Play the LA River
2013-2015
Unbound Guidebook/game and year-long series of events
Presented on the 51 miles of the LA River in Los Angeles, CA
Collaboration with other founding members of Project 51
About Play the LA River
I was a founding member of Project 51, a Los Angeles–based collective of artists and cultural workers that launched Play the LA River (PLAR). This experiential public artwork reframed the invisible concrete channel of the LA River as a living public site to engage the culture, history, and politics of urban ecology.
Over the course of one year, PLAR partnered with numerous arts and environmental groups to reimagine engagement of and access to the full 51 miles of the river. The project included a year-long series of events to activate the 51 miles of the LA River, developed in collaboration with community partners, and a printed, playable book/game/guide to the 51 miles of the river. Additionally, the project included an interactive web version of the card deck, a community-sourced events calendar, a social media feed, and a virtual exhibition space.
The project won a major national grant from ArtPlace America, and a UC Humanities grant, among others.
Card Deck
A playable walk/bike/ride guide to the entire 51-mile LA River. Each card includes a map, some info about the site & a few starter ideas for how to play. View the archived website HERE.
Access a digital version of the card deck HERE.
Partnerships and Events
Play the LA River facilitated 51 weeks of river-centric events developed in collaboration with community partners. View selected documentation of these events below. My role in this project
I was the lead designer on the project’s logo, visual identity, and print media. Additionally, I conducted historical and geographic research for many of the sites featured in the card deck and coordinated events with community partners.
Who was involved in this project?
Project 51's co-founders were John Arroyo, Barron Bixler, Allison Carruth, Amanda Evans, Catherine Gudis, and Jenny Price.
Play the LA River's outreach, programming, and community-building efforts are also supported by team members Erika Barbosa, Lila Higgins, Kat Superfisky, Allison Wyper, and Nat Zappia.
I was the lead designer on the project’s logo, visual identity, and print media. Additionally, I conducted historical and geographic research for many of the sites featured in the card deck and coordinated events with community partners.
Who was involved in this project?
Project 51's co-founders were John Arroyo, Barron Bixler, Allison Carruth, Amanda Evans, Catherine Gudis, and Jenny Price.
Play the LA River's outreach, programming, and community-building efforts are also supported by team members Erika Barbosa, Lila Higgins, Kat Superfisky, Allison Wyper, and Nat Zappia.
Video credit: Thea Mercouffer
Images of the riverbed, credit: © 2014 Jeff Houze
Project Visual Identity
A Year of Events and Activities
Play the LA River was supported by ArtPlace America’s Creative Placemaking Grants and a UC Humanities grant, and was fiscally sponsored by UCLA.
