Pasadena Public Art - Jade Hunt

 

Phase 1:The Site

I chose this site because this was a mural that was recently done to show support for the Eaton Fires that happened from the community. I was born and raised in Pasadena California and when the Eaton wild fires had occurred a lot of the communities business buildings and homes were burned which led to a very traumatizing and sensitive topic for the people that live here. 


Phase 2: Field Work

 This mural designed and painted by AirForce Veteran Brandon Tompson as a way to honor wildfire victims that is sponsored by Adobe, is located on the side of Magic cleaners and Laundry at the corner of Lake Ave and Union st. This mural was spray-painted with support from the nonprofit Beautify Earth, where Brandon spent his days throughout the month of October 2025 painting the mural. 

Bradon Tompsons told Local News Pasadena in quote “ Im a street artist, man. I prepared for this. "He was more than happy to be part of this project to support the importance of creating art for the community using his own art materials and supplies to embrace his artistic side and help for the victims of the wildfire. 

Not only did this mural reflect a lot on the tribute to both the fire victims but also the local business that also helped the people that lost their homes and everything that needed assistance from the community throughout this crisis. The mural is located right on the side of the Laundry and Cleaners business that also provided a community service by providing ten thousand pounds of free laundry service for the fire victims for two weeks in January, which was major help from the owner Koko Bachian of Magic Cleaners and Laundry to show generosity and care for the community. 


Phase 3: Critical Analysis

The public artworks around my community in Pasadena include a mixture of permanent installations and temporary displays that all share a sense of local identity and storytelling through the themes that are connected to the neighborhood and cultural history. Murals that are seen in Pasadena that emphasize the community and Pasadena's history are commonly around public spaces near popular shopping spots intentionally for people to engage and feel connected to. The City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division and the Public Art Program are the coups that help make recommendations and support how public art is selected and displayed. The Public Art Master Plan that was updated in 2023 outlines the visions that are made for these projects in which they try to represent community engagement. When it comes to funding the public art displays there are several sources that come from different places of private developments or building projects, as well as the city’s own capital improvement budgets which come from community foundations and programs like the National Endowment for the Arts. 


Phase 4: Proposal

Art that I have seen that I like are some I've noticed my whole life, one of them being a sculpture piece in the center of Old Town Pasadena titled “Exhibit A” created by Mary Chomenko which is a bronze statue of a coyote that people such as young children and whoever are allowed to interact with the sculpture by sitting on the coyote or the bronze square next to it so that people are encouraged to pose and take pictures with it.

If I were to recommend a new public art placement, I would choose an installation in the Burlington Arcade on Lake Street in Pasadena. It is a spot where people often gather to grab a delicious coffee at a trending cafe called Mandrin, or study and enjoy the building's atmosphere, because this space is a place where it already brings a community together. I would like to see something placed at the center of the Arcade that carries a deeper meaning that has to do with something more political or socially conscious rather than purely aesthetic. Pasadena is already a well funded and visually appealing city that I believe a public art display can do more than just look nice but also challenge viewers and the community to make us think and learn about issues that exist beyond our comfort zone. Themes that I believe would fit this idea could be a focus on environmental justices, to connect global issues to local accountability that questions the city of what it really means to people to be more environmentally cautious and why it matters.


Location: N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA, USA

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