The California African American Museum in Exposition Park has opened 'Ode to ’Dena: Black Artistic Legacies of Altadena,' a free exhibition celebrating the deep Black artistic heritage of the Altadena neighborhood. Curated by Dominique Clayton, the show features over 20 Black artists with ties to the area, including a wall of archival family photos, works by 98-year-old Betye Saar, and pieces by Kenturah Davis and her family. The exhibition was organized rapidly after the Eaton Fire, incorporating debris from the disaster, such as a scorched flugelhorn and a charred sound bowl, to reflect loss and resilience.
This exhibition matters because it foregrounds Altadena's often-overlooked Black artistic legacy while responding to the trauma of the Eaton Fire, which destroyed homes of several participating artists. By blending personal archives, multigenerational works, and fire-damaged objects, the show redefines how community history and art can intersect in times of crisis. It also highlights the role of local institutions in preserving and amplifying marginalized cultural narratives, offering a model for rapid, community-driven curation.