Inspired by Augusto Boal's experiments with the People's Theatre in Peru, Ashes is an exhibition that toured Los Angeles County from January to February 2025. 

 

The goal was to raise funds for families affected by the devastating fires that broke out in early 2025 and create a space for communities to control the means of documenting their resilience and artistic joy in the face of adversity.

 

The project consisted of two parts. The first was composed of multiple “Art Nights” produced by Los Angeles based artist Jesse LaTourette. These were cabaret nights where local artists would present a changing repertoire of work — poetry, music, and live improv games. The locations chosen were restaurants, coffee shops, and small businesses that survived the fires or were heavily affected by them. The immediate encounter with affected members of the community helped raise both spirits and funds, allowing joy to be the “tonic” note that unified the whole of Los Angeles.

 

The second part was overseen by dir. Marco Rivera. QR codes and links distributed online and across the affected areas enabled individuals with access to a camera a place to upload a picture of the events from their point of view. This allowed the individuals a chance to share their realities through photography. The website offered a prompt: “Share a picture to let us know you’re ok.” and allowed the individual to write a caption. The site also provided information on local resources, evacuation centers, and a chat function to ask for help. 

 

The photos were shown at the “Art Nights” where members of the community could see what their neighbors and friends were experiencing.

 

The most surprising thing: because people were confronted daily with the sights of destroyed homes and packed evacuation centers. When given the opportunity to share their own point of view, many presented images that showed resilience, humor, or acknowledged that someone else was there to help. They showed they weren’t alone, and neither would the viewer of the picture. 

 

By handing the means to create art to the community, Ashes assembled an artistic-menagerie that alters the narrative - placing hope, humor and strength as the defining features of those affected.

 

All proceeds and donations went to fulfilling “needs lists” by evacuation centers in the Alta Dena, Casteic, and Palisades communities.