The Armory Center for the Arts in Old Pasadena will transform its 25,000-square-foot facility into a vibrant hub of creativity for this year’s Spring ArtNight Pasadena on Friday night.
Instead of a traditional exhibition, the Armory will convert its Caldwell Gallery into a dance party space, featuring Grammy-nominated DJ Soltera, a Latinx producer who received a $500 MiniGrant, spinning music alongside a beer and wine garden with local craft beers from Pasadena’s Craftsman Brewing Company. Additionally, Riea Owens, a Pasadena-based muralist and MiniGrant recipient, will create a live painting responding to wildfire recovery themes during the event.
“Well, our entire team prepares all across the organization. So our exhibition team and our arts education team, everybody has a role in planning for the event,” said Leslie A. Ito, Executive Director of the Armory Center for the Arts. “This Spring ArtNight, there are a few things that are going to be a little bit different than in previous years.”
Throughout the building, visitors can participate in family-friendly activities, including darkroom photography demonstrations where student volunteers will showcase cyanotype printing and pinhole camera techniques. In the Drawing & Painting Studio, Teaching Artist Ann Faison will guide attendees through observational still-life drawing sessions using unconventional materials. The Main Studio will feature risograph printing demonstrations by artists Frankie Gutierrez and Jocelyn Casas, showcasing sustainable printmaking techniques.
The Armory will also host two community partners: Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley will provide resources, while Side Street Projects will lead art-making activities. The Pie ‘N Burger food truck will be stationed outside the venue.
In response to the Eaton fires, the Armory will present “Going Up the Hill, a Community Art Experience” in its mezzanine gallery. This installation, running from ArtNight through May 11, invites visitors to contribute their artistic expressions as part of the community healing process. The installation incorporates wildfire recovery narratives submitted by local residents throughout February 20252.
“Yes, the installation and being able to put your feelings, share your feelings creatively is really important. And I think is part of the healing process,” Ito explained. “And 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.”
ArtNight Pasadena, a semiannual cultural celebration offering free access to 19 arts venues across the city, will run from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. According to Ito, the Armory usually has about 1,200 people come through their building during the event, with many staying to explore multiple activities.
The Armory has implemented several accessibility measures, including ASL interpreters at all demonstration stations, tactile guides for visually impaired visitors, designated quiet zones in the Community Care Room, and free mobility device rentals available through advance reservation.
In response to 2024’s wildfire impacts, the institution has also implemented air quality monitoring systems throughout the building, emergency evacuation drills for volunteer staff, and mobile air filtration stations developed with ArtCenter College of Design’s Environmental Design Department.
“Accessibility and engagement is really at the heart of our work, and we hold those values very strong,” said Ito. “I think that ArtNight in general, because it’s a free event sponsored by the city, it’s really at the heart of accessibility and engagement. I think it’s one of the things that makes our city special.”
The Armory anticipates serving 3,000+ visitors during ArtNight, approximately 18% of the event’s total projected attendance.
During the event, staff will offer 10% discounts on all membership tiers, free trial passes for community art classes, and exclusive previews of the upcoming “Terry Chatkupt: A Year” exhibition.
Partnerships with local businesses extend beyond the food truck presence. LATHER’s Old Pasadena location will donate 20% of March 14 sales to the Armory’s wildfire relief art therapy programs, while ArtCenter College of Design alumni receive discounts at adjacent restaurants when presenting ArtNight maps.
To facilitate transportation, the venue will partner with Pasadena Transit to provide 10-minute shuttle service intervals to other museums, designated rideshare drop-off zones, and bike valet services operated by the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition.
“I think the spring 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,” Ito noted. “I think that sets the tone for the kind of artistic blooming that will happen inside the building.”
