Two Artists Capture Northwest Pasadena’s Vanishing Stories in Permanent Murals

For two years, artists Deborah Aschheim and Carla Jay Harris have been racing against time, collecting stories from Northwest Pasadena’s elders before their memories of the neighborhood’s golden era disappear forever.

Now those stories — from residents who remember when Jackie Robinson practiced at the park before breaking baseball’s color barrier, to families who’ve called the area home for generations — will become permanent murals at the Robinson Park Recreation Center.

The Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission will review the artists’ plans Wednesday for three wall-based installations that weave together more than 50 oral histories with archival photographs and original artwork.

“The artwork should provide a dynamic narrative that inspires the community to reflect, embrace, and bridge connections across generations,” according to the project’s vision statement, crafted by community stakeholders.

The centerpiece will be Harris’s floor-to-ceiling mural in the central lobby, blending illustration, photography and digital design to tell the intertwined stories of the park and the people who’ve made it their second home. In the east lobby, Aschheim will install more than 40 hand-drawn portraits and watercolor illustrations based on her interviews with longtime residents.

A third collaborative piece honoring brothers Jackie and Mack Robinson — both Pasadena natives who shattered racial barriers in sports — will greet visitors in the main corridor.

The project extends beyond the physical walls. The artists are creating an interactive digital archive featuring audio recordings, photographs and the full collection of community stories gathered during their research.

Since beginning their work in 2023, Aschheim and Harris have embedded themselves in Northwest Pasadena’s cultural life, participating in more than 20 community events including the Latino Heritage Parade, King Day Celebration and Black History Parade. They’ve conducted one-on-one interviews with residents representing the area’s diverse communities.

Both artists bring deep California roots to the project. Aschheim, a Pasadena resident since 2002, has created public art for Glendale, Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Harris, based in Los Angeles, has exhibited with LA Metro and the California African American Museum.

Each artist received a $200,000 budget for the project, split between community engagement and the final installation.

If approved Wednesday, the artists will refine their concepts and submit detailed plans for fabrication and installation. The commission meets at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.