Treasure it Together: December Weekend of Events

Join us for the first Treasure It Together Weekend on December 12 and 13 at the historic Southwest Museum! Two days of activities will celebrate the creativity, energy, rich history, and diversity of Northeast Los Angeles; visitors of all ages can participate in activities ranging from outdoor yoga to independent film, and covering everything from L.A. history to the local environment.

A full listing of events is below; all are free and open to the public! Onsite parking is free but limited. Public transportation is available via the Metro Gold Line to the Southwest Museum Station, which is a short walk from the Southwest Museum site’s tunnel entrance.To help us plan, we do request that you "register" for some events (Yoga, Zine the SWM, etc. ); registration is in the upper right hand corner of this page.

Saturday, December 12

7:45–8:30 a.m.: Yoga on the Terrace (For Beginner and Intermediate Adults)

Instructor Leslie Lehman of Leslie Lehman Yoga leads a free yoga class overlooking the neighborhoods of Northeast Los Angeles. Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat and towel. Appropriate for ages 16 and up.

8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.: On View: Four Centuries of Pueblo Pottery

Featuring more than 100 pieces of rare ceramics, this exhibition traces the dramatic changes that transformed the Pueblo pottery tradition in the era following sixteenth-century Spanish colonization to the present.

9:00–9:45 a.m.: Yoga on the Terrace (For Youth and Adults)

Instructor Leslie Lehman of Leslie Lehman Yoga leads a free, family-friendly yoga class overlooking the neighborhoods of Northeast Los Angeles. Participants are encouraged to a own yoga mat and towel. Appropriate for ages 4 and up.

10:00 a.m.– Noon: Drop-in Holiday Nature Craft With the Audubon Center

Get into the seasonal spirit and support local wildlife by making holiday-themed pinecone bird feeders with naturalists from the Audubon Center at Debs Park. (Activities take place at the historic Southwest Museum site.) Appropriate for ages 6 and up.

11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.: Up Close in the Arroyo

Explore the history and landscape of the Arroyo Seco up close through a guided walk led by Tim Brick of the Arroyo Seco Foundation. Starting at the Southwest Museum site's parking lot, this hike will include stops in the neighborhood and at Sycamore Grove Park. Wear your hiking shoes! Snacks will be available after the walk. Appropriate for ages 14 and up.

1:00–3:30 p.m.: Drop-in Pinch Pot Craft

Make your own pottery through techniques practiced in Native American communities for centuries. Appropriate for ages 4 and up.

3:30–5:00 p.m.: Artichoke Musical Performance

Artichoke, a Highland Park-based band, performs catchy songs from their concept albums: "Historic Highland Park," "26 Animals," "Bees," "Etchy Sketchy Skies" and "26 Scientists." Free, all ages, no reservations necessary.

5:30–8:00 p.m.: Screenings of Highland Park Independent Film Festival 2015 Winners

See two award-winning local films presented in partnership with the Highland Park Independent Film Festival (HPIFF). The screenings will be followed by a 15-minute Q & A with the filmmakers, Betsy Kalin and Kico Velarde. Light refreshments will be available for purchase.

In The Shooting Star Salesman, an embittered, magical salesman attempts to revive his shooting star business in a modern, fast-paced society. This 20-minute film was named “Best Short Film” in the 2015 HPIFF. Directed by Kico Velarde.

East LA Interchange explores how the freeways–a symbol of Los Angeles ingrained in America’s popular imagination–impact Boyle Heights’ residents, and illustrates why the future of their beloved community should matter to us all. The documentary features narration by Danny Trejo (Machete); interviews with will.i.am (The Black Eyed Peas), Father Greg Boyle (Homeboy Industries), and Josefina López (Real Women Have Curves); and an original song by Raul Pacheco (Ozomatli). This 60-minute film was recognized as the “Audience Choice for Best Feature Documentary” in the 2015 HPIFF. Directed by Betsy Kalin.

Sunday, December 13

7:45–8:30 a.m.: Yoga on the Terrace (For Beginner and Intermediate Adults)

Instructor Leslie Lehman of Leslie Lehman Yoga leads a free adult yoga class overlooking the neighborhoods of Northeast Los Angeles. Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat and towel. Appropriate for ages 16 and up.

8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.: On View: Four Centuries of Pueblo Pottery

Featuring more than 100 pieces of rare ceramics, this exhibition traces the dramatic changes that transformed the Pueblo pottery tradition in the era following sixteenth-century Spanish colonization to the present.

9:00–9:45 a.m.: Yoga on the Terrace (For Youth and Adults)

Instructor Leslie Lehman of Leslie Lehman Yoga leads a free, family-friendly yoga class overlooking the neighborhoods of Northeast Los Angeles. Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat and towel. Appropriate for ages 4 and up.

10:00–11:30 a.m.: Beauty and Balance Talk and Tour

Joshua Link of Ecotone Studios presents a visually compelling exploration of landscapes in Los Angeles and the ecological impacts that extend beyond the garden. The presentation will include a tour of the ethno-botanical community garden on the grounds of the Southwest Museum where participants will learn about locally native plants and their traditional uses. Appropriate for ages 14 and up.

1:00–3:30 p.m.: Zine the SWM

What makes something a treasure? In this fun and collaborative zine-making workshop, participants will learn about the historic Southwest Museum building, explore the site, and create an original zine of drawings, collage, and creative writing inspired by their findings— all with the help of Adriana Yugovich and the LA Zine Fest. Appropriate for ages 14 and up.

The Treasure It Together Weekend kicks off a series of events presented by the Autry and the National Trust to revive this local community landmark in a way that actively contributes to the cultural fabric of Los Angeles. The events follow the National Trust’s January 2015 designation of the Southwest Museum site as a National Treasure and the recent release of a Stakeholder Interview Summary Report that explores ideas and opportunities related to its future.