Pasadena ArtNight Event Hits Close to Home

Pasadena’s upcoming ArtNight Fall 2024 on Friday will feature a thought-provoking installation that hits close to home — literally.

The exhibit, “Home: Where Your Heart Lives,” will transform a local community center into a series of interactive rooms, each designed to evoke memories and emotions associated with the concept of home. Visitors can expect to encounter familiar domestic scenes reimagined through an artistic lens, from a larger-than-life refrigerator door to other household spaces ripe for exploration and reflection.

“We’re creating snapshots of home life that invite people to engage and even take selfies,” said Patricia Hurley, managing director of Light Bringer Project, the local arts nonprofit behind the installation. “It’s about making art accessible and personal.”

The installation can be visited at Day One, 175 N Euclid Ave., on Friday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Its centerpiece — a three-dimensional refrigerator door crafted by Pasadena artist Matthew Silva — serves as a nostalgic nod to many people’s first art gallery: the family fridge. This oversized appliance promises to be both a visual spectacle and a poignant reminder of childhood creativity.

For Pasadena residents, the exhibit offers a chance to see their everyday surroundings in a new light. It taps into the universal experience of “home” while celebrating the city’s vibrant arts scene. The installation also reflects broader conversations about housing and belonging in Southern California, where the definition of home can be as diverse as the population itself.

The free event will take place on Friday, October 18, from 6 to 10 p.m. at Day One, a community center on North Euclid Avenue. As part of the larger ArtNight festivities, it promises to be an evening where art and daily life intersect, encouraging attendees to reconsider the spaces they inhabit and the memories they cherish.

In a region where the concept of home can sometimes feel elusive due to high housing costs and rapid change, this artistic exploration invites Pasadenans to pause and reflect on what “home” truly means to them.

Visitors can expect a multifaceted experience, including storytelling sessions by Zoot Velasco, student-made art pieces, home movies, and interactive elements like board games and dress-up areas. Additional interactive features include a clothesline for hanging artwork, snacks in the “kitchen” area, and opportunities for visitors to create art on-site.

The project represents a collaboration between local artists, Pasadena Unified School District students, and community organizations like Day One, whose afterschool program students are creating artwork for the installation.

“We want people to walk away and feel happy and warm and feeling maybe even more connected to their home, wherever that is,” Hurley said.

The installation will also address themes of belonging and transition, including experiences of those moving out of homelessness, through photographs depicting positive stories of transition.

Light Bringer Project, founded in 1990, has a longstanding mission to build communities through the power of arts. Its programs include Room 13, Locavore Lit, College & Career Pathways, and Expressing Feelings Through Art.

ArtNight Pasadena is a free evening event where the city’s prominent arts and cultural institutions open their doors to the public, offering art, music, and entertainment.

The outdoor, animal-friendly event will also feature Fat Boy’s Food Truck. The project was partially funded by a mini-grant from the city.

For more about ArtNight Pasadena, visit https://www.cityofpasadena.net/artnight/.

The “Home: Where Your Heart Lives” installation promises to be a standout feature, highlighting the intersection of art, community engagement, and social awareness.

To learn more, visit https://www.lightbringerproject.org/artnight.