Cardboard City, the 5,000 square foot innovative pop-up art installation, by reDiscover Center, is excited to announce its return to Santa Monica this Summer at Santa Monica Place. The free museum-style exhibition of large-scale cardboard sculptures and architectural models follows the success of 2021’s programming of inspirational art in public spaces, and will offer expanded hours, hands-on activities, an art boutique, day camps, field trips, and more, to families across Los Angeles.
Cardboard City facilitates youth and adult’s creative expression using cardboard, a ubiquitous and environmentally sustainable material, inspiring sustainable practices while supporting creative career pathways for participating artists, youth, interns, and staff. The space will include free family art activities, highlighting fun, family-friendly cardboard sculptures, while activating the urban landscape. This year, Cardboard City by reDiscover Center will present cardboard sculptures by Los Angeles artists and an artist-in-residence program with a new artist each week, while offering volunteer and internship programs, daily classes, and drop-in activities. A full-time staff of Teaching Artists will be on hand, allowing children to meet and work with artists to get inspired while fostering a hands-on educational environment of creativity and joy.
Cardboard City’s Grand Opening Ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 25 at 12 p.m., with special guests and giveaways from reDiscover Center.
This year’s participating artists include Lorena Robletto of Amazing Piñatas, Connor Lee and Bauer Lee of Cardboard Superheroes, Calder Greenwood, Richard Wildlife, Sherri Madison, Joshua Abarbanel, Ricky Sencion, Karl Jean Petion, Jennifer Racusin, Kristy Pace, and Mandy Palasik. Cardboard City’s 2022 sponsors include, City of Santa Monica, LA County Department of Arts and Culture, CA Arts Council, and Herb Alpert Foundation, with in-kind support from Makedo and Feders Appliances.
Cardboard City is produced by reDiscover Center, an established local arts education non-profit that develops children’s creativity and sustainability awareness while revitalizing underused public spaces. Cardboard City will be open June 25 through August 14 from 12-6 p.m., six days a week (Closed Tuesdays) at Santa Monica Place on the Third Street Promenade, Unit 146 on the first level.
Visit rediscovercenter.org or SantaMonicaPlace.com for more information.
Submitted by Claire Flannery
