Several weeks after the Eaton Fire, families, local businesses and entire communities are rebuilding not only structures but also a sense of stability and hope.
In the wake of devastation, there is an undeniable current of renewal. For many, healing comes from beyond ash-cleared roads and new window panes. It comes from shared moments of resilience found in laughter, music and above all, art.
For lifelong Monrovia resident and street artist Ryan Burch, the solace was clear: creativity.
“Art has always had a healing power,” Burch said. “I know the power of art. As an artist, my service would be essentially to give art to people.”
In collaboration with media personality Chris Loos and nonprofit Near-Infinity Art, Burch brought together over a dozen local artists and vendors for “Painted Promises,” Monrovia’s first pop-up art gallery and community event.
All proceeds from purchased artwork would go to rebuilding Aveson Elementary and Middle School and Odyssey Charter School, which were among the handful of schools destroyed in the fire.
Held from February 21 to February 23 at the historic Santa Fe Depot, “Painted Promises” found its home in a space brimming with history that was not affected by the fire. Once Monrovia’s primary transportation hub in the 1920s, the depot now stands as a preserved relic of movement and progress. This past weekend, it bridged the gap between the past and the future, as well as grief and hope.
Monrovia lies less than 10 miles away from Eaton Canyon, yet the fire’s impact stretched far beyond the foothills. The destruction left a mark on the land and the interconnected communities of the San Gabriel Valley, where everyday lives, histories and experiences are deeply entwined.
Crystal Diaz, a Monrovia resident who attended “Painted Promises,” felt that connection profoundly.
“It’s neighbors supporting neighbors, community supporting community,” Diaz said. “It’s hard to talk to anybody who doesn’t know somebody who has not been affected. We’re a community of multi-generational homes, so that’s another thing.”
Locals showed up in force, businesses offered their support and volunteers poured in their time, turning “Painted Promises” into something greater than just an art show.
John Mangano, who brought his restaurant business Duke’s Cafe to the pop-up, did not hesitate when Burch asked him to be involved. “All [Ryan] had to say was fundraiser and Monrovia, and I’m in.”
For Mangano, this wasn’t about showing up for a single weekend. It was about showing up for the town that shaped him.
“I’ve pretty much lived here my whole life,” Mangano said. “I grew up in Sierra Madre, and we moved here when I was seven. I worked at the Monrovia Family Restaurant for 20 years.”
The Santa Fe Depot pulsed with live music, fresh food and conversation. Artists engaged with families. Attendees expressed art had become an essential means of processing the collective grief left in the fire’s wake.
“It’s the unspoken word that crosses all generations, socioeconomic groups everywhere, right? It’s the phoenix that rises from ashes,” Diaz said. “You can’t really destroy art.”
The type of art reflected that same resilience. The walls were covered with explosions of color and energy, from 3-D art to graffiti art. Each piece was chosen for its vibrancy and life to make an immediate impact.
Cosmetologist and face painter Therese Burch saw renewal unfold in the small moments. For her, it’s the instant when a child sees their reflection transformed.
“When I hand them the mirror, and they see themselves, I see the joy in their face,” she said, beaming. “We’ve reached their heart. That’s why I do it.”
Caricature artist Julio Cesar added, “We bring them those positive, nostalgic moments.”
Despite the backdrop of loss, “Painted Promises” bustled with warmth and creativity. Kids boasted freshly painted butterflies, superheroes and wild animals on their cheeks while painting shapes on the blank wooden canvas.
The day was defined by a connective joy, which Ryan Burch hopes will extend long beyond this week.
“I hope this show is a launching pad for what students, families, kids, can expect in art,” Burch said. “Any artist needs to be encouraged to go beyond the box. So start young. Let them know: paint, make mistakes, go outside the lines . . . because the world needs expressions.”
More than anything, he emphasized the importance of togetherness amid restoration.
“Community is the ability to come together. We’re a community with Altadena, so it’s time to come together,” Burch said.
For those looking to support ongoing relief, Dena Fire Help has compiled a master list of resources, volunteer opportunities, and fundraisers for families and businesses in Pasadena and Altadena.