Going Up the Hill: A Community Art Experience is an ongoing, collaborative installation shaped by the memories, creativity, and hopes of our community. In the wake of the January fires in Altadena and Pasadena, neighbors have come together through mutual aid efforts across the city. Rooted in ideas developed by Armory Teaching Artists and staff, the activities in this installation invite reflection on life in and around Eaton Canyon and the San Gabriel Mountains, offering space for the community’s emotional response to the fires.
The installation acts as a container for shared grief, anger, joy, and resilience. Visitors are invited to contribute—by engaging in the activities, connecting with others’ reflections, or using the provided materials to express their own experiences. Through art-making, we symbolically “go up the hill,” honoring what was lost, processing the present, and nurturing a sense of belonging, remembrance, and collective healing.
