B(l)ackspace

Episode 5: On the Come Up: Navigating Personal Growth While Staying True to Yourself

Picking up where January's Open Studio leaves off, B(l)ackspace: Episode 5 delves into the intersection of representation, professional advancement, and authenticity within creative entrepreneurship. Special guests include Amazon Music executive, Byron Merritt (M. Arch 1 '99) and Latasha Gillespie, a thought leader in global strategic initiatives and Executive Board Member of the Getty Foundation. This episode is hosted by Byron Roberts (B. Arch ‘25). After the conversation, audience members can enjoy a mini gallery walk to view students' personal works.

Episode 4: Identity, Representation, and Authenticity

Picking up where January’s Career Week and Open Studio leave off, B(l)ackspace: Episode 4 delves into the intersection of identity, representation, and authenticity within creative entrepreneurship. Special guests include Tobi Ashiru, co-founder of Poche Design Studio [https://www.bypoche.com/] and Silas Munro, co-founder of Polymode [https://www.polymode.studio/]. This episode is hosted by La’keem Timothy (M.Arch 1 ‘24).

Episode 3: Celebrating Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary

As expansive as hip hop itself, Episode 3 touches on hip hop’s evolution, appropriation versus appreciation, monetization, classism, regional diversity within the artform, and more. Guest speakers include faculty Natou Fall (M.Arch 1’19) and William Virgil (M.Arch 2 ‘16), and USC faculty Kevin Sherrod. This episode is hosted by La’keem Timothy (M.Arch 1 ‘24). For more on this episode, read the event article [https://www.sciarc.edu/news/2023/blackspace-episode-3].

Episode 2: Allyship & Integration

Architecture requires collaboration and sharing power between individuals. But what happens when that process – or its aftermath – highlights privilege and struggle? Joined by SCI-Arc faculty John Cooper and William Virgil, Episode 2 takes on topics of Black struggle and coalition building by highlighting Virgil’s work on Intentionally Opaque and Spring Show ‘22 and Cooper’s History and Theory seminar on LA historian Mike Davis, co-taught with Thabisile Griffin, PhD. This episode is hosted by Babatunde Adejare (B.Arch ‘23). For more on this episode, read the event article [https://www.sciarc.edu/news/2023/blackspace-podcast-event-mines-deeper-into-coalition-building-and-collectivity].