Contribute to ‘Land Memories: Voices of Altadena’
This partnership project between Frieze and Black Trustee Alliance records testimony of the Los Angeles community in the wake of the Eaton Fire of January 2025
This partnership project between Frieze and Black Trustee Alliance records testimony of the Los Angeles community in the wake of the Eaton Fire of January 2025
Frieze is partnering with the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums to support the creation of ‘Land Memories: Voices of Altadena’. In the wake of the 2025 Eaton fire, this project seeks to uplift and preserve collective memories of the historically Black and culturally-rich community of Altadena.
Altadena stands as a crucial site of Black artistry, culture and community vitality in Southern California. The neighbourhood emerged as a haven for Black homeownership in the early 20th century, with roughly 80 percent of Black residents owning their homes – double the national average. This foundation fostered a rich creative ecosystem, hosting artists Charles White, Betye Saar and Doyle Lane, as well as writer Octavia Butler. The recent devastating wildfires have threatened this legacy, destroying numerous historic structures, archives and studios.
‘Land Memories’ celebrates the legacy of Altadena, documenting the community’s diverse cultures, communities and creativity through oral history and visual storytelling.
Working together with Altadena’s residents and the wider Los Angeles community, ‘Land Memories’ strives to provide a participatory record, gathering voices from across generations. These testimonies give voice to the vibrant and overlapping memories of Altadena, map the impact of the fires on its communities and question what role art can play in individual and collective healing.
Share Your Testimony and Donate to ‘Land Memories’
If you have a memory of – or personal connection to – Altadena, please consider sharing your testimony and contribute to the project.
Participate in ‘Land Memories’
Frieze and the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums are inviting people to support ‘Land Memories’ through sponsorship, partnership, or media enquiries.
Listen Now
Click on the links below to listen to some audio memories, recorded by artists living in Altadena.
Alice Könitz & Peter Kim, artists
About the BTA
The mission of the Black Trustee Alliance (BTA) is to transform art museums into more equitable and excellent spaces of cultural engagement. Established as a coalition for social justice in the arts, BTA cultivates trustees as influential agents of change by equipping them with the resources, knowledge and networks to be most effective in their boardrooms. BTA is home to nearly 200 Black trustees serving on 90+ art museum boards across North America.
Further Information
Additional support from Google Arts & Culture and LA County Department of Arts and Culture.
Frieze is proud to support the LA Arts Community Fire Fund, led by the J. Paul Getty Trust.
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