ArtPORT LA is a DBA of Unycyn Civic Arts, a registered 501(c)(3) organization, whose mission is to encourage activities and promote education in the art of being civic, and the enhancement of civic space through programs, projects, and partnerships in Los Angeles County.

The name Unycyn refers to the ideal of many visions in harmony.

The Team

Cynthia Hirschhorn

Founder, Executive Director

Cynthia is the Founder of Unycyn Civic Arts and has long held a vision for bringing civic art to urban open space in Los Angeles. She founded the Civicas Civic Action Network, served as a governing board member of AltaSea and River LA, and on the Advisory Board to the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. Cynthia belongs to LACMA’s Director’s Circle, and trained as an architect and environmental designer.

Cynthia@ArtPORT.la

Maureen Moore

Deputy Director

Maureen’s career spans arts non-profit strategic management and curatorial roles, including the PST:LA/LA “Visualizing Language: Oaxaca in LA” exhibition, co-directing the LA Public Library’s ALOUD series, and international studio management for a visual artist. She designed donor programs for museums worldwide with Art Quest International and speaks Spanish and Portuguese.

Maureen@ArtPORT.la

Governing Board

Michelle Campbell Mason

Michelle Campbell Mason is a producer, designer, and founder whose work excavates forgotten narratives, particularly those of female resilience and innovation, and reframes them for a contemporary audience. As founder of Paramour Films, she develops content that reveals the echoes of the past in today’s social, political, and spiritual climate. She also launched the globally distributed jewelry brand “Michelle Campbell,” inspired by contemporary art, modern architecture, and ancient symbolism. Michelle has served on The River Fund NYC board, Art Production Fund benefit committee, New York Art Academy gala committee, UCLA Film and Television Archive board, and was recognized on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in 2015.

Laura Fox, Secretary

Laura Fox founded the Fox Foundation to support innovative nonprofits in realizing their full potential and impact. Laura is a lawyer and strategic advisor in the corporate and social good sectors who received a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. As an Adjunct Professor at the USC Marshall School of Business, Laura developed a unique undergraduate course engaging young people in social entrepreneurship and preparing them to be social innovators. Previously, Laura oversaw business and legal affairs for the DreamWorks SKG movie division, and was VP of Legal Affairs for Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures. Laura has served on numerous nonprofit and University Boards and Advisory Councils, currently including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, City Year Los Angeles, P.S. ARTS, Visionary Women, Civicas, the USC Marshall Board of Councilors, and the Otis College Board of Governors.

Cynthia Hirschhorn, President

Cynthia attended Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles and obtained her B.A. in Cultural History and Masters of Architecture degrees from UCLA. Her thesis included a cultural guide to the 1984 Olympics and environmental technology center. Cynthia studied the art and architecture of cultures around the world traveling as a student and with her family. She was Production Designer for the 1990 L.A. Festival focusing on the Pacific Basin with a venue including the Korean Bell in San Pedro. Cynthia founded the Civicas network to connect cross sector leaders and help advance solutions to civic scale challenges by aligning resources for more impact. Cynthia has always drawn inspiration and joy from the abundant and exceptional creative opportunities Los Angeles has to offer, where she lives with her husband Charles who currently serves as President of Otis College of Art and Design. Cynthia is grateful, happy, honored and very proud to be at the point in her life where she can focus her energy and resources towards making lifelong passions, expertise, and dreams become realized with ArtPORT LA.

Lauren Johnson

Lauren obtained her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and Master's in Architecture at Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Lauren was creatively involved with the New Museum’s New Inc. Incubator, exhibitions at Storefront for Art and Architecture, and lectures at Leslie Lohman Museum of Art and the NYC AIA. She currently works at Jerico Development, a family business, primarily on the West Harbor development project on the San Pedro waterfront. Her contributions span across various domains, including marketing, project management, and community relations. Lauren also serves as the president of the board of the Crail-Johnson Foundation. board chair of the LA Choral Lab, past board Chair of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, and board member of the Harbor Boys and Girls Club. Lauren is passionate about giving back to the community and working collaboratively to problem-solve tough issues.

Sandy Medallis, Treasurer

Sandy graduated from Wellesley College and has a law degree from Boston University School of Law. Sandy has served on the boards of the Children's Museum of Los Angeles, the national board of A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans and worked as an attorney in the entertainment industry. Sandy supports "all hands on deck" efforts to promote and preserve democracy across the country, with special attention to her home state of Michigan.

Community Advisory Committee

In Formation

Augie Bezmalinovich, Port of Los Angeles, Community Affairs Advocate

Jay Davis, San Pedro High School, Media Arts Teacher

Liz Johnson, Grand Vision, Executive Director

Mark Malone, Fred Brown Recovery Services, Director of Administration

Lindsay Sochar, Crafted at the Port of LA, Creative Director

Elise Swanson, Chamber of Commerce, President

Nicole Whelan, Writer and Creative Producer

Arts Advisory Committee

In Formation

Resources