As Pasadena emerges from winter and the aftermath of the Eaton fires, the Armory Center for the Arts is preparing a unique approach to Spring ArtNight on March 14. The institution is converting its main gallery into a dance floor and creating spaces for community healing through artistic expression.
“This spring ArtNight, there are a few things that are going to be a little bit different than in previous years,” said Leslie A. Ito, Executive Director of the Armory Center for the Arts. “One is we are in between exhibitions and so we are turning the Caldwell Gallery into a big dance party instead of having an exhibition on view.”
ArtNight Pasadena, a free semi-annual celebration running from 6 to 10 p.m., provides access to 19 arts venues across the city. Visitors to the Armory can expect DJ Soltera spinning in the transformed Caldwell Gallery, complete with a beer and wine garden.
In response to wildfires that affected the community, Armory Center has developed programming focused on recovery.
“In response to the fires, we will have an exhibition in our mezzanine gallery called ‘Going Up the Hill, a Community Art Experience,’” Ito explained. “Our teaching artists and our programs team collaborated to pull this installation and experience together and it will involve community participation.”
This installation, running from ArtNight through May 11, invites participation and serves as a way for the community “to share their grief and their joy and resilience as we continue to rebuild after the fires,” Ito said.
Armory Center typically welcomes around 1,200 visitors during ArtNight, with guests staying for extended periods to engage with activities. Throughout the building, visitors can participate in family-friendly activities such as darkroom photography demonstrations and still life drawing sessions.
“The installation and being able to share your feelings creatively is really important, and I think is part of the healing process,” Ito said. “I anticipate that the work and the feelings that we see will be a wide range because I think that too is part of the grieving process, all of the feelings that come with loss.”
Community partnerships feature in this year’s programming, with organizations like Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley providing resources, and Side Street Projects leading art-making activities. The Pi and Burger food truck will be stationed outside to serve attendees.
In response to the 2024 wildfires, Armory Center has implemented air quality monitoring systems throughout the building, partnering with ArtCenter’s Environmental Design Department to create mobile air filtration stations and ensuring programming continuity.
Ito emphasized that accessibility remains central to Armory Center’s mission.
“Accessibility and engagement is really at the heart of our work, and we hold those values very strong,” she noted.
Free shuttle services will connect venues throughout Pasadena during ArtNight, enhancing accessibility for community members. The timing of the event, coinciding with spring’s renewal, carries significance this year.
“ArtNight happens twice a year, and I think the spring is a special one because things are starting to bloom and the energy is a little bit different than the fall ArtNight,” Ito reflected. “The sun is going to shine a little bit longer and we see the sprouts on the trees in front of the Armory, and I think that sets the tone for the kind of artistic blooming that will happen inside the building.”
“My hope is that with the Eaton fires, as we are looking towards recovery, that ArtNight is even stronger because it’s a way for people and communities to connect and connect over creativity,” Ito said. “And I think that one of the most important things that we can do right now is support each other and ease creativity to connect to each other.”
For more about Armory Center’s ArtNight participation, visit https://www.armoryarts.org/
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