Mosaic: Groundbreakers

In the second episode of a season dedicated to Santa Monica’s diverse creative communities, Mosaic: Groundbreakers will share stories from the life and work of Vernon Brunson, James Garrott, Norma Sklarek, and Paul Williams. These four visionary African American architects created functional and beautiful environments for people to live, work and play during the mid-century era and beyond.

Click HERE to register today!

Mosaic viewers will learn how and where each architect left their creative mark on the city, and how they worked with clients from Black communities to develop architecture suited to their needs. The program will also explore the group’s collective legacy, which has helped generations of aspiring Black designers and others from underrepresented groups gain access to the field. Accompanied by an array of archival imagery, four speakers representing a variety of perspectives will introduce us to the work of these pioneering professionals.

Mosaic: Groundbreakers is a joint presentation of the Santa Monica Conservancy, the Santa Monica History Museum, and the Quinn Research Center. The program is free for Museum and Conservancy members, teachers, and students. General registration is $10. This is a virtual program.

Click HERE to register!

And don’t miss From the Ground Up: the Life of Vernon Brunson currently on view at the Santa Monica History Museum. Click HERE for details. 

About Our Speakers

Roland A. Wiley, AIA, is founder and principal of RAW International, a community-focused architectural firm experienced with a variety of projects, from transit-oriented developments to private and public sector workplaces. Wiley is widely recognized for his commitment to the cultural preservation and sustainable revitalization of underserved urban communities.

Dr. Anthony S. Denzer is a professor of architectural engineering at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Denzer earned his Ph.D. in architecture from UCLA in 2005, is a certified LEED Accredited Professional and Sustainable Engineering Education Scholar. His books include “Gregory Ain: The Modern Home as Social Commentary.

Carolyne Edwards is the founder and director of the Quinn Research Center, an archive and educational resource for Black family history and culture in the Santa Monica area. A Santa Monica native, Edwards is also a member of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors and a former teacher in the Santa Monica School District.

Anne Wallentine is the collections manager and curator of the Santa Monica History Museum. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and the Courtauld Institute, Wallentine recently oversaw the production of two current exhibits at the History Museum, From the Ground Up: the Life of Vernon Brunson and Unhoused: a History of Housing in Santa Monica.