Last month, we shared a little about the efforts to support the community of Altadena, CA, after the Eaton fires destroyed much of the structural history and legacy of this community. Since that time, more has been uncovered about the rich history and the evidence that this was a place where Black creativity flourished and was celebrated.
It's so difficult these days to engage with people who applaud the dismantling of initiatives that were created out of need. The need to place a stake in the ground that says, "We were here, and we are here." Why the need? Well, we know that some people find it hard to believe or just want to blatantly ignore the fact that Black art in America, specifically, has a history of erasure, undervaluation, and just plain exclusion.
The history of Altadena tells another story. In addition to the fact that Afro-futurist writer Octavia Butler was from the area, this place also attracted large numbers of African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s. As the Black middle-class community grew, Black creatives were naturally attracted to the area. Charles White, actor Ivan Dixon, and others would also make Altadena home.
Acclaimed artist Betye Saar grew up right on the border of Altadena. In 1959, there was also a fire, and she repurposed found objects from the wreckage in her art. Though she eventually settled into Laurel Canyon, she continued maintaining family and professional relationships in Altadena. We imagine many artists will also find themselves creating new work from the ashes of the 2025 fire.
A 2016 studio tour with Betye Saar
While these may be artists from what seems like a long-ago era, they would pave the way for a cadre of today's practicing artists, some descendants of an earlier era of creatives, to make Altadena home. And just like so many cities across the country, Altadena was once redlined and has recently seen an increase in gentrification. Funny how these neighborhoods, deemed only reasonable for residency by our country's most marginalized populations, become favored by those whose ability to move freely and live freely has never been restricted or interrupted.
Altadena is an example of the level of connectedness that builds community and the role artists play in shaping community. We encourage you to take some time to read a recent New York Times article on the Black arts legacy of Altadena for an illuminated view of the places and people who created a life and artwork there.
Comments