Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman is a group art exhibition at the Sturt Haaga Gallery and Boddy House that explores the past, present, and future role of trees and shade in the city, with visual and musical works to inspire us to consider what kind of future we collectively envision.
Opening reception: July 11, 2025, 5-7pm
July 12–October 12, 2025 10am–4pm daily Entry to the galleries is included in the price of admission or membership.
Shoshana Ben-Horin composed and performed music for the exhibition, including the composition, Breathing Trees, in this post.
Exhibiting artists include Robin Lasser, Leslie K. Gray, Chantée Benefield, Kim Abeles, Victoria Arriola, Pascaline Doucin-Dahlke, Cidne Hart, Diana Kohne, Lisa Tomczeszyn, Lois Keller, Sarita Zaleha, Shoshana Ben-Horin, Valerie Daval, and Yarnbombing LA.
This exhibition and its programs were curated in partnership with UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, University of California Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Los Angeles Center for Urban Natural Resources Sustainability, TreePeople, USDA Forest Service, Arroyo Arts Collective, The Nature of Cities, Avenue 50 Studio, USC Public Exchange, Dashboard.Earth, and Accelerate Resilience Los Angeles.
Abeles installing Looking for Paradise (Downtown Los Angeles) 2004 Archival ultrachrome print and model trees indicating one tree for each tree actual tree
Photo: Jolly de Guzman