New CAAM Exhibit Celebrates Altadena’s Black Artists Following Devastating Fire

A compelling new exhibit highlighting the rich Black artistic heritage of Altadena has opened at the California African American Museum in Exposition Park, just a short drive from Inglewood. “Ode to ‘Dena: Black Artistic Legacies of Altadena” showcases the area’s vibrant cultural contributions while addressing the devastating impact of January’s Eaton fire.

The free, mixed-media exhibition was created in response to the destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses during the wildfire, including many owned by Black artists who lost decades of irreplaceable creative work. The exhibit, running through October 12, features 25 artists whose connections to Altadena tell a powerful story of resilience and cultural significance.

“Altadena has a very strong, rich, historic African American community of professionals, artists, writers and musicians… and unfortunately, many of them lost these really special things that they built,” said Dominique Clayton, who curated her first exhibit with the museum. “It was really important to share the tragedy — but also to enlighten people about who is really affected there.”

During the 1950s and 60s, Altadena became known as an epicenter of Black arts activity in Los Angeles County, similar to the cultural significance Inglewood has developed in recent decades. Though this artistic focus later shifted to South LA following the Watts Riots, Altadena continued to develop as a creative haven with a distinctive Black cultural imprint.

Among the featured artists is 64-year-old Michael Chukes, whose sculpture “Protector of the Next Generation” survived the fire while his studio and decades of work were destroyed. “It’s important for me to let younger artists know that even in the midst of devastation, there must be resilience,” Chukes said.

The exhibition also highlights three generations of the Davis family’s artwork. Keni “Arts” Davis, who lost his home and artwork in the fire, created a series titled “Beauty for Ashes” documenting community landmarks in their post-fire state. His wife, daughter, and even his two-year-old grandchild have artwork featured in the exhibit.

The museum has included a selection of books and merchandise from Octavia’s Bookshelf, named after prominent Black writer Octavia Butler who had connections to the area.

For Inglewood residents interested in exploring this powerful exhibition, the California African American Museum is located at 600 State Drive in Exposition Park, approximately 15 minutes from central Inglewood. Museum admission is free. More information is available at www.caamuseum.org.