On December 17th, 2020 the Cultural Heritage Commission voted unanimously to recommend the designation of the Sister Corita Kent Studio as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. Thanks to the outpouring of public support from around the city and country, the nomination will move forward to the PLUM committee.
Acknowledging the significance of Corita and her production space is an important step in addressing the long-overlooked contributions of women artists. This site highlights the need for pressing equity in our landmarks; women are only associated with 3% of local HCMs, and the heritage of women and BIPOC account for 8% of nationally designated properties. By recommending the nomination, the Commission affirmed the need for sites of cultural and social significance for politically marginalized communities to be held to different standards of material integrity.
For Hollywood Heritage's full position on the Sister Corita Kent studio, please see the letters from the Preservation Committee and Hollywood Heritage member Elizabeth Lovins. Read the Cortia Art Center's statement here.
Stay tuned for upcoming information on the PLUM hearing.
SUPPORT LETTERS FROM HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE AND ELIZABETH LOVINS
Further information About Sister Corita Kent Studio
CULTURAL HERITAGE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
The Corita Art Center and a number of concerned citizens are working tirelessly around the clock to help save the former studio of Sister Corita Kent, located at 5518 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood.
The building is where famed artist, educator and social justice advocate Corita Kent (1918-1986) worked between 1960-1968 and made some of her most recognizable works, hosted notable creative leaders, and influenced a generation of young artists through her art and teaching. Corita was a nun who taught and led the Art Department at Immaculate Heart College that was located across the street.
(READ MORE ABOUT HER IN OUR UNCOVERED HOLLYWOOD ARTICLE)
Just last year in 2019, the City and County of Los Angeles declared November 20th to be Corita Day in honor of her legacy. She lived in Los Angeles from the age of 5 until she sought dispensation from her vows in 1968. Now, her former studio building is being threatened with demolition to create more parking for the Lazy Acres organic market, which is taking over the Rite-Aid.
The building is currently the home of Sun Cleaners dry cleaning business but retains its integrity from when Corita made her powerful serigraphs that addressed issues of poverty, racism, war, women’s rights, and injustice with a distinctive bold graphic style that influenced artists and activists worldwide.
How the space looked in the 1960’s.
The space as it is today.
The groups in opposition to paving over this historical landmark, and creating yet one more parking lot here in Los Angeles, are specifically petitioning Mitch O’Farrell, the Los Angeles City Council member representing the 13th district where Corita Kent’s former studio is located.
One of the catalysts behind this effort, the Corita Art Center, is a nonprofit here in Los Angeles that helps keep Corita Kent’s legacy alive and is a long-time active community partner.
The Center is putting together a rapid response application for the Cultural Heritage Commission to have the opportunity to review the building, since it illustrates the continued importance of art and culture in Los Angeles. This is a collaboration with Hollywood Heritage and other advocacy groups to help protect this structure of cultural importance.
The structure would qualify under Category 2 of the Cultural Monument Ordinance Monument Designation Criteria as it is associated with the lives of historic personages important to national, state, city, or local history. More importantly, structures that were occupied during the "productive" period of a notable figure's life.
Advocates for saving the building from demolition are making a strong case to save the building given the history and heritage of the property. It is a place of significance to the history of art, culture, and community here in Hollywood and in Los Angeles. The advocates also feel that this would not be happening if the studio housed a famous male artist or male luminary. Too often women’s accomplishments go unremembered and unprotected, even someone who won as many awards and recognitions as Corita Kent did.
Please follow this link HERE to get more information. And look below for how to take action NOW!
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Contact The Following
Mitch O’Farrell (LA City Council Member Representing the 13th District)
councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org
Hollywood Field Office: (213) 207–3015 — City Hall Office: (213) 473–7013
Craig Bullock (CD13 Planning Director) — craig.bullock@lacity.org
Amy Ablakat (CD13 Planning Deputy) — amy.ablakat@lacity.org
Sean Starkey (CD13 Hollywood Field Deputy) — sean.starkey@lacity.org
Email & Call Scripts
We encourage you to use the scripts below or create your own! Please be civil and respectful with outreach on the phone, via email, or if attending Zoom meetings/public hearings.
If you are a Council District 13 Stakeholder
(meaning you live, work, study, worship or own property in the area)
Not sure? Enter an address here to determine what council district it falls under.
Short script: Hi my name is ____ and I [live/work/study/worship] in the Council Member’s district. I am very concerned about the slated demolition of 5518 Franklin Ave, formerly the studio of globally renowned artist Corita Kent in the 1960s, to provide additional parking spots for the Lazy Acres Market redevelopment project. I urge you not to approve this project until the building has been properly considered by the Office of Historic Resources and the Cultural Heritage Commission. Thank you.
Long script: Hi my name is ____ and I [live/work/study/worship] in the Council Member’s district. I am very concerned about the slated demolition of 5518 Franklin Ave, formerly the studio of famed local artist, educator, and social justice advocate Corita Kent in the 1960s, to provide additional parking spots for the Lazy Acres Market redevelopment project. Corita Kent is a cultural icon of Los Angeles and during her time in the building, she made some of her most recognizable works, hosted notable creative leaders, and influenced a generation of young artists through her art and teaching. Corita was a nun who taught and led the Art Department at Immaculate Heart College that was located across the street. Demolition of this building without proper consideration of its historical significance would be a grave misstep and could lead to the irreversible loss of priceless cultural heritage for Hollywood and broader Los Angeles. We want plans for development that align with our values - destroying a location of such artistic and cultural significance to accommodate additional parking does not. I urge you not to approve this project until the building has been properly considered by the Office of Historic Resources and the Cultural Heritage Commission. Thank you.
If you are not a Council District 13 Stakeholder
Short script: Hi my name is ____ and I am a concerned community member. I am [writing/calling] about the slated demolition of 5518 Franklin Ave, formerly the studio of globally renowned artist Corita Kent in the 1960s, to provide additional parking spots for the Lazy Acres Market redevelopment project. I urge you not to approve this project until the building has been properly considered by the Office of Historic Resources and the Cultural Heritage Commission. Thank you.
Long script: Hi my name is ____ and I am a concerned community member. I am [writing/calling] about the slated demolition of 5518 Franklin Ave, formerly the studio of famed local artist, educator, and social justice advocate Corita Kent in the 1960s, to provide additional parking spots for the Lazy Acres Market redevelopment project. Corita Kent is a cultural icon of Los Angeles and during her time in the building, she made some of her most recognizable works, hosted notable creative leaders, and influenced a generation of young artists through her art and teaching. Corita was a nun who taught and led the Art Department at Immaculate Heart College that was located across the street. Demolition of this building without proper consideration of its historical significance would be a grave misstep and could lead to the irreversible loss of priceless cultural heritage for Hollywood and broader Los Angeles. We want plans for development that align with our values - destroying a location of such artistic and cultural significance to accommodate additional parking does not. I urge you not to approve this project until the building has been properly considered by the Office of Historic Resources and the Cultural Heritage Commission. Thank you.
Further Reference Information
LA City Planning Case Summary & Documents Case #: ZA-2019-6570-CUB-SPP-SPPA
What Now LA Article detailing that Sun Cleaners will be demolished to accommodate additional parking (up from 85 to 95 spaces)
Excerpt of Thomas Conrad’s Alleluia (1967) that features Corita and a student walking from The Market Basket into the studio at 5518 Franklin.