As the global Covid-19 pandemic continues to force many of us to conduct much of our lives outdoors, we at MOCA believe that it is an opportune time to focus our programming on outdoor art in the public sphere. In doing so, we aim to call attention to the spaces that host these artworks and the ways that art, site, and public may work in tandem to create civic discourse. As part of this effort, we have organized Uncommon Commons, a series of virtual panel discussions that investigate the relationship between outdoor artworks, public sites, and the people that visit them.

Our urban public spaces have felt the pressure to accommodate increased use and cater to the needs of a population that requires outdoor interaction. Given this increase in outdoor activity, the effects of both small and wide-scale environmental degradation has become even more evident, as are its effect on the health of the public. Whether the issue is pollution from urban waste, poor air quality and smog caused by wildfires, or ocean water quality due to runoff, Los Angeles has long been plagued by environmental concerns, issues which have become more acute over the course of the last decade.

The calls for environmental justice have reached a fever pitch in recent years and many artists, curators, and institutions are attempting to understand how their practices can buoy these efforts. This month’s Uncommon Commons will explore what role public art can take in calling attention to environmentalism, conservation, and environmental justice.

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