The 1000 Voices Altadena Mosaic is a community-created public artwork and living archive preserving Altadena's history, cultural heritage, and collective memory in the wake of the Eaton Fire. Built from salvaged ceramic artifacts, handmade tiles, oral histories, music, and audiovisual storytelling, the mosaic transforms personal loss into a lasting monument to resilience, healing, and belonging. Composed of geometric panels, the installation will travel to galleries, museums, and community spaces throughout Los Angeles County before its permanent home in Altadena.

 

Through free, trauma-informed community art workshops, participants clean and restore ceramic fragments recovered from fire-damaged homes or create new clay tiles that reflect their stories, memories, hopes, and loved ones. The creative process fosters healing, connection, and intergenerational dialogue while preserving the lived experiences of a community rebuilding together.

​

Founder and survivor Alma Cielo leads a diverse team of experts in creative placemaking, education, and cultural preservation. The leadership includes mosaic specialist Leigh Adams, storyteller Amy Shimshon-Santo, administrator Jilly Canizares, and designer Zara Gomez. Their combined expertise ensures the project meets high standards of artistic excellence and social impact.

 

To date, over 500 residents—ranging in age from 3 to 80—have participated in building this landmark. This broad engagement demonstrates the project’s deep roots and sustained community support.