Exhibitions

With contributions by Alondia Bailey, Joe Bruns, Corinne Dyson, Aurelio M. Fernandez Aragoneses, Sandra Gallegos, Ruzanna Hanesyan, Heather Hilliard, Brandi Mack-Khalfani, Tracy Nakayama, Karen Satzman, and the Armory Programs Team

Going Up the Hill: A Community Art Experience is an ongoing, ever-changing, collaborative installation shaped by the memories, creativity, and hope of our community. After the January fires in Altadena and Pasadena, our community has come together to support neighbors and families through mutual aid initiatives across the city. The activities included in the installation, based on ideas developed by Armory Teaching Artists and staff, welcome reflection on the rhythms of life in and around Eaton Canyon and the San Gabriel Mountains by holding space for the community’s response to the fires. The installation serves as a container for the shared grief, anger, joy, and resilience of memories. 

Visitors are invited to contribute to the installation by participating in the activities, connecting with the responses of other community members, or using the included art materials to channel the complicated feelings of this moment into a work of creativity. Through art-making, we symbolically “go up the hill,” honoring the past and processing the emotions of the present to foster belonging, remembrance, and collective healing.

Public Programming

Subscribe to our email list to be the first to know about our programs. All exhibition public programs are free and held at the Armory, unless otherwise stated. Donations are appreciated. To support our programming, please go to armoryarts.org/support.

Wish Tree Garden
Inspired by Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree (2008), we invite you to make a wish and say a prayer. These offerings to our landscapes of Pasadena and Altadena plant a vision of hope in the human and non-human ecosystems living on this land. Contemplate our community members' wishes, dreams, and prayers, and use this space to foster change. 
Ongoing in our gallery

Murmurations, Where the Heart Is
Murmurations are flocks of starlings in flight, a collective protection against predators. Reflect on the strength of our community through times of hardship and uncertainty. Connect with the reflections of other community members. Although many have lost everything, and we mourn the losses, we can connect with support and compassion.
Ongoing in our gallery

Collective Quilt: What Is Home
Participants reflect on the prompt: “What is home?” to create a mixed-media collage. Each collage will be connected to create a multifaceted, intergenerational, culturally rich idea of “home” from the different perspectives of the communities of Altadena and Pasadena. Join Armory Teaching Artists Aldonia Bailey, Ruzanna Hanesyan, Heather Hilliard, and Brandi Mack-Khalfani for this workshop
Friday, April 11, 4-6 PM
RSVP here

Community Tapestry
The community tapestry uses the traditional Japanese Itajime Shibori dye technique with natural dyes and flora to reflect the nature, people, relationships, and places that unify Altadena and Pasadena. Each dyed fabric piece will be sewn together and displayed in our Mezzanine gallery. 
Activity led by Tracy Nakayama and Joe Bruns, Armory Teaching Artists
Saturday, April 12, 2-4 pm 
RSVP here

Armory fire response programming is supported by the California Community Foundation and FireAid. Lead support for all Armory programs comes from the Perenchio Foundation.