One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
As Altadena rises from the ashes, a new mural speaks to those longing for home
A new mural is unveiled at Fair Oaks Burger.
(
Dañiel Martinez
/
LAist
)
Excitement was in the air Saturday morning as people from around Los Angeles gathered at Fair Oaks Burger in Altadena to witness the unveiling of a new Robert Vargas mural dedicated to the community several months after the Eaton Fire.
Vargas, known for his murals of Fernando Valenzuela and Shohei Ohtani, was on site to present the new work he'd been working on up until Saturday morning. The mural depicts a young Black girl picking a California poppy, holding a teddy bear, and wearing a shirt adorned with scenes and faces from Altadena.
-
Public transit and free city watch parties shined during this year's tournament. FIFA — with its corporate sponsors and official fan events — had a more lukewarm reception. -
James Conlon leaves L.A. as his grand-nephew Sebastian arrives as a newly-drafted MLS goalie. -
Los Angeles Public Library is offering free classes in Koreatown on Mondays this month. Event is currently waitlisted but future workshops are in the works.
"The teddy bear, which is a nod to the bears of the community that come down from the foothills. That is the security... what the little girl feels secure with [and] calls home," Vargas said.
Her action of picking a California poppy, he said, represents the community "rising from the ashes."
The hand from a girl depicted in Robert Vargas' new mural picks a California Poppy.
(
Dañiel Martinez
/
LAist
)
Robert Vargas stands in front of his new mural in Altadena, a girl holding a teddy bear is depicted in part of the artwork behind him.
(
Dañiel Martinez
/
LAist
)
Fans and community members were there to see the new painting. Dottie Burkhart is from north Pasadena. She went to high school with Vargas at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and says the mural helps her reimagine what home is to people in Altadena.
Sponsored message
" It's beautiful. And for me, what brings tears to my eyes, is the look on her face. There's happiness even in all of this destruction. So to me that's what's really beautiful about it," she said.
The face of a girl seen in "From The Ashes" at Fair Oaks Burger in Altadena, the new mural from Los Angeles artist Robert Vargas.
(
Dañiel Martinez
/
LAist
)
Robert de Leon is from Altadena, but lost his home in the Eaton Fire and currently lives in Pasadena. He came out to see the mural and says he appreciates all the symbols in the picture.
"The thing that connects with me most is the girl carrying the bear and it's like she's longing for home, or grasping onto that teddy bear, that's comforting," he said. "My initial inspiration is just sort of like the desire of Altadena to return to what it was."
Robert Vargas takes a picture with other Altadenans and local supporters in front of his new mural "From The Ashes" at Fair Oaks Burger.
(
Dañiel Martinez
/
LAist
)
Temple City resident Georganna Cordova was there to support her husband, who worked at the local school Odyssey Charter, which burned down in the fires. She's a huge fan of Vargas and this was the first time she experienced one of his pieces in person.
" I like that he captured really everything in a nutshell, even the horses that during the fire were being led out of the fire. Everything's in there," she said.
Sponsored message
Two horses and various other faces and scenes are depicted in the shirt a Black girl is wearing within Robert Vargas' new mural "From The Ashes" at Fair Oaks Burger.
(
Dañiel Martinez
/
LAist
)
After the banner covering the mural dropped Vargas named and signed the piece, dedicating it to Altadena and its continued resilience as it rebuilds nearly half a year after the Eaton Fire.
"This mural at Fair Oaks Burger is truly a reflection of the resilient community that's persevered through so much devastation and they really inspired me to create this mural," Vargas told LAist.
A large banner covers the wall of Fair Oaks Burger in Altadena which hides the newest mural by artist Robert Vargas.
(
Dañiel Martinez
/
LAist
)
Robert Vargas signs and names his new mural "From The Ashes" in Fair Oaks Burger in Altadena
(
Dañiel Martinez
/
LAist
)
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
