Oasis 2020 by Skirball Cultural Center

Timothy Norris

OUR MISSION The Skirball Cultural Center is a place of meeting guided by the Jewish tradition of welcoming the stranger and inspired by the American democratic ideals of freedom and equality. We welcome people of all communities and generations to participate in cultural experiences that celebrate discovery and hope, foster human connections, and call upon us to help build a more just society.

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SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER BOARD OF TRUSTEES Peter M. Weil, chairman Jessie Kornberg, president and ceo Arthur H. Bilger, vice chairman Phil de Toledo, v ice chairman Lee Ramer, v ice chairman Howard M. Bernstein Melvin Gagerman Marc H. Gamsin Jeffrey L. Glassman Dana Guerin Vera Guerin Uri D. Herscher Robert C. Kopple Cindy Ruby Ken Ruby Jay S. Wintrob Susan Hirsch Wohl D. Zeke Zeidler Marvin Zeidler John Ziffren

Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 440-4500 skirball.org

IN THIS ISSUE President’s Message

Rallying for Real Action

Wise Council

Beyond the Museum Walls

From Strength to Strength

On the World Stage

A Center for Civic Duty

Campus Life

Founder’s Message

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Timothy Norris

When the Skirball presented Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the exhibition emphasized how Justice Ginsburg conceived of progress as an incremental process, achieved over time, continually building on the work and values of those who came before her, and feeding the futures of those who would someday follow her.

Ramona Trent

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Life did not begin with our birth. These are the words—and core teaching—of our founder, Uri Herscher. Inspired by this insight, the Skirball Cultural Center’s exhibitions and programs honor memory, believing that doing so is the key to shaping a better future.

This year, standing on the front steps of the Skirball, looking out over the hundreds of flowers and notes left there in memory of Justice Ginsburg, I drew comfort from these lessons. Standing there, I also felt the power and beauty of the Skirball’s mission. I saw grandfathers with their granddaughters, women of all ages, people of all races, longtime members, and first-time visitors. We were drawn from the safety of our homes despite the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had come here to the Skirball steps seeking a place of comfort and meaning, a place to find one another. And we did this in honor of the memory of the first Jewish woman on the United States Supreme Court, the first Jewish person to lie in state in the US Capitol, the person who worked so tirelessly for the democratic ideals to which the Skirball’s mission also aspires, always with the words tzedek tzedek tirdof—justice, justice you shall pursue—at her back. And so the life and times of the Notorious RBG continue, in the futures of the children here at the Skirball that day and in each day that the Skirball shares its values and its memories in community with you. In this issue, we highlight a few of the ways the Skirball honored history and propagated progress, however incremental and despite the challenges of a global pandemic this year. As you absorb these stories and photographs, I hope you also see how your own experiences this year reflect the timeless traditions, universal values, and enduring hopefulness that are the foundation of the Skirball’s mission and actions.

Jessie Kornberg President and Chief Executive Officer Skirball Cultural Center

skirball.org

Annie Lesser

A performance artist-activist makes good on her promise to serve the community. Days after the Iowa caucuses, a sold-out crowd convened at the Skirball for some campaign theatrics. From the back of the Magnin Auditorium, a voice boomed: “Give it up for your favorite and forever public servant!” Bathed in spotlight while shaking hands down the aisle, the inimitable Kristina Wong took the podium for a witty one-woman show on what it takes to wield political clout—whether as everyday citizen, working artist, or elected official. Little did anyone know that just weeks later, the Angeleno performer-turnedpolitician would heed a call to action, one stitch at a time.

Wong’s performance marked the debut of her latest work, Kristina Wong for Public Office, based on her unlikely entry into politics. An acclaimed theater-maker and satirist, Wong ran for and won a seat on the Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council in 2019. “Now my power across the United States of America is as infinite as it is unpaid!” she proclaimed to wild cheers. At once hilarious and incisive, the work is a storytelling tour de force about elections and governance, in which Wong confronts everything from low voter turnout and campaign finance to the overwhelming odds and small triumphs of making Koreatown “a safe haven for all immigrants.” Her edgy humor and social commentary were a hit. “That Skirball show was the greatest show of my career,” Wong recalled during a recent call. “Lines that weren’t even jokes were getting laughs. The audience was on their feet. It was how a real rally or church revival should go . . . . Someone even wrote me after to say he had gotten in touch with his own council to figure out how he could serve on it. It felt so good.” If her hope was to energize and mobilize, Wong ended up doing just that, though not as planned. As the country shut down to slow the spread of COVID-19, Wong’s national tour was cancelled. She had a message but no audience. “We all have the power to fight, to

learn, to show up, to fight and do this work,” implored Wong at the conclusion of her piece. Yet here she was, an underemployed performance artist, unable to combat civic apathy and inspire the electorate from the stage. Soon enough, the pandemic intensified Wong’s duties representing Subdistrict 5. “Our meetings have transitioned to Zoom, so more people are tuning in for public comment,” Wong explained. “Constituents who couldn’t sit there for hours before can keep their computer on, scream at us for a couple minutes, and go back to doing the dishes.” Wong is thrilled about the increased engagement. “I see democracy as this living creature, like a certain kind of algae that needs to be raised in certain conditions or it goes bonkers haywire. It’s something we need to be participating in.” While continuing to serve out her term, Wong eventually found another way to make a difference in real time. Turning to skills she learned as the daughter of a seamstress, she thought, “Alright, I have no control over my income, and I can’t save anyone’s life with my show. But I can sew a mask if you can’t access one. I had no idea it would get to where it is.” Months later, what began as a small-time project is now a network of more than eight hundred volunteers willing to source materials, cut fabric, and sew face coverings from home. To date, the DIY collective has never collected payment from recipients and donates exclusively to the most vulnerable. “We are filling in the gaps that systemic oppression has left behind,” Wong pointed out. “Indigenous communities, farm workers, migrants at the border, day laborers. Also massive incarcerated populations.” By year’s end, Wong’s Auntie Sewing Squad had distributed more than 250,000 free masks and counting. For emerging as a true “justice crusader with hilarious strategies for activism”—to quote from Kristina Wong for Public Office—the comedienne has garnered well-deserved national attention; but Wong hasn’t lost sight of the task at hand. At the close of 2020, she returned to the Skirball for a virtual panel discussion on art and action in a changing world. She was performing online to critical acclaim, and Auntie Sewing Squad was going strong. Regarding our shared responsibility to provide relief to those who need it most, Wong’s message remained simple: “We can’t just throw up our hands and walk away. These are real life-and-death circumstances—and we have to figure it out.”

“Kristina Wong recognizes the power of performance to foster community. I’ve found solace knowing that through their work, artists like Kristina are leading the charge in demonstrating that it is up to us to take care of each other.”—Benina Stern, Assistant, Programs skirball.org

WISE COUNCIL Jane Fung Belvedere Elementary School

Anna Schwarz Skirball Cultural Center

Shannon Garrison Stonehurst STEAM Magnet School

Dolly Sanders Grant Elementary School

Gina Debuque Vena Gifted Magnet School

Susie Shiver Lassen Elementary School

Martha Cervantes Suva Elementary School

Danielle Groak Skirball Cultural Center

Nadine Shindel Calvert Charter School

LA teachers and Skirball educators seek learning from one another and draw strength in community. Shifting to distance education was no small feat. Yet this was the enormous challenge facing America’s teachers when stay-at-home orders went into effect in early 2020. At the Skirball, in the wake of more than 100 field-trip cancellations, the school and teacher programs team shifted its own practice as well. Cognizant that remote learning would result in new dilemmas for instruction and require different resources, the Skirball went into inquiry mode, asking teachers what they needed for their virtual classrooms. Within weeks of schools shutting down, a council began to form.

Susie Shiver was one of the first to respond when Skirball educators reached out to hundreds of teachers back in April. For years, she had brought her Lassen Elementary School students to explore the galleries and experience live performing arts. “It’s a great place to teach my kids,” she praised. The Noah’s Ark school tour was especially appealing to Shiver as a specialist in special education. “On the Ark, the kids get to learn and listen, touch things and not feel like they’re in trouble,” Shiver noted. “They are accepted and feel happy.” Shiver had also come for her own professional development, regularly enrolling in Skirball teacher programs. She’d also lent her expertise: In 2017, she led a workshop for our Education department on how to meet the needs of children with disabilities—a training that paved the way for inclusive, sensory-friendly hours for Noah’s Ark visitors with autism. Long acquainted with the Skirball’s commitment to enriching the lives of young people, Shiver was ready to give advice on how institutions like ours could be of service. A survey of teachers asked a few basics: Is Google Classroom or Schoology a more effective platform? Would art projects be handy, or would mindfulness be of greater benefit as students cope with higher stress? And if the Skirball could pull it off, could livestream music making be integrated into their curricula successfully? In-depth discussions followed, all meant to identify what was working (and what wasn’t) when it came to engaging students from a distance. By the start of the 2020–2021 school year, seven teachers had signed on as volunteer leaders of the Skirball Teacher Advisory Council (STAC). From the frontlines of their profession, STAC spoke to the pressures of working in the age of COVID-19 while brainstorming solutions to persistent problems, if only in part. Acutely aware that not every student home would have reliable internet or a device readily available, the teachers emphasized that video content could not just be livestreamed; it would have to be posted online for students to view if and when they could. The opportunity to show a clip repeatedly held another advantage: children in lower elementary grades would have multiple chances to deepen their understanding of the material, boosting confidence along the way. Other practical insights emerged: visual aids would enhance

storytelling sessions, especially for emerging bilinguals; worksheets should be fillable PDFs, not require printing or scanning; videos should be short-format; and the chat function is a must for re-engaging students less likely to speak up or feeling disconnected from their peers. For Skirball educators, it was humbling and heartening to learn that a Noah’s Ark experience could fulfill even just one goal that the teachers set for their classrooms: a way to celebrate discovery and hope. Shannon Garrison, a fifth-grade teacher at Stonehurst STEAM Magnet School, pointed out that the flood tale’s storyline—of weathering storms, fostering community, and building a better world—would be an effective tool for guiding students through these hard times. Virtual visits to the Ark were STAC’s top recommendation. In collaboration with the council, the Skirball piloted videos starring Noah’s Ark storytellers, created interactive lesson plans, and beamed into classrooms to try out Zoom field trips and learn from students’ responses. As Los Angeles schools approach a year of distance education, STAC remains grounded in an open exchange of ideas and input. The camaraderie is palpable, as council members report on classroom successes, talk through their struggles to achieve work-life balance, and shore each other up. For Shiver, it was gratifying to join forces with colleagues and find that “there’s other crazy people out there like me. I like that!” In 2021, STAC will continue to serve as a collaborative, resource-sharing group, helping to ensure that the Skirball stays responsive to what teachers truly need and provide support to them as stewards of LA’s youth.

“Teachers are reckoning with a learning crisis made worse by the pain of the pandemic, so we are even more grateful to the dedicated educators in our advisory council for sharing their hard-won wisdom with us. Thanks to LA students, too, for welcoming us into their homes for our pilot virtual field trips!”—Anna Schwarz, Head of School and Teacher Programs skirball.org

BEYOND THE The spirit of the galleries resonates online, outdoors, and across the country.

Elon Schoenholz

The Skirball Museum and Noah’s Ark are alive with message and meaning—from our distinguished collection of Judaica to expertly curated exhibitions to the many artful experiences designed for children and families. In 2020, even with the closure of cultural institutions around the world, the Skirball galleries have continued to touch hearts and minds. Here are a few ways our Museum and Education teams—as well as two guest artists—have extended our reach well beyond our buildings’ walls.

“Our campus closure challenged us to think of new ways to present the art and artifacts on view in Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America. Throughout the year, we used social media to showcase select paintings and ceremonial objects. Currently we are piloting a video series of collection spotlights. For our first spotlight (available to stream on our YouTube channel), we chose the Statue of Liberty Hanukkah lamp by Manfred Anson, who created it for the famed landmark’s centennial in 1986. What we love about this piece is that it perfectly encapsulates our mission, connecting Jewish heritage and tradition with the American democratic ideals of justice and liberty.” Cate Thurston, Associate Curator

MUSEUM “Chris Green (shown here to the right) is a puppeteer and artist who designed many of the animals in Noah’s Ark at the SkirballTM. This year, we invited him to lead two virtual workshops that brought the wonder of the Ark to families at home. He led participants through his process of developing kinetic animal sculptures using found objects like clothespins, cups, and rubber bands, as well as modeling clay to sculpt the animals’ heads. The workshops started with a behind-the-scenes tour of Chris’s studio in Brooklyn. We all loved seeing prototypes of a few Noah’s Ark animals and learning how he came up with them. He explained, for example, that outside his window he can see wind turbines, which inspired his design of the zebras on the Ark. It was wonderful to see the kids’ faces light up.”

Left: Manfred Anson, Statue of Liberty Hanukkah Lamp, 1985. Museum purchase with Project Americana Funds provided by Peachy and Mark Levy.

Courtesy of the artist

Belize Wilheim, Manager of Family Programs

WALLS “After Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution debuted at the Skirball in 2015, it went on for another five years touring the nation. It recently made its final stop at the New-York Historical Society (N-YHS), which reopened to the public in September. For the tour, I oversaw the proper handling and installation of the exhibition at each venue. I have especially enjoyed revisiting the iconic Fillmore poster wall, pictured below in the N-YHS galleries. We are glad that so many people around the country have drawn inspiration from Bill Graham’s story of escaping persecution during World War II, finding success as a concert promoter, and using his fame and influence to champion humanitarian causes later in his life.”

Glenn Castellano

Dani Killam, Exhibitions Coordinator

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Timothy Norris

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Timothy Norris

“After we learned that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died, we left a floral and candle memorial across the way from the Skirball Cultural Center. We placed it there because we remember taking the 761 bus to the Skirball in January 2019 to visit the exhibition Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We left the gallery emboldened in our desire to continue moving the dial forward. To us, figures like RBG are the stars in our constellations, lighting up the skies and acting as a compass forward. We’ve lost Elijah Cummings. We’ve lost John Lewis. We’ve lost Justice Ginsburg. We the American people have been burying our elders of democracy and the elders of our community. We miss them, and we are grateful they’ve left us more courageous to continue the work. Justice, justice we shall pursue.

Timothy Norris

David Maldonado and Noah Reich, co-founders of Classroom of Compassion

Timothy Norris

“It was an honor to have our RBG memorial display moved from the sidewalk to the Skirball’s front steps. On the day the public could come leave their own tributes—the same day the justice lay in state at the US Capitol—there was a steady line of visitors. Many walked away in tears. It grew so beautifully thanks to the community.”

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Timothy Norris

FROM STRENGTH In 2020, a forty-year journey culminated in a new beginning. On June 30, the beloved founder of the Skirball Cultural Center, Uri D. Herscher, stepped down as President and CEO. Herscher had led the institution since laying its foundation in the early 1980s and oversaw decades of growth and transformation. After years of succession planning, the Board of Trustees selected attorney Jessie Kornberg to build upon the strengths of the Skirball. To commemorate the announcement of this momentous news in December 2019, Herscher took the stage in the Magnin Auditorium to introduce his successor—a leader in human services and civil rights advocacy—to the Skirball community. Excerpts of this lively conversation are presented here.

Steve Cohn

A succession in leadership marks a new chapter in Skirball history.

Uri D. Herscher, Founder of the Skirball Cultural Center

URI D. HERSCHER Very often someone in our autobiography gives us strength. I call to mind such people, and they make me feel better. Tell us of someone whose memory sustains you. JESSIE KORNBERG My great-grandmother Pearl immigrated to the United States from Latvia when she was fourteen. She was young and alone and had to find her own way. There are lots of great memories of Pearl in my home, but a couple come to mind. One is that she never learned to speak English. She spoke Yiddish, and so for generations, so did everyone else in our family. Not only did my father speak Yiddish to his grandmother, but after my parents married, my mother learned Yiddish so she could speak to his grandmother. That embrace of difference is something that we’re very proud of in my home and something I continue to think about. There are people in our community, right now in Los Angeles, who don’t speak English, who like my greatgrandmother Pearl are recent immigrants to this country. I think of how easy it is to not see them because you can’t understand them, and what a loss it is when we don’t find a way to see and hear each other. My mom would

TO STRENGTH

Ramona Trent

history that this country has seen anything like it was in Brooklyn 100 years ago, when my grandfather was young. I think of all that came from New York in the past 100 years . . . and not just my grandfather. He was special, one of nine Nobel laureates from his graduating class of City College of New York. That’s part of what you get from a city of strivers from around the globe. I also think of how the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was given resource and gumption in New York because it was where the thinkers wanted to be. It was the lifeblood of the country. It was a land of opportunity for people previously denied opportunity. I think Los Angeles is ascendant. I think we are going to tell the story of the next 100 years from this place. I dream of my granddaughter 100 years from now, who will think how lucky I was to be here in this moment to experience the incredibly unique power that comes from new people meeting each other for the very first time. Jessie Kornberg, the institution’s new President and CEO

be the first to tell you how enriched her life was because she could understand Pearl. I think about that now, about what I am doing to reach out to and learn from people who have had a life so different from my own, particularly people with immigration stories to share. They have so much to tell us about what it means to be American and what it means to feel welcome and at home. UDH That’s a wonderful way to express our mission. We must find ways to humanly connect if we do not speak the same language or have a similar history. Thank goodness for great-grandmother Pearl. Now you yourself migrated to Los Angeles. What brought you here, and what made you decide that this would be your home? JK I was born in Northern California. I lived in New York for ten years and came to Los Angeles to attend UCLA law school. What I’ve come to love about my adopted hometown, aside from it being 75 and sunny, is that there are more people here representing more countries of origin than anywhere else in this country. There is more racial diversity and more diversity of age and socioeconomic background. A true melting pot. The only other time in

UDH In a letter you wrote to the Board of Trustees earlier this year, you wrote,“No amount of trying will give me Uri’s autobiography. I am not a rabbi, I am not an immigrant, I did not narrowly escape the Holocaust. My connection to the Skirball is different.” What is your connection to the Skirball and our mission? JK There are notes in the mission that sing loudest for me. The idea of welcoming the stranger. The way that this place creates a sense of belonging for its visitors and its staff and volunteers. The way it lifts up stories of immigration and the American experience. The way it gives an inclusive voice to Jewishness and Jewish life. Those things are all meaningful to me. But I would be remiss not to include this in my answer: I will admire with every atom of my being that you had a dream to build the Skirball and that it has come to be. That twin devotion—to Uri Herscher’s legacy and to the truth and beauty of this place—is the hallmark of my connection to the mission. It’s a privilege to be part of stewarding the Skirball forward. UDH Jessie, may my legacy shout out to the world that we’ve chosen a remarkable successor. I applaud you. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity and length. skirball.org

ON THE

WORLD STAGE Skirball concerts are reimagined to meet the moment.

Larry Sandez

It was March of 2020, and plans for Sunset Concerts were well underway. Encompassing a range of genres, from vintage Americana to classical Indian vocals to Ashkenazi Jewish folk, the lineup for the twenty-fourth season was confirmed at last. In a matter of weeks though, preparations for the much-beloved series grinded to a halt. As the global pandemic prompted restrictions on international travel and large public gatherings, artists, presenters, and audiences were left wondering: Was there a way for music to build bridges, especially in a time of crisis?

Larry Sandez

For the Skirball, it wasn’t just about finding a way; it was about meeting a need. For twenty-three years, Sunset Concerts had served both the musician and music-loving communities. Each season created an opportunity for composers, singers, and instrumentalists to showcase their artistry and for Angelenos to share in a communal experience. In this exceptional moment, the concert format would have to change, but the urgency to forge connections remained strong as ever. And so a new program concept emerged: Skirball Stages, a series of virtual events that would amplify the virtuosity of world-class performing artists while engaging fans in the safety of their own homes. Instead of traveling to Los Angeles, the acts originally slated for Sunset Concerts 2020 filmed their sets from afar. Rising star Xenia França sang her heart out from a rehearsal space in São Paulo; singer-violinist Rini played Carnatic-inflected electronica from a Brooklyn studio; while clarinetist Emil Goldschmidt greeted viewers from a surprising locale. “We are the Danish klezmer band Mames Babegenush, and we are on a boat!” he announced to the camera, before disembarking to play a lively waterfront show in the Port of Copenhagen. To lend even greater support to the artist community, Skirball Stages also gave a boost to the local music scene. Complementing each out-of-town set by a would-be Sunset Concerts act was a performance by a newly booked LA ensemble. These hometown talents

took the stage in a spectator-free Taper Courtyard, shot against a hillside backdrop well-known to Skirball summer music fans. In behind-the-scenes interviews, Dustbowl Revival expressed gratitude for “cross-freeway collaborations” and online gigs as ways to stay connected with fellow musicians and audiences stuck at home. Pop-soul songstress Gavin Turek gave thanks for the chance to play live on stage again and send well wishes to viewers. The sentiment was shared by the band with which Turek was paired. In footage taped across the miles in Seoul, members of Korean shamanic folk group Ak Dan Gwang Chil spoke of meeting the moment:“We wanted to give people hope during this difficult time.” Such generosity of heart captivated audiences, who tuned in across Southern California and well beyond, from Illinois to India. Relishing in the great music and goodwill, viewers engaged one another in the live chat during each YouTube Premiere, describing impromptu family dance parties, watching “on the couch bouncing,” and feeling “all the feels tonight.” In 2021, the series continues with a late winter double bill of Joachim Cooder on site at the Skirball and Amythyst Kiah in her hometown of Johnson City, Tennessee. As demonstrated by both the longstanding success of Sunset Concerts and the experiment of Skirball Stages, music is a force for building community like no other—one that brought people together during hard times this year, just as it has since time immemorial.

“Our goal for Skirball Stages was to harness the power of music to bring joy and hope and to amplify the lived experiences of culture makers from around the globe. East LA legends Las Cafeteras (see facing page) not only dazzled on stage but spoke of the need to recognize the vitality of Chicanx life. Interviewed in our galleries, Carnatic virtuoso Aditya Prakash (see above) pondered how artists could pivot during this difficult time and continue innovating and connecting. I was so moved by their insight and candor.” —Jen Maxcy, Assistant Director, Programs skirball.org

Timothy Norris

A CENTER FOR

CIVIC DUTY

As both a place and a community, the Skirball gets out the vote. “Voting is, in part, an act of hope,” wrote David Yaroslavsky to the Skirball on Election Day, “and I thank you for providing your space for that act.” Yaroslavsky was among thousands of engaged citizens to cast a ballot inside the Skirball’s Ahmanson Hall. For eleven days, the bright and airy auditorium witnessed strong voter turnout, wrapping up a season of efforts to inform the community and instill that feeling of hope in the democratic process.

“As an immigrant and naturalized citizen, I felt an urgency to contribute to American democracy in this year’s election season. I was gratified to join my Skirball colleagues in getting out the vote, whether serving as poll workers (like those of us shown above), text banking, or handwriting postcards to voters.” —Gail Acosta, Assistant, Communications and Marketing (pictured at center)

In anticipation of Super Tuesday back in March, the Skirball began preparing audiences for the elections. The Programs team worked with the LA County RegistrarRecorder/County Clerk office to provide essential voter information to ticketholders attending a February 7 performance by Kristina Wong. While waiting for her show to begin, attendees could register to vote, inquire about the primary, and learn how to operate one of the city’s new voting machines. As the year progressed and the city’s safer-athome mandate was put into place, the Skirball turned online to support voter education. On October 1, the Museum debuted its first all-digital exhibition, The Official Unofficial Voting Station: Voting for All Who Legally Can’t, conceived by artist-activist Aram Han Sifuentes. Featuring an aspirational online polling place

“Voting in person in the room where we got married 17 years ago!”

open to one and all, the project probed the question of whether and how to expand the franchise. Weeks later, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles, the Skirball presented a nonpartisan overview of the many state ballot measures. More than 1,800 Californians tuned in to the highly informative virtual talk. And when the California Secretary of State issued an open call to museums to reinvent themselves as Vote Centers, the Skirball enthusiastically opened up Ahmanson Hall. Powered by county poll workers and Skirball team members, the Vote Center offered a safe, welcoming place for voters to take part in this essential right and historic election. Furthermore, it was a vivid expression of the Skirball’s founding commitment to promoting democracy in action.

“Proud to take my kids with me to do something our grandparents, parents, and all those before us fought for!”

“Early voting with my first-born, first-time voter baby boy!”

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Timothy Norris

CAMPUS

The oasis is renewed for the future.

Come to the Skirball in 2021 and you will find a bold new greeting. At the entrance to the North Parking garage, in letters up to eight feet high, the word “Welcome” stands tall, signaling our mission to embrace the stranger. Elevating the visitor experience was the guiding principle of a years-long project of renewing the campus—all completed in partnership with the Skirball’s esteemed architect, Moshe Safdie. More than thirty years since its groundbreaking, the fifteen-acre site is ready to welcome the community anew. Join Skirball team members as they walk through just five of the newly repaired and updated spaces in this place of meeting—now made even more safe, inclusive, and welcoming.

LIFE

“In the Mark Taper Foundation Courtyard, we hold concerts and festivals, as well as weddings, proms, conferences, you name it. People spend time here to have lunch, take photos of the lilies, and enjoy the beauty of the mountainside. It’s always been important to keep it well-maintained. During the closure this year, we took the opportunity to upgrade the waterproofing, lay a new long-lasting mortar bed, and replace every single tile (more than 8,000 total) with new spa green natural quartzite. The original tile had been there since the Skirball was built. We wanted to make sure the replacement tile would last another twenty-five years at least. It’s not only a more safe surface, but it’s also prettier! It has a shimmer to it, especially in the evening when the light hits it. And with Moshe Safdie as the architect, you won’t see a strip of tile narrower than four inches or a grout line too thick. Every tile had to be cut and laid according to a precise geometry.” Rhoda Nazanin, Project Manager, Operations

“The new décor in Zeidler’s Café is bright and colorful. It blends beautifully with our outdoor spaces, and we can’t wait until patrons can return. One of the many improvements is that we can now seat different configurations of people more easily. The new custom-made banquettes, which are set against a photographic mural of our arroyo garden, make seating plans more flexible and comfortable. Come with your family, or a group of friends or colleagues, and have a nice meal when we reopen!”

Mercie Ghimire

Cesar Zamaro, Lead Server, Zeidler’s Café

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“The Magnin Auditorium is wonderful in so many ways, but to me one of the most impressive new features is what you can’t see, and that’s the sound system. The sound is greatly improved overall, enhancing the enjoyment of film, music, and speaker programs. On top of that there is new technology that helps people who use assistive listening devices. That makes the theater experience more accessible to all, one that more visitors can participate and engage in.” Elon Schoenholz

Sabrina Wurf, Membership Manager

“One change in the lobby is that admissions and membership will be together facing front, making it a really welcoming space as you enter. As visitors, you will know where to go, whether you want to buy tickets or purchase a membership or check in for exhibitions, programs, or events. Help will be right there where you need it!”

Timothy Norris

Candice Crawford, Visitor Experience Manager

“The Ruby Commons has been refurnished for the convenience and comfort of our visitors. It’s an ideal place for people to congregate. You can have a seat and meet up here before going into the café. Or you can spend time together and relax before attending a program inside the auditorium. You can also hook up your laptop or charge your phone here. It’s a very beautiful and friendly place.”

Timothy Norris

Joshua Jones, Security Officer

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The Jewish people has a unique perspective on times of crisis. Our history is long, and our memories vivid. We are well-acquainted, to our sorrow, with the darkest of human chapters. But those chapters are not the whole story. The darkness we have known has not extinguished the light we seek and the light we bring.

Loretta Ayeroff

FOUNDER’S MESSAGE

The events of 2020—the coronavirus pandemic; the ravages of systemic racism; inflammatory social media; partisan deadlock. All this has left us gasping for breath.

We are, in the words of the prophet Zechariah, prisoners of hope. Weeping may endure for the night, says the book of Psalms, but joy comes in the morning. That joy is the hope that lifts our spirits, guides our hands, and moves our feet. Hope for a better and brighter day is the essence of our conviction and the engine of our commitment. As this issue of Oasis testifies, the Skirball Cultural Center is a constant source of light and hope. Throughout this time of crisis, we have shown our resilience and resolve. We have found new ways to stay connected and support each other. We have blazed new trails and explored new frontiers of education, participation, and collaboration. During these months of public closure, we have renewed our campus facilities to assure the integrity and longevity of our campus as a place of meeting. When the public returns in months to come, our visitors will find the warmest of welcomes. Our Skirball mission is our light and our hope. It will continue to sustain us. We are more inspired than ever by the vision of a better world—and more determined than ever to build it.

Uri D. Herscher Founder Skirball Cultural Center

Grant Mudford

skirball.org

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

PAID

Los Angeles, CA 90049

LOS ANGELES, CA

(310) 440-4500 skirball.org

Mercie Ghimire

STAY CONNECTED

PERMIT 2112