Overview
Lewis MacAdams (October 12, 1944 – April 21, 2020) was an American poet, journalist, political activist, and filmmaker known for combining literary practice with civic and environmental engagement. Born in San Angelo, Texas, MacAdams spent much of his adult life in Southern California where he became a prominent public figure in debates about urban nature, culture, and the revitalization of the Los Angeles River.
Life and career
MacAdams edited, taught, wrote, and produced work across multiple media. He served as director of the Poetry Center at San Francisco State University from 1975 to 1978 and later held positions as a contributing editor and cultural critic. He wrote regularly for outlets including Rolling Stone, Men’s Journal, The Los Angeles Times and the L.A. Weekly, where his pieces blended reporting, criticism, and personal reflection on the intersections of art, music, and ecology.
Activism and the Los Angeles River
MacAdams is widely recognized as a co‑founder of Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR), an organization that advocated for public access, ecological restoration, and civic stewardship of the river corridor. Through public events, river cleanups, and community outreach he helped shift conversations about the river from flood control infrastructure to a shared urban resource worth rehabilitating. His activism made him a visible figure in Los Angeles civic life, and he frequently framed environmental work as an extension of cultural practice.
Writing, film, and major works
MacAdams published poetry across several collections and contributed essays and cultural histories. His 2001 book, Birth of the Cool, explored how the notion of “cool” developed as an aesthetic and social idea in twentieth‑century American culture. In addition to print work, he produced films and multimedia projects that investigated urban landscapes, memory, and the relationship between people and riverine spaces. His approach often mixed documentary reporting with poetic sensibility.
Selected roles and contributions
- Director, Poetry Center, San Francisco State University (1975–1978)
- Co‑founder, Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR)
- Contributing editor and columnist for local and national publications
- Poet, essayist, and filmmaker focusing on urban ecology and culture
Legacy and death
MacAdams is remembered for bridging art and civic activism, helping to reframe urban waterways as sites of cultural as well as ecological value. His work inspired volunteers, artists, policymakers, and writers to view the Los Angeles River in new ways and contributed to ongoing restoration conversations. He died in Los Angeles on April 21, 2020, from complications related to Parkinson's disease, aged 75. Tributes noted both his literary achievements and his long‑term commitment to public space and the environment.
For further reading on his life and projects, consult archives of his journalism and the records of organizations he helped to found, which document how a literary sensibility can inform sustained civic advocacy.