica and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, he is the Director of the Master of Urban Design program at UNC Charlotte, the 2021/2022 Nasir Jones Hip Hop Fellow at the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University, and a founding member of the Black Reconstruction Collective.
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

RSVP HERE

Close to the Edge Exhibition at SpringBox in St.Paul, MN.

Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip Hop Architecture Opening Party
2023-06-24 18:30 - 21:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Free
Join us in celebrating the launch of the acclaimed exhibition Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip-Hop Architecture at Helms Bakery District.
Close to the Edge is a dynamic exploration of hip hop’s impact on design and architecture — along with a fresh new work by the LA artist Prime. Meet the curator and show designer Sekou Cooke, the artist Prime, and the teams at Socal NOMA, A+D Museum and Helms Bakery District who are cohosting the show.
“Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip-Hop Architecture” is part of the Los Angeles Design Festival, whose theme is Design for the People. It will be on view through September 17.
Curator: Sekou Cooke
Exhibition Design: Sekou Cooke
Also on show: a wall newly graffitied by Los Angeles artist Prime.
8707 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Photo above: Close to the Edge exhibition at SpringBox in St.Paul, MN.

RSVP HERE
