Turning the Port
A Community Clay project reimagining our relationship to the Port of Los Angeles.
Join artists, neighnbors, and families in shaping vessels that hold our stories of labor, water, migration, industry and belonging.
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What Is Turning the Port?
Turning the Port is a participatory clay project rooted in reflection and movement.
Each participant will handbuild a ceramic tumbler. After firing, these vessels will be mounted onto a rod-and-wood framework, a field of forms that can gently rotate, catch light, and hold memory.
The tumblers represent:
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Water
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Labor
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Migration
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Offering
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Industry
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The hands that built this place
When assembled, they will form a communal structure, an act of civic reflection made visible.
How You Participate
All participation options for Turning the Port are free thanks to support from Arts Open San Pedro.
There are several ways to add your hands to the work:
Join a Community Build Session
Attend a guided studio session at Adewole Arts Studio in San Pedro and handbuild your own ceramic tumbler from clay.
Participants will:
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Handbuild a tumbler using stoneware clay
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Add texture, marks, symbols, or words
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Contribute their vessel to the final installation
No experience is needed.
Just your hands.
Participate During Arts Open San Pedro Weekend
During the second day of Arts Open San Pedro on April 26, visitors will be invited to contribute to the installation on a walk-in basis.
Participants will complete the surface decoration of pre-made ceramic vessels that will become part of the sculpture.
This open participation format allows community members to leave their imprint on the project without advance registration.
Drop in. Add your offering. Become part of the turning.
Host a Group Session
Community groups, friend circles, organizations, and workplaces are invited to participate together.
Groups of 6 or more participants may reserve a private session at the studio.
These gatherings become a shared act of making — a chance to shape vessels in conversation and community.
Bring Turning the Port to Your Location
Organizations and community partners may also host an off-site session.
For groups of 20 or more participants, Turning the Port can travel to your school, workplace, organization, or community space.
All materials and instruction will be provided.
All Participation Is Free
Thanks to funding support from Arts Open San Pedro, all workshops, walk-in participation opportunities, and community sessions are offered free of charge.
Each participant contributes directly to the final public artwork.
When the vessels are complete, the sculpture is complete.
When the sessions are full, the structure is complete.
Who Is Invited
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Neighbors of San Pedro
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Port workers and their families
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Artists and non-artists
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Youth (with guardian)
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Community groups
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Elders
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Anyone who lives with the presence of the port
This is intergenerational.
This is civic.
This is collaborative.
Session Details
Location: Adewole Arts Studio
Duration: 2 hours
All materials included
No experience required
Your registration reserves one tumbler space on the final structure.
[Reserve Your Seat]
Limited sessions available.
Each booking fills one position on the installation.
Project Timeline
Community Sessions: Spring 2026
Firing & Assembly: Spring/Summer 2026
Public Unveiling: Summer 2026
Participants are invited to the unveiling celebration.
Supported By
Turning the Port is funded in part by Arts Open San Pedro through their public arts initiative supporting community-engaged projects in San Pedro.
This support makes it possible to gather, build, and offer this work collectively.
Join the Turning
This is not a passive installation.
It is shaped by the people who show up.
Reserve your session below.
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From 1 US dollar