Citizen Artist Reading Group

Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

18th Street Arts Center, Santa Monica

**Citizen Artist Reading Group** **Sunday, April 19th | 10 AM - 12 PM** **Virtual - **Meeting Link**** **Free + Open to the Public** *High Performance* magazine, and later *The Citizen Artist* anthology, documented and amplified the voices of artists working outside traditional institutions, embedding their practice in the fabric of civic life. By revisiting these groundbreaking publications, we aim to spark dialogue, collective memory, and action—drawing from a powerful lineage of artist-led civic engagement and radical experimentation.  The *Citizen Artist Reading Group* is a year-long inquiry into the intersections of art, politics, performance, and community. Meeting monthly from January–December 2026, the group will engage foundational and experimental texts that have shaped the fields of social practice, community-based performance, and art/life. Together, participants will explore themes ranging from feminist lineages and environmental interventions to activism, justice, and collective transformation. All sessions are virtual and public. Special guests will be invited to each session.  **Session 4 – April 19, 2026, 10:00-12:00 PM** Readings: The Artist as Activist – Linda Frye Burnham (p. 81) Ideology, Confrontation and Political Self-Awareness – Adrian Piper (p. 87) The Artist as Citizen – Guillermo Gómez Peña, Judith Baca, Felipe Ehrenberg, David Avalos, Emily Hicks (p. 93) El Teatro Campesino: An Interview with Luis Valdez – Carl Heyward (p. 103) Guests: Nancy Pop