This moving, seminal visual arts project was conceptualized and developed by the Watts Towers Arts Center Director, Rosie Lee Hooks, who commissioned 13 artists from the community to use shovels as a canvas to honor the legacy of our ancestors. Each of the world-renowned master artists who accepted the challenge has a history of building art institutions in Watts and in the greater Los Angeles area.

SPIRIT OF THE ANCESTORS
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Upcoming Events
LéaLA – Spanish Book Fair & Literary Festival 2024
LéaLA, the premier Spanish Book Fair & Literary Festival, returns from September 19-22, 2024, at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes located at 501 N. Main Street in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Organized by the University of Guadalajara Foundation USA, this year’s event, themed Building Peace Together, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the rich traditions, language, and culture of the Latino community through literature, art, and intellectual dialogue. As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, LéaLA will highlight…
2025 BLACK HERITAGE MONTH EXHIBITION FEATURING A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE WORK OF LOS ANGELES PHOTOGRAPHER, LEROY HAMILTON
Join Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson; Mayor Karen Bass; the Los Angeles City Council; and the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) to officially celebrate the exhibition installation of the work of Los Angeles photographer, Leroy Hamilton in DCA’s Henry P. Rios Gallery at Los Angeles City Hall on display from Friday, January 31, 2025 to February 26, 2025. The Story of Us displays Black Angelenos in several dimensions of their lives—at home with family, in the conference room, on the court,…
Shifting Perspectives: Cheech Collects
Over the past year and a half, artists and collectors have donated 80 works by almost 35 artists to The Cheech Center Collection. This year’s exhibition will highlight some new additions alongside works from Cheech Marin’s initial gift of 500 works. The latest exhibition, Cheech Collects, explores different forms within the Cheech Marin Collection. It introduces photography and sculpture alongside paintings, prints, and mixed media works for which the collection is celebrated. See website for ticket prices.
Hogar Dulce Hogar
Hogar Dulce Hogar explores the profound meaning of home amidst global migration. Curated by César García, the exhibition showcases 18 artists from the Inland Empire, challenging traditional notions of home and emphasizing its dynamic nature. Through diverse mediums, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the universal longing for home and the resilience of the human spirit. See website for prices.
African Marketplace & Drum Circle
Join us every Sunday for a family-centered, community-oriented celebration of Black creativity, culture and joy. Recycle your Black dollars. Support Black owned businesses. Experience food flavors from around the world. Learn how to play djembe drums. Jump double Dutch. Buy waist beads and clothing imported from Senegal. Listen to live music. Grab the mike and share your talents. The market is held weekly on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.