our towns

Palisades has always been a place of quiet strength where ocean winds carried laughter across ballfields, markets, and porches. When the wildfire came, it took homes, landmarks, and pieces of our past. But it didn’t take our spirit. That sense of togetherness the one that brought us through COVID and every wildfire before still lives here, in every memory we carry and every effort to rebuild.

Altadena sits at the edge of the mountains, cradled by history, creativity, and resilience. Eaton Canyon’s fire swept through not just land, but lives. And yet, like the oaks that line its streets, Altadena stands firm rooted in stories passed down, held close, and now ready to be retold through art, memory, and collective care.

Though touched by different fires, these two towns are connected by a shared will to remember, to honor what was lost, and to rebuild stronger, wiser, and more united.

The Rebuilding Memory project is a celebration of that shared spirit.

It is a community-led storytelling and art initiative that turns memory into miniature preserving homes, businesses, classrooms, and gathering spaces through handcrafted models made in collaboration with Japanese artists and local families.

From Sunday rituals at Toppings Yogurt to backyard cribs built during lockdown, from beloved landmarks in Palisades to sacred spaces in Altadena this is more than tribute. It is a living archive.

Through a digital gallery and a 2026 physical exhibition, we will share over 100 miniature dioramas paired with photos and personal stories.

We hope these pieces will inspire reflection, spark dialogue, and bring people closer while also exploring how we rebuild with fire-resilient design, artistic memory, and deep community roots.

We invite you to be part of it as a contributor, a visitor, a supporter, or a storyteller.

Let’s rebuild side by side, memory by memory.