Conversation with Maria Karlsson and Mojan Baradaran, Los Angeles, 2002

On a walk with artist Maria Karlsson, she talks about "Walk the Block,” an event she co-organized with artist Alexandra Hoffman and Bernd. This communal walk took place on a block between Melrose, Highland, Santa Monica, and La Brea—a mix of residential and industrial areas. “We took to the streets for a one-hour walk. We made these fliers... The walk starts at your own door, and you create your own path. See you on the streets afterward at 7 p.m.; you’re invited to come over to 835 North Mansfield Avenue.” The project was named "Summer with Monica."

The event saw a diverse turnout, including locals and members of the art scene. Participants walked through the neighborhood along different routes and later gathered for social activities, including a film screening, table tennis, and refreshments. The walk highlighted the contrast between Los Angeles’s reputation as a city hostile to pedestrians and the actual presence of walkers. “A lot of people walk because they have no other means,” Karlsson notes. She shares anecdotes from the event, such as meeting a skilled ping pongtable tennis player who was unhoused and an Iranian artist displaying his sculptures. “The people who participated had very interesting comments… It’s amazing how just walking can be subversive in a way.”

The event showcased the neighborhood’'s heterogeneity, with long-time residents and newcomers interacting in a communal setting. Karlsson also recalls other walking projects she had organized, including walks from MacArthur Park to Boyle Heights and from Hollywood to the ocean. These walks were similarly open-ended, with participants deciding the route together and engaging with the environment and people they encountered along the way.