Events

From the Ground Up: Nurturing Diversity in Hostile Environments

On view: August 9, 2024 - February 23, 2025
Public reception: Sunday, September 8, 2024, from 1:00-3:30 PM

Gallery Hours: Fridays, 2:00 to 6:00 pm, Sat/Sun, 1:00 to 5:00 pm

Armory Center for the Arts is pleased to present From the Ground Up: Nurturing Diversity in Hostile Environments, the Armory’s contribution to Getty's PST ART: Art & Science Collide initiative. Rooted in the idea of the seed as a mechanism for great change, the From the Ground Up exhibition will feature work by 16 contemporary artists and artist teams who explore histories of contested spaces, pre-colonial understandings of nature, and ancient and contemporary technologies as they imagine alternative, sustainable futures. The artists and projects included in the exhibition are: Charmaine Bee; Nikesha Breeze; Carl Cheng; Olivia Chumacero; Beatriz Cortez; Mercedes Dorame; Aroussiak Gabrielian; iris yirei hu; Lez Bats (Sandra de la Loza and Jess Gudiel); Malaqatel Ija, Semillas Viajeras, Seed Travels; Hillary Mushkin; Vick Quezada; Sarah Rosalena; Enid Baxter Ryce; Cielo Saucedo; and Marcus Zúñiga. From the Ground Up is organized by Irene Georgia Tsatsos, guest curator and former Armory Director of Exhibition Programs / Chief Curator.

About the Exhibition

What can seeds tell us about the future? Seeds and the plants that grow from them have provided us with food, clothing, shelter, and medicine for millennia. For just as long, humans have used sciences, technologies, myths, and art to peer into an imagined future. As we stare out toward our own future, one threatened by climate change and complicated by social unrest, the From the Ground Up: Nurturing Diversity in Hostile Environments exhibition looks to the seed—such as those seeds that lie at the bottom of the forest floor waiting for the cyclical fire season that promotes new growth and diversity to sprout—for inspiration and guidance on how to navigate current and coming hostile environments.

From the Ground Up presents works by 16 contemporary artists and artist teams who explore diverse technologies, histories of contested spaces, and traditional understandings of nature as they imagine alternative, sustainable futures. The exhibition bridges familiar distinctions between art and science while exploring practices and traditions that predate contemporary understandings of those disciplines. In this exhibition, artworks, knowledge traditions, and histories converge in space and across time.

Presented in the Armory’s Caldwell Gallery, the exhibition features many new works and installations presented to the public for the first time.

The exhibition will extend onto the Armory's front garden, where Malaqatel Ija, Semillas Viajeras, Seed Travels—an expansive collective made up of Indigenous farmers, plantworkers, and artists from Guatemala, the Southwest, and Northern California—will transform the area into a fiery-red and golden field of amaranth, an edible seed and Mesoamerican food staple.

From the Ground Up offers information, beauty, a sense of urgency, and tools for action. The exhibition functions as a site for learning, contemplation, and social space informed by contemporary art practices that involve the reclamation of plants for ritual, performance, and object-making; speculative futurisms, storytelling, and direct-action movements; and botanical science.

Education and Public Programs

The themes and ideas explored in the From the Ground Up exhibition will be expanded on through a series of programs for diverse audiences that will take place at the Armory and partner sites during the exhibition's run. These programs include those listed below and more to be announced at a later date.

Communal Amaranth Planting
Saturday, August 10, 2024
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Join us at the Armory and help plant an amaranth garden guided by friends from Indigenous Permaculture and gardeners from Milagro Allegro Community Garden. Qachuu Aloom gifted seeds to gardeners at Milagro Allegro Community Garden a decade ago, with the farmers returning each year to plant and harvest amaranth. We're looking forward to continuing connecting over the seed today.

Armory Zine Fest!
Sunday, August 25, 2024, 11 AM - 4:00 PM
Expect a zine filled event with vendors from across the region. Enjoy a free zine-making workshop led by Teaching Artist Rachel Curry using our Risograph printer and collage. Bring seeds to share and swap with Urban Soul Farmer's Zine & Seed Library. This all-ages event is free and open to everyone.

Opening reception walkthrough of the exhibition with curator Irene Georgia Tsatsos
Sunday, September 8, 2024 ~ 1:00 PM

Free all-ages art workshop with an Armory teaching artist
Sunday, September 8, 2024 ~ 2:00 PM

Tarot Readings with Enid Baxter Ryce
Sunday, September 8, 2024, 2:00 PM

Exhibiting artist Enid Baxter Ryce and her family will be doing free tarot readings for visitors using Ryce’s Devil’s Half Acre Tarot (2024), a bilingual tarot deck created by Ryce in collaboration with Luis Camara. The deck, which features hand-painted illustrations of flora and fauna made using natural pigments, is a follow-up to Ryce and Camara’s The Borderlands Tarot, which will be released this fall.

Amaranth Seed Sharing
Sunday, September 8, 2024 ~ 3:00 PM
The Armory invites you to experience and share in the amaranth garden planted by Malaqatel Ija, Semillas Viajeras, Seed Travels, a collective of individuals and organizations that come together around the sharing of amaranth seed and knowledge, in front of the Armory. Together, we’ll harvest amaranth and practice a Campesino a Campesino (Farmer to Farmer) philosophy of reciprocal action with Cristóbal Osorio Sánchez, founder of Qachuu Aloom Asociación Madre Tierra; Maria Aurelia Xitumul Ivoy; Vasquez Chun; and Sabrina Sosof from Guatemala, along with Indigenous Permaculture and the Garden's Edge.

Collective Visualization with Hillary Mushkin
Saturday, October 5, 2024 ~ 1:00 - 2:30 PM

Mushkin leads a conversation delving into her practice that offers paths for artists and scientists to work together in impactful ways. Mushkin is joined by Heather Williams and Olivia Chumacero, collaborators in her recent project, Groundwater (2024), an artist’s book and installation analyzing and representing the intricate web of water rights legislation, discriminatory cartography, and their effects on Central Valley communities. RSVPs are appreciated. RSVP Today

Members and nonmembers of the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly Street, are invited to free events and activities for anyone 50 and older. The center is a vital community resource where older adults can age in place while thriving in motion. Residency in Pasadena is not required to attend events and activities. 

Registration for Zoom activities and most onsite events is required by visiting www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and clicking on Activities & Events, Lectures & Classes, or Resources.  Everyone who registers for Zoom events will receive an email link for joining each activity online.

Diabetes Education Empowerment Programs (DEEP) — Wednesdays starting Jan. 29 to Mar. 5 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. onsite at the Pasadena Senior Center.  Need help managing pre-diabetes or diabetes? This program encourages lifestyle changes while learning about the condition and how it affects health. Join us for this free self-management course offered in a relaxed and supportive environment. Registration is required for this 6-week series.  To register, contact Fatima Rojas at (626) 397-3376.

History of the LGBT+ Community — Thursday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m., via Zoom. In this presentation from Pallas Care, you’ll learn more about the history of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. We will discuss important events, victories, setbacks of the last century as well as significant figures in the Southern California LGBT rights movement. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. To register or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Lectures & Classes, then Informational Lectures or call 626-795-4331 

Legal Consultations — Thursday, Feb. 6, a 10 a.m. onsite at the Pasadena Senior Center. Free legal consultations only on conservatorship, wills/trusts, estate planning and durable power of attorney. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 626-795-4331.

Monthly L.A. Food Bank Distribution — Friday, Feb. 7 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot at Pasadena Senior Center. Low-income adults 60 and older receive one free box of food and couples receive two. Proof of income and California ID are required. Each box includes foods that meet specific nutritional needs, such as cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, dry milk and related dairy products, cereals and other grain products, and more. Boxes are heavy, so bring a pull-behind personal cart to the parking lot between the Pasadena Senior Center and the Metro Gold Line station. Opening boxes on the premises is prohibited. For more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Resources, then Food Distribution Programs or call 626-685-6732.

Free Movie Matinees – Fridays, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, at 1 p.m. onsite at the Pasadena Senior Center. Each PSC member who registers may bring one nonmember guest.

• February 7: “The Six Triple Eight” (2024, PG-13). Inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve oversees in WWII. Despite facing racism and sexism, 855 women committed to serving their country with honor and distinction by delivering a three-year backlog of mail to soldiers serving oversees. Starring Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian and Milauna Jackson.
• February 14: “It Ends With Us” (2024, PG-13). When a woman’s (Blake Lively) first love suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle, a charming but abusing neurosurgeon, is upended and she realizes she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future. Also stars Justin Baldoni and Brandon Sklenar.
• February 21: “Ray” (2004, PG-13). Legendary soul/R&B musician Ray Charles is portrayed by Jamie Foxx in this Oscar-winning biopic. The film explores his life and career, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at the age of seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s. Also starring Regina King and Kerry Washington.
• February 27: “Emancipation” (2022, R). The film tells the triumphant story of slave Peter (Will Smith), a man who escapes from slavery, relying on his wits, unwavering faith and deep love for his family. Peter must forge through the swamps of Louisiana on a tortuous journey to escape the plantation owners who nearly killed him.

To register for any or all of these films or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Activities & Events, then Friday Movie Matinee or call 626-795-4331. 

ADUs in the News — Thursday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m., via Zoom.  In this presentation from the Foundation for Senior Services, you’ll learn about how Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have become all the rage in California the past few years, and how they could be a strategic benefit for seniors by creating a potential new stream of retirement income or providing multi-generational dwelling opportunities. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. To register or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Lectures & Classes, then Informational Lectures or call 626-795-4331.

Learn about Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution (LCCR) — Thursday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m., via Zoom. During this lecture you will learn about Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution (LCCR), a community-based mediation program that has served over 55,000 Los Angeles County residents since 1993. They provide bilingual (English/Spanish) conflict resolution training and mediation services, including telephone conciliation and large group facilitation services. Professional mediators alongside Loyola Law School students provide these services. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. To register or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Lectures & Classes, then Informational Lectures or call 626-795-4331.

Health Fair — Friday, Feb. 21, from 9 to 11 a.m. onsite at the Pasadena Senior Center. Registered Nurse Kathy Eastwood from Huntington Hospital will be doing blood pressure and glucose testing. The Hear Center will provide free hearing screenings. Insurance representatives will be on hand to show different Medicare health plans, and answer questions. Registration is not required. For more information, call 626-795-4331. 

Free Produce Distribution on the Patio — Friday, Feb. 21 from 9 to 11 a.m. (while supplies last) onsite at the Pasadena Senior Center. Pre-assembled bags of vegetables will be distributed. Nutritious foods will be available to visitors at the Pasadena Senior Center. We recommend that you bring bags or a personal pull-behind cart to take your produce home. Provided by the Order of Malta Mobile Ministries. Registration is not required. For more information, call 626-795-4331. 

Everything You Want to Know About Social Security Benefits — Thursday, Feb. 27 at 10 a.m., via Zoom. We will explore the three different types of Social Security: Social Security Old Age Survivors Benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). We will guide you through how to qualify for and explain the benefits each program offers. Presented by Foundation for Senior Services. Registration required to receive Zoom link. To register or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Lectures & Classes, then Informational Lectures or call 626-795-4331.

Mediation, Conflict and Dispute Resolutions — Thursday, Feb.27, from 10 a.m. to noon onsite at Pasadena Senior Center. Learn about mediation, a highly successful dispute resolution process that provides an opportunity to resolve conflicts without going to court. Mediation can help resolve landlord-tenant disputes, consumer-debt, neighbor-neighbor, and business, organization/agencies, family-domestic, and workplace/employment issues. Presented by Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution. Appointments can be made by calling 626-795-4331.

For 65 years, Pasadena Senior Center’s mission has been to improve the lives of older adults through caring service with opportunities for social interaction, fitness programs, basic support and needs services, education, volunteerism and community activism. With 10,000 Americans per day becoming older adults, the center is a leader in addressing the issues of aging and provides highly innovative, nationally recognized programs for this population group.

As a donor-supported nonprofit, the center operates without any local, state or federal funding and provides more services to older adults in the San Gabriel Valley than any other organization. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. To learn more, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call 626-795-4331.

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, after consulting with our restaurant members, has decided to defer Cheeseburger Week from January until the end of February. Most agreed it is important not to distract from the Eaton Fire recovery efforts at this time. 

During Cheeseburger Week 2025 from February 23rd to March 1st,  Pasadena dines in honor of Lionel Sternberger, the culinary genius in being the first to put cheese to hamburger and served it at the Rite Spot in Pasadena in 1924. His Aristocratic Burger was an instant culinary hit!

It was 100 years ago that teenaged Lionel Clark Sternberger put a piece of cheese on a hamburger and, calling it the Aristocratic Burger, served it at the Rite Spot in Pasadena. Restaurants throughout Pasadena pay homage to Lionel Sternberger’s invention of the cheeseburger in Pasadena in 1924 with delicious meals and deals each year.

During Pasadena Cheeseburger Week from Sunday, February 23 through Saturday, March 1, more than thirty of Pasadena's favorite restaurants, lounges, and burger joints offer their signature burgers, some special creations, and great deals, including several venues in Old Pasadena!  Organized by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, you can find more details about this annual event, the Cheeseburger Passport, and the Cheeseburger Challenge on their website.

In 1924, as legend has it, teenaged Lionel Sternberger burned one side of a hamburger patty at The Rite Spot, his father’s roadside stand along Colorado Boulevard (then Colorado Street) in west Pasadena. Rather than throw away the spoiled burger, he masked his mistake with a piece of cheese and served it to a very appreciative customer. Word soon spread and customers flocked to The Rite Spot for The Aristocratic Burger, A Hamburger with Cheese. Sternberger’s achievement is the first verified instance of someone serving a hamburger with cheese to a customer.

SPECIALS

• Dog Haus (both Pasadena locations) offers a $10 HAUS BURGER & DRINK (fountain drink, beer or well shot)
• Lucky Baldwin's Pub offers their tasty Slider Flight on the menu for Cheeseburger Week. 

Here's the list of Old Pasadena restaurants offering cheeseburgers - not necessarily participating in discounts or promotions, but offering cheeseburgers on their menu nonetheless. V indicates Vegan and Vegetarian options:

Check with individual restaurants for their complete cheeseburger menus and vegan options.