First Fridays 2024 – June

*Please be aware that there will be multiple events happening at Expo Park this evening. Please plan accordingly and arrive early. First Fridays Parking is only available in the Blue Structure Parking Lot. The entrance to the Blue Structure is on Figueroa Street at 39th Street. From there, it is just a short walk to NHM.

June 7  |  How We Multiply

Featuring Live Music from Wallice and Niia, DJ set from Gingee, Discussion with Dr. Aradhna Tripati of UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability hosted by Dr. Yewande Pearse, Sensory Lounge featuring LAVA (Los Angeles Video Artist), Femme House, ChocoVivo, Herbalaria, and more!

If you are interested in learning more about 2024 First Fridays series, click First Fridays 2024: From Feelings to Pheromones.
 

Our Featured Discussion! 

Discussion  | Level 2, North American Mammal Hall |  6:30–7:30 pm  

The Population Problem and Possible Solutions:  The Earth’s human population has reached 8 billion. What does that mean for this planet?  Is it catastrophe or more possibilities for solutions?  Examine the connections and misunderstandings regarding population and climate change. How can we address data in terms of societal impact, policies, and equitable solutions?
*Seating is limited. Please arrive early.

OUR MODERATOR

Dr. Yewande Pearse is a neuroscientist, public speaker, and science communicator with twenty years of research experience in various facets of Neuroscience at leading institutions such as the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King's College London and The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA. Driven by a mission to redefine where science storytelling belongs and a belief in the power of science to connect people and communities, Dr. Pearse has collaborated with a diverse array of organizations, including the Sundance Film Festival, Headspace, The Natural History Museum, California Science Center, Female Collective, TEDMED, DEEM Journal, Grow Magazine, Dublab Radio, and NTS Radio.

OUR GUEST

Dr. Aradhna Tripati is an Indo-Fijian-American geoscience professor who examines the climate impacts of changing greenhouse gas levels, through the lens of earth history. She is passionate about people, STEAM, justice, the oceans, and the environment, and founded the Center for Diverse Leadership in Science. 
 

We aim to make NHM an exciting, educational, and enjoyable experience for everyone. If you have any questions about your visit and the accessibility services we offer, contact our Call Center at 213.763.3466 or email info@nhm.org

Images from past First Fridays:

Live Music and DJ Set In the Nature Gardens Stage! 

Wallice | Nature Gardens | 9 pm

Wallice is an indie pop wunderkind who has swiftly become one of Gen Z's most exciting new voices, known for her tongue-in-cheek, self-effacing anthems, inspired by the lyricism of Thom Yorke, Lana Del Rey and the punky irreverence of Weezer and No Doubt. A breakout 2021 culminated in the release of her debut EP Off the Rails, her signing to Dirty Hit, her first sold-out headline shows and support tours. Now about to tour Asia and Australia as direct support for the 1975, Wallice is rolling out her third EP while on the road. She'll then roll into a headline US tour this summer before heading to the UK for Reading and Leeds. She has found champions in the likes of Vogue, New York Times, The FADER, BBC Radio 1, Pigeons & Planes, Steve Lamacq, Zane Lowe and NME, where she was named as part of the 'NME 100' for 2022.

Niia | Nature Gardens | 8 pm

Niia (pronounced Nye-uh) is a prodigious Italian-American musician with a jazz vocal & classical piano background. Her unparalleled voice paired with fully realized songwriting makes her the epitome of timeless elegance and contemporary soul. She has received praise from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Interview Mag, and Harper’s Bazaar. A true creative, her priority is always the art. Philosophically she aims to inspire authenticity through harnessing inner beauty.

DJ Gingee  | Nature Gardens | 5–8 pm

Gingee is a DJ and producer from Los Angeles. A true music lover with deep crates, her eclectic energetic sets can range from electronic, hip hop and world music to flashbacks, funk and r&b with turntablist influences. She's played at Coachella & Grand Performances, and independently released several projects.

 

Special Pop-Up Experiences!

Explore the museum and visit the pop-up experiences, including specially curated presentations from our Museum Educators, a sample of ChocoLAte: From Beans to Bliss Videos, visit the PST ART Photobooth, and don't miss our Sensory Lounge with guest artists and vendors.

Museum Educators Pop-ups | East Entrance–Welcome Table | 5:30 and 7:30 pm  

Join one of our knowledgeable Museum Educators in a series of 30-minute pop-up presentations throughout the Museum to get first-hand insights into our exhibits and vast collections. Meet the M.E.s at the top of the steps near the Welcome Table located at our East Entrance. 

• 5:30pm and 7:30pm - Sending Out an S.O.S: Save Our Species - When reproduction is too successful, it can throw Earth’s delicate ecosystem out of balance. Museum Educator Emily Baker will discuss the Species Survival Program and how zoos, aquariums, and even museums like ours, contribute to the survival of genetically diverse populations of endangered species.

ChocoLAte: From Beans to Bliss Videos | Otis Booth Pavilion–Ground Level

Have a sample of ChocoLAte: From Beans to Bliss, a video series celebrating the diversity of Los Angeles and its people through the lens of chocolate.

PST ART Photobooth | Otis Booth Pavilion–Ground Level

Get a photo and learn more about PST ART: Art & Science Collide .

SENSORY LOUNGE | Level 1 Foyer

SIGHT:  LAVA (LOS ANGELES VIDEO ARTISTS)  Founded in 2003, LAVA is a community of video artists and creative technologists working primarily in the field of immersive experiential digital art. The goal of the LAVA community is to promote and nurture the evolution of video art with the latest technological magic in the greater Los Angeles area. 

Artists Featured In June: Ben Koffman aka Society of Shadows, Marilee Spencer, Jojo Guaring, Dayton Turney, mossmoths

SOUND: Soundscape Curated by FEMME HOUSE featuring GeeXella:  Femme House creates opportunities for women, gender-expansive, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+  creatives in the technical and behind the scenes areas of music. They are developing the future producers, mixers, engineers, DJs, artists, and executives of the industry by providing education and scholarships, cultivating community, furthering visual representation, and leveraging our platform to amplify the voices of marginalized communities.   

GeeXella (pronounced Jee-EL-LUH) is an AfroLatinx, Non-binary, and Queer transdisciplinary artist. They are currently occupying space in Muscogee Creek Land, also known as Atlanta, GA. They engage with their work as an extension of cultural organizing for the liberation of Black and marginalized people. 

TASTE: ChocoVivo began at one farmer's market stand in Los Angeles, CA, stone-grinding cacao nibs from bean-to-bar. This marked the inception of their connection with the ancient art of cacao cultivation and the enduring partnership with our visionary head farmer, Vicente Guiterrez, and the Jesus Maria Plantation in Tabasco, MX. Founder Patricia Tsai explored traditional chocolate-making in Oaxaca in 2001. With 15 years of industry research, she's a recognized expert, lecturing at UCLA and USC. A Tedx speaker in Japan, she collaborates with major corporations globally.

SCENT:  Herbalaria is a family company bridging the rich heritage of Filipino plant healing tradition and culture with the demands of contemporary wellness. The company produces modern-day skin and spiritual care products deeply rooted in tradition, utilizing the wisdom passed down through generations.  Founder Katuuran Lyn Pacificar is a Visayan shaman, driven by a passion for preserving her family’s Philippine healing heritage. Herbalaria creates contemporized wellness products that are made in ritual with Filipino traditional botanicals, love, and good intentions.

Food Trucks and Pop-Ups

Enjoy a diverse lineup of food trucks offering a range of cuisines, along with cocktail and refreshment bars. Stay tuned for updates on specific vendors.
 

Policy and Rules

Your safety is our top priority. Please read the full covid-19 safety guidelines.