Palisades Fire Memorial rises from the ashes

"The turnout shows that people care about these structures and were willing to journey into the upper hills of the Palisades to see them, and so it's almost like a test run for the final memorial. We're listening to one another, we're listening to the bricks and the chimneys, we're listening to the land, we're listening for what's next."

"In the year since the fires, Hall has worked tirelessly with local residents and city and state officials to reclaim the chimneys, secure a space for the memorial and raise funds. There are three current proposals for a permanent space, and Hall has the support of people like the state senator Ben Allen."

One year after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed over 6,500 structures in Los Angeles, a memorial project is preserving chimneys from homes designed by renowned architects including Richard Neutra, Ray Kappe, and Eric Lloyd Wright. Artist Evan Curtis Charles Hall founded the initiative to honor these architectural remnants as permanent reminders of the community's loss. A January celebration marked progress on the project, with residents visiting the preserved chimneys for the first time since the fires. Hall has collaborated with local residents and officials to secure the chimneys, identify permanent memorial locations, and raise necessary funds. Three proposals for a permanent space are currently under consideration, with support from state officials including Senator Ben Allen.

Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events