Cultural Politics

A collage with people walking and buildings.

Artist Humanizes Google Street Views of Southeast L.A.

In his exhibition, "Cruising Below Sunset," artist and educator Felix Quintana chooses a past moment, captured incidentally, to highlight the people of Southeast L.A. that were originally rendered insignificant.

Four cast memebers are on a stage set to look like a living room and dining room. One cast member is sitting on the floor with his legs spread out. He has a sad look on his face. Another cast member is standing in the living room area while another is sitting on the couch with her legs crossed. The fourth cast member stands in between the living and dining rooms. All of the cast members are dressed in midcentury modern clothing, matching the era of the furniture on stage. Behind the stage is a photo collage projected on the wall. Images of John F. Kennedy and war are projected.

California's Fine and Performing Arts Hit Hardest During Pandemic Says 2022 Otis Creative Economy Report

The 2022 Otis College Report on the Creative Economy analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on five sectors in California: fine and performing arts, entertainment and digital media, architecture, fashion and creative goods. The report found that fine and performing arts struggled the most in 2020 with the pandemic shuttering concert venues, cultural centers and exhibition spaces.

A man working in the field holds out his hand to the camera.

Photo Essay: Farmworkers Advocate for Their Right to Thrive

Photojournalist Julie Leopo takes us into the lives of farmworkers in Oxnard, as they navigate the complexities of working in the field, poverty and unstable futures.

A colorful illustration features a collage of Long Beach, Khmer architecture, pink doughnuts, ocean waves and other elements of Long Beach and Cambodian culture.

Proudly Cambodian American: Knead Donuts & Tea

Knead Donuts & Tea in Long Beach is more than a doughnut shop. It's a symbol of owner Huey Behuynh's Cambodian heritage and pride — from the Apsara statues that stand tall in the shop to Knead's unique offerings like their Thai tea-filled crème brûlée or their pandan-infused French cruller.

A flattened pink doughnut box against a black background. On the doughnut box is a portrait of a woman in a dark brown ink layered over a faint rendering of still images of a child a doughnut shop in a lavender ink.

Artist Captures the Khmerican Donut Kid Experience

Cambodian American artist Phung Huynh pays homage to the second-generation "donut kid" experience in her latest solo exhibition, "Donut (W)hole."

A rendering of Emily Taing is imposed over a pink faded photo of a younger Emily inside a doughnut glass display.

Why Pink Donut Boxes Are an Unlikely Symbol of Resistance

"Donut kid" Emily Taing reflects on how the mere existence of her family's small immigrant-owned business is an act of resistance.

Corrie Mattie is out of focus standing in front of her "To Ukraine With Love" mural painted on a white wall. Between the words "To Ukraine" and "With Love" is a painting of Russian president Vladmir Putin's decapitated head, being pulled by doves flying to the right of the art piece. Mattie is wearing a black t-shirt and pants with a black handkerchief tied around their neck. Their shirt and pants are covered in paint. Next to the mural is a tree with bright yellow leaves growing out of its branches as it towers over the mural.

SoCal Artists Show Their Support for Ukraine

As the situation in Ukraine has grown more dire, Southern California-based artists Corie Mattie and Taras Bohonok turn to art to voice their opinion and rally support for Ukraine.

Young African American men and women gather near the table of a representative from California Federal Savings and Loan during a luncheon. The event was sponsored by the Black Business Association (BBA) at Dooto's Music Center.

How Compton Became a Citadel of Black Political Power

In the 1960s and 70s, young, Black middle-class families flocked to Compton for the opportunity to live in a progressive, Black space created by Black businesses and civic and political engagement.

J. Sergio O'Cadiz Moctezuma wearing a black suit and tie, sitting on a fireplace mantle. His leg is crossed over the other and a writing surface is resting on his knee. He's looking down and appears to be writing something down. He's smiling.

Sergio O'Cadiz and the Forgotten Artists of Color in Orange County

The arc of arts leader Sergio O’Cadiz Moctezuma is a lesson on the dynamics of artists of color in the Orange County. Just like there’s a link between U.S. history and ethnic cleansing in history books, there exists a similar link between the acknowledgement of a culture’s experienced reality and its representation in the Orange County art scene.

Four members of Weapons of Mass Creation pose for a photo, lit in golden hues by a setting sun. The member on the far left is Enrique. He is wearing a navy blue cap with a skull on it. He is dark-skinned and has a beard. To Enrique's right is Josh who is wearing a woven brown and cream bucket hat over his dreads. He is also dark-skinned and has a beard. To Josh's right is Julia who has long black hair and is wearing a crushed velvet orange zip up hoodie. She is looking directly at the camera. To Julia's right is Moses who is wearing a black jacket and rose-colored sunglasses. His hand is up to his brow, shading his eyes from the sun.

How Anaheim-Born Hip Hop Group Weapons of Mass Creation Started the Revolution at Home

Born and raised in Anaheim, WOMC is a form of resistance among the mass-produced world of music. Their collective talent oozes originality and intent; their lyrics amplify the Anaheim communities they grew up in and tell stories of police brutality, generational trauma and misogyny.

Pride Month