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ALOUD

Writing on the Wall

In conversation with Josh Kun
Date: Saturday, Oct 12, 2019
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Mark Taper Auditorium-Central Library
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“Leaving your name on the wall is a primitive drive—about broadcasting your nameand about claiming territory. I was here and this is mine,” writes artist Shepard Fairey in the introduction of The Autograph Book of L.A. This new book, along with an exhibit at Central Library, kicks-off the final installment of a trilogy of special projects curated by Josh Kun—after Songs in the Key of Los Angeles and To Live and Dine in L.A.—surveying the social and cultural history of Los Angeles through the Los Angeles Public Library’s special collections. Join us for a celebration that brings together Fairey and Gajin Fujita—contributors to the book and two of today’s most renowned artists who are also the first artists to re-imagine artwork for the Los Angeles Public Library card. From the ephemeral nature of graffiti to the lasting legacy of cultural artifacts to broader social ideas, this special conversation at Central Library with an introduction by Assistant City Librarian Susan Broman will trace the contours of the autograph and what it means to leave your mark.

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Presented in conjunction with the exhibition
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Gajin Fujita

Gajin Fujita is the son of Japanese parents who raised him in Boyle Heights. As a teenager, Fujita became fascinated with graffiti, joining tagging crews and following his path towards fine art. His pride for his L.A. roots and reverence for Japanese art history are found incorporated in his paintings—seen through his usage of graffiti language, Edo-period woodblock prints, and West Coast cultural symbols. From New Orleans to Sydney, his work has been included in museum exhibitions worldwide including LACMA, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Austrian Gallery Belvedere, and more. Fujita is represented by L.A. Louvre gallery in Venice Beach, CA.

Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey is a graphic artist and social activist. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, his career started in Providence, RI while at RISD with his “Andre the Giant has a Posse” sticker campaign that transformed into the OBEY GIANT art campaign. From his guerrilla street art presence to his large-scale painted public murals, Fairey communicates his brand of social critique by blurring the boundary between traditional and commercial art through type and image. The artist is perhaps best known for his Hope (2008) campaign, which portrays a portrait of then-presidential candidate Barack Obama. Fairey currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. His works are included in the collections of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Josh Kun

Josh Kun is a professor in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, where he directs the Popular Music Project of the Norman Lear Center. He is the author or editor of several books, including Audiotopia: Music, Race and America, and his writings on music and culture have appeared in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The American Prospect, Los Angeles Magazine, and many other publications. As a curator and consultant, he has worked with The Getty Foundation, the GRAMMY Museum, the Santa Monica Museum of Art, the Autry Museum, the Skirball Cultural Center, and others.

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Stacy Lieberman

As President and CEO of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA), Stacy Lieberman is an innovative and inclusive leader whose career dwells at the intersection of arts and culture, lifelong learning, storytelling, and equitable access. Stacy guides the Foundation’s philanthropic and public-facing priorities to serve the Los Angeles Public Library, embracing the notion that libraries are beacons of democracy where everyone is welcome. She works intentionally with community leaders, donors, and internal and external strategic partners to raise awareness and resources for the Library and its life-changing initiatives.

With more than 20 years of experience as a senior executive, Stacy has left an indelible mark on iconic L.A. arts, non-profit, and educational institutions such as The Broad, the Autry Museum of the American West, and the Skirball Cultural Center. Building on an early career in book publishing, she has dedicated her professional life to sharing stories and broadening the reach of public institutions to welcome visitors and students of all ages and backgrounds to experience educational, arts, and cultural opportunities.