The Los Angeles River serves as a reminder that there‚s more to downtown than the traffic, smog and glass, concrete and steel skyline that most associate with our city. In fact, there is distinct beauty to be found in the bridges, banks and even the debris that floats along the River.

Skirball hosts 26 photographs and video clips from several celebrated contemporary artists ˆ John Humble, Anthony Hernandez, Lane Barden, Dana Plays and Gary Schwartz, to name a few. The images successfully „portray the detritus of civilization, the monumental architecture of the River‚s flood control channel and the persistent rebirth of nature in defiance of human abuse.

The Center hopes the show will foster discussion about the River area, its history, current improvement programs and plans for the future. The exhibit is part of the Center‚s „Our California‰ series which explores the „changing cultural, social and civic forces that have shaped‰ the Golden State. Campus Circle is happy to share a few of the moving photographs currently on display.

Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., in Los Angeles. Center hours: Tues-Wed & Fri-Sat 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Thurs 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m., closed on Mondays. Admission to this exhibit is free. For more information, call (310) 440-4500 or visit www.skirball.org.