In the aftermath of January’s devastating Eaton fire, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the final stages of debris removal in Altadena.
With thousands of properties already cleared, the corps is now addressing the toxic ash and refuse that remains in the unincorporated foothill community.
As the urgency of debris removal begins to fade, the community will face the years ahead grappling with the losses incurred and the ongoing process of rebuilding.
Contributing to the recovery effort is the California African American Museum (CAAM) with its exhibition, “Ode to ’Dena: Black Artistic Legacies of Altadena,” on view through October 12.
Curated by Dominique Clayton, founder of the Dominique Gallery, the exhibition was organized in a swift three months in response to the fire, highlighting the significance of Altadena to Black artists, both historical and contemporary.
The area became a refuge for many Black families between 1910 and 1970, amid the mass migration of approximately 6 million Black Americans from the South to other parts of the U.S.
Unlike many neighborhoods that practiced redlining, Altadena offered a welcoming environment for these families.
This artistic community included celebrated figures such as John Outterbridge, an assemblage artist and former director of the Watts Towers Arts Center, who lost his home and studio to the fire.
Outterbridge passed away in 2020, but his legacy lives on through his work and contributions to the arts.
According to CAAM, during the 1950s and ’60s, Altadena was regarded as the epicenter of Black arts activity in Los Angeles County.
Although the center of gravity later shifted towards Watts after the 1965 Watts Rebellion, Altadena continued to thrive as a vibrant hub of creativity with a distinctive Black cultural imprint.
In addition to Outterbridge, the exhibition features contributions from renowned artists such as Charles White, Martine Syms, Kenturah Davis, Betye Saar, Richmond Barthé, Mark Steven Greenfield, Nikki High, Bennie Maupin, Marcus Leslie Singleton, La Monte Westmoreland, and Keni “Arts” Davis.
Following the fire, artist Kenturah Davis, whom the Los Angeles Times’ Noah Goldberg recently featured, began to document the wreckage through his watercolors, a poignant reflection of his beloved neighborhood’s transformation.
For more information on CAAM and the exhibition, you can visit their website.
In other arts news, an important update has emerged: the Essential Arts newsletter, curated by Jessica Gelt, will now be published solely on Fridays instead of both Mondays and Fridays.
Here are some notable events on the horizon:
1.
The Euterpides & Serenade
Young composer Alma Deutscher’s debut ballet, “The Euterpides,” is making its debut for the last two weekends in June in collaboration with American Contemporary Ballet Director Lincoln Jones.
This world-premiere work will be presented alongside George Balanchine’s “Serenade,” set to Tchaikovsky’s music.
Showtimes are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from June 26 to 28 at Television City, located at 200 N. Fairfax Ave., Stage 33.
For more details, visit acbdances.com.
2.
KCRW and CAAM Summer Nights
What better way to kick off summer than with an all-ages dance party?
KCRW DJs and guest DJ Damar Davis will provide live music, and attendees can enjoy exploring CAAM’s galleries, which prominently feature solo exhibitions by Awol Erizku, Darol Olu Kae, Nellie Mae Rowe, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, and the aforementioned “Ode to ’Dena” exhibition along with a group exhibition inspired by the concept of reparations.
Expect food trucks, a beer garden, and engaging crafts — all free with an RSVP.
The summer nights event is set for 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday at the California African American Museum, 600 State Drive, Exposition Park.
RSVP details can be found at caamuseum.org.
3.
Sing the Story: Celebrating Black Artistry From Gospel To Soul
Patrick Dailey and the W. Crimm Singers, an ensemble dedicated to expressing the Black experience through music, will perform at BroadStage in Santa Monica.
This performance celebrates spiritual medleys, soul classics, and more, as part of a curated series of blues rhythms by Reverend Shawn Amos.
The concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Saturday at The Plaza, located at 1310 11th St, Santa Monica.
More information can be found at broadstage.org.
4.
Before You Now: Capturing the Self in Portraiture
The Vincent Price Museum will host a selection of artworks exploring how American artists depict themselves.
This exhibition features photographs, prints, drawings, videos, and installation art from LACMA’s collections, including pieces by Laura Aguilar, Kwame Brathwaite, Kalli Arte Collective, Jennifer Moon, Wendy Red Star, Roger Shimomura, Cindy Sherman, Rodrigo Valenzuela, and June Wayne.
It will run from Saturday through August 30 at the Vincent Price Art Museum, East Los Angeles College, located at 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park.
Visit vincentpriceartmuseum.org for further details.
5.
2025 California Biennial: Desperate, Scared, But Social
The latest edition of this large-scale exhibition highlights the complexities of adolescence, brimming with both hopes and pressures.
The Biennial boasts 12 featured artists, including established names and some still in their teenage years, showcasing a variety of innovative works.
Scheduled to run from Saturday until January 4, the exhibition will take place at the Orange County Museum of Art, located at 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa.
For tickets and more information, visit ocma.art.
6.
When the Violin
Choreographer and dancer Yamini Kalluri joins violinist Vijay Gupta for a captivating program featuring compositions by JS Bach and Reena Esmail, uniting poetry, music, and a blend of Kuchipudi dance.
This performance is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Sierra Madre Playhouse, located at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre.
More details are available at sierramadreplayhouse.org.
7.
Georgia O’Keeffe: The Brightness of Light
A new documentary chronicling the life of iconic artist Georgia O’Keeffe, directed by Academy Award winner Paul Wagner, will screen from 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Laemmle Royal and other locations on August 2.
The film dives into O’Keeffe’s journey from Jazz Age New York to the New Mexico desert, accompanied by narration from Claire Danes and cinematography enriched with music by Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch.
Details on screenings can be found at laemmle.com/film/georgia-okeeffe-brightness-light.
In cultural news, a significant development occurred last week when National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet announced her decision to step down.
This came shortly after President Donald Trump claimed he had fired her due to her perceived partisanship and support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Sajet’s resignation was communicated in a note to her team shared by Lonnie Bunch, the leader of the Smithsonian Institution, who characterized Sajet’s leadership as a privilege.
This decision followed the institution’s prior statement asserting its independence amidst the President’s intervention, but it was insufficient to retain Sajet.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles art scene is abuzz due to a retrospective of Seattle-born, L.A.-based artist Noah Davis at the Hammer Museum.
Times art critic Christopher Knight reviewed the exhibition, which showcases around three dozen works, emphasizing Davis’s unique artistic voice and potential had his life not been tragically cut short at the age of 32 due to liposarcoma.
Knight remarked that Davis’s mastery is evident in the show, affirming his status as “a painter’s painter” whose work continues to resonate.
Mark Swed, classical music critic for the Times, hailed this year’s Ojai Music Festival, praising its progressive ethos and innovative focus on new music.
Founded nearly 80 years ago, the festival sought to be California’s answer to the Salzburg Festival.
Music director Claire Chase this year led an assembly of composers focusing on eco-sonics to promote mindfulness through music that resonates with the rhythms of nature.
On a standout note, Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted the San Francisco Symphony in an intense performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, known as the ‘Resurrection,’ which received a robust standing ovation from a stunned audience — a notable farewell as Salonen departs from his position as music director.
Despite recent unrest in downtown L.A., Times reporter Kailyn Brown documented the resilience of the arts community as audiences turned out for L.A. Opera’s “Rigoletto” and the Center Theater Group’s “Hamlet.”
Through interviews and candid photographs, her reporting dispels portrayals of chaos circulating on social media, affirming the enduring importance of supporting the arts.
In other news, CAP UCLA recently shared its exciting lineup for the 2025-26 season under its Executive and Artistic Director Edgar Miramontes.
The upcoming season will feature 30 performances and over 100 international artists, promoting an ethos of connection and empathy through diverse artistic expressions ranging from jazz to contemporary classical music and vibrant theater.
This season is positioned as an act of community engagement, emphasizing that the stage serves as a platform for unity and creative exploration.
Furthermore, playwright Michael Shayan has released a new Audible Original play titled “Cruising,” directed by Tony Award nominee Robert O’Hara.
This comedic narrative follows a promising gay playwright grappling with writer’s block as his life unravels.
The ensemble cast features distinguished voices such as Christine Baranski, Tituss Burgess, Cecily Strong, André de Shields, and Andrew Rannells.
For streaming, look up the production on Audible.
Additionally, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has outlined its 2025-26 season, continuing to present outstanding performances at the Wallis’ Bram Goldsmith Theater.
The selected repertoire features a mix of classics and contemporary pieces, highlighting renowned musicians and guest conductors.
For tickets and further information, interested audiences can visit the orchestra’s website.
Through these numerous offerings, it is evident that the arts community in Los Angeles and beyond continues to adapt and thrive amidst challenges, maintaining a commitment to fostering cultural development and artistic expression.
image source from：latimes
