December 16 > Laser-Cut Snowflakes and de LaB Holiday Party at KnowHow Shop with 2ndwnd > Highland Park

Our holiday seasons might be merry and bright, but L.A. is always a little bit lacking in the "white" department. So we're headed back to Highland Park to see our good friends at KnowHow Shop and 2ndwnd, who are skilled in the ways of making snow—that is, laser-cut snowflakes!

We'll gather 'round the laser-cutter on Sunday, December 16 where you'll create your very own one-of-a-kind chipboard flakes, apply paint and glitter to your heart's content, and string them up into a special snowfall mobile to hang in your home or give as a gift. Updated: An image of the prototyped mobile is above!

And of course, since we're all about feeling festive, we'll be supplying treats and beverages to help keep the elves in the holiday spirit. Feel free to bring your own contributions if you've got any seasonal goodies around the house!

Laser-Cut Snowflakes and de LaB Holiday Party at KnowHow Shop with 2ndwnd
Sunday, December 16
12:00 to 4:00 p.m.

KnowHow Shop
6019 Echo St.
Los Angeles, CA 90042

Tickets are $15 each and cover the cost of materials for one mobile plus holiday drinks and snacks. Children are welcome if accompanied by a parent, and if you plan to only make one mobile together you only need to buy one ticket.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Tickets are limited due to availability of materials and no refunds will be given less than 24 hours before the event. That said, if you don't want to make a mobile and just want to come hang out and enjoy some DIY cheer, please do! Thanks!


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December 8 > New Carver Apts Tour with Michael Maltzan > Skid Row, DTLA

Photo courtesy of Alissa Walker

Since its opening in 2010, New Carver Apartments near the 10 Freeway in downtown LA has been showing Angelenos how architecture can deftly bridge great design and social responsibility. Designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture, the 97-unit supportive housing project commissioned by Skid Row Housing Trust serves the need of a chronically underserved population - LA's homeless.

Praising the building's architectural sophistication, the NY Times said:

The building not only manages to provide a feeling of security while easing the crippling sense of isolation that can often afflict the homeless; it also makes visible, through its strong architectural form, a group of people that many in our society would often prefer to ignore.

Join us on December 8th for a tour of the cylindrical structure with Michael Maltzan, Skid Row Housing Trust's Theresa Hwang, and one of the resident ambassadors to talk about day-to-day living in New Carver. 

Photo by Iwan Baan

When: Saturday, December 8th 2pm - 4pm

Cost: $20, all proceeds will be split between de LaB and SRHT

Where: New Carver Apartments, 325 West 17th Street  Los Angeles, CA 90015

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.

**Tickets will not be available at the door, so please buy your ticket early, as space is extremely limited. No refunds will be given less than 24 hours before the event. Thanks!

Read more about Michael Maltzan and Theresa Hwang:

Michael Maltzan

Michael Maltzan, FAIA, is the founder and principal of Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc. His work fully engages our contemporary world through an architecture that is a catalyst for new experiences and an agent for change. Through a deep belief in architecture’s role in our cities and landscapes, he has succeeded in creating new cultural and social connections across a range of scales and programs.

Mr. Maltzan received a Master of Architecture degree with a Letter of Distinction from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. He holds both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design, where he received the Henry Adams AIA Scholastic Gold Medal. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a GSA Design Excellence Program Peer.

He lectures internationally, and often serves as a design instructor, lecturer, or critic at prestigious architectural schools including Princeton University, Rice University, Harvard University, Rhode Island School of Design, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Berkeley, University of Southern California, University of Waterloo, and the Southern California Institute of Architecture.


Theresa Hwang

Theresa Hwang is a community-driven architect with the Skid Row Housing Trust in Los Angeles, CA.  From 2009-2012, she was the Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow at the organization.  With the Trust, she is developing and designing high quality and sustainable permanent supportive housing for the homeless.  The Trust has developed 24 buildings and has created over 1400 affordable homes for the very low income homeless population in the Skid Row community. In addition to developing affordable housing, Theresa is an adjunct studio professor and a faculty member of the Architecture + Civic Engagement Center at Woodbury University.  

Activist-turned-architect, Theresa has spent almost 10 years doing community-organizing work for equitable cultural development and community empowerment with multiple groups and campaigns in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles.   She received her Master of Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Art History from the Johns Hopkins University.



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November Recap > Letterpress Workshop with Lala Press > Silver Lake

On November 18th, Mable Lee of Lala Press graciously opened up her awesome Silver Lake studio to us for a morning of good old fashioned fun with letterpress. 

After a brief demo on how to use the presses (Mable works on vintage Vandercooks), our crew got a crash course in holiday card marking.

But not before we learned how to properly ink the press. 

Mable gave us full access to her existing wood and metal type set, which was mesmerizing all on its own.

Though it did take some patience (and often a mirror) to figure out our messages.

Here's a sneak peek of some of our holiday creations!  

If you were bummed that you couldn't attend this workshop (we know, we know and we're sorry), please keep in mind that Mable offers several workshops throughout the year, as well as private one-on-one instruction. 

Thank you, Mable!