The abundance of fine, even renowned, architects living or working in Culver City was little-known until Thomas Small began planning and moderating Architecture Talks in 2014.
This series of public conversations involving local architects, residents, members of city government and business leaders was meant to further inform the general public about the role of architecture in this city.
Mr. Small, a Culver City Cultural Affairs Commissioner, architectural writer and consultant, is running for a seat on the City Council in Tuesday’s election .
As a candidate, Mr. Small continues shining a light on a number of local and not-so-local cultural icons.
Peter Sellars, internationally renowned artistic director known in part for his work with the Los Angeles Opera, is a longtime Culver City resident and a MacArthur Genius Award winner.
Mr. Small first encountered Mr. Sellars’ work when Mr. Sellars was an undergraduate at Harvard and Mr. Small was at Yale.
Mr. Sellars now serves on the Advisory Council for Jacaranda Music, Santa Monica, where Mr. Small is chair of the Board of Directors.
They are clearly fans of one another. “I am happy to endorse Thomas and lend my name to his campaign,” Mr. Sellars said.
High Time for Recognition
Mr. Small would like Culver City to create a program that recognizes local and regional artists and encourages them to get involved with the schools. “It would be great to have Peter Sellars visit our schools, and become more acknowledged and active in our community,” Mr. Small said.
Mr. Small, whose 8-year-old twins attend Lin Howe Elementary, said the Calder Quarter—either all four musicians or one or two of them—should be invited to perform at the schools and also perform a master class for more accomplished student musicians.
While the Calder Quartet performs at the Broad Stage and at Disney Hall, the quartet has only performed in Culver City in private concerts in the home of Mr. Small and his wife Joanna Brody.
“I’m enthusiastically anticipating the benefit that Thomas’s passion for cultural enrichment will bring to education in Culver City,” Dr. Kelly Kent, School Board member, said. “As he shines brighter light on the incredible art and artists in residence here, his urge to share culture with children will be a natural extension of those efforts.
Student Art-Awareness
“The students in our district have so much to gain from an increasingly art-aware community bent on the inclusion of our youngest,” Dr. Kent said.
Steven Lavine, president of the California Institute of the Arts since 1988 and a director on several arts boards, including KCRW National Public Radio, attended Mr. Small’s campaign kickoff.
“Culver City is fortunate to have Thomas Small as one of its public servants,” Mr. Lavine said.
“It is not often someone of his calibre and achievement chooses to serve in public office.
“This is something to be celebrated.”
George Packer, a staff writer for the New Yorker and the author of several acclaimed books on American politics, has known Mr. Small for a 30 years.
“Clearly an intellect of the first rate,” Mr. Packer said.
“He also is one of the most practical and competent people I have known. He is at home, capable and experienced in many cultures, in any of the dozens of countries where he has lived, worked and traveled.”
Mr. Small’s enthusiasm for the arts seems boundless.
He says he wants to expand the Architecture Talks public discussions with eminent local architects that he moderated the last two years.
“That program should be expanded to include creative directors and other principals from all the creative and media businesses that are based here,” he said.
Culver City Angle
“Music businesses, Apple, artist management businesses, ad agencies and other creative agencies. I would interview them in a public forum about what the focus, nature and extent of their work is and how they view Culver City and its future, and what career opportunities there are in their fields and businesses.”
Dr. Janet Hoult, Culver City’s honorary poetess laureate, is far better known to Culver City residents than most other local artists, particularly for the topical poems she frequently writes and delivers at City Council meetings. She was appointed honorary artist laureate last autumn.
Prior to that, the City Council asked the Cultural Affairs Commission to consider the initiation of an artist laureate program.
This was when Dr. Hoult began to work with Mr. Small as well as the legendary jazz musician John B. Williams, both Cultural Affairs Commissioners.
“I am s delighted that I met Thomas,” Dr. Hoult said. “I have so much respect for him. He operates with people in a collaborative way. He is clear in his thinking. He respects others’ opinions. He is so knowledgeable.”
Dr. Hoult said when she addressed the Cultural Affairs Commission, “Thomas was extremely encouraging. The other commissioners were, too. He had thoughts already about how this could be made into an actual award. I suggested to Thomas that there be an ad hoc committee. He pushed for creation of this.
“Thomas and John B. understand what the artistic realm is in this town,” Dr. Hoult said. Our commissioners know what makes this town so special from an artistic perspective/”
Mr. Small has pointed to the Santa Monica Arts Foundation awards as a model for Culver City. The foundation recognizes Santa Monica arts leaders who support Santa Monica’s creative community.
“Thomas is a Renaissance person,” Dr. Hoult said.
“He has incredible background knowledge. He is able to pull all that knowledge together to do something in the present.
“He is using his knowledge in very positive ways. This includes his environmental side. Using our creative forces can add to sustaining our city. He has the combination of creative knowledge, knowledge of sustainability and knowledge of the environment.”
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