These Artists Are Memorializing the Homes that Burned Down—Creating Works Small in Scale and Giant in Hope
Communal. Hopeful. Altruistic. Beautiful. The dictionary doesn't hold enough positive words to describe how people have shown up for one another in fire-torn Los Angeles. Acts of service and kindness have sprouted from every corner—from home-sharing to meal deliveries to sponsorships—to help give those facing loss and pain a tender well of love.
The best adjective to describe what Jordan Heber has done is artistic.
Heber, a brand strategist based in Santa Monica, has been painting the homes that burned down in the recent Southern California fires to gift to the inhabitants. "I'm aiming to provide lasting memories for some of those affected," Heber posted on Instagram under a photo of a watercolor she painted of the Village School, one of the educational facilities destroyed in the Palisades fire.
Heber's service and creativity mirror what countless others are doing: lending their talents to bring a bit of light to the world. (The Washington Post reported that Heber typically charges several hundred dollars for a commissioned painting. She's creating the fire-related works for free.) Her creative efforts are also part of a ripple effect.
Asher Bingham, a portrait artist in Los Angeles, is also creating artwork around burned homes. She's been sketching homes lost, and her social media feed shows some of the beacons she's drawn and the heavy heart she carries.
"I can't help but think of how difficult rebuilding, and fighting insurances, and just trying to get back into some new rhythm of life that many people are going through right now," Bingham posted. "Since I can't donate to every go-fundme that makes me cry, I draw. And keep drawing."
When the world learned of what Bingham was providing, the demand skyrocketed—so much so that she enlisted the help of fellow illustrators, including a classroom of art students in Seattle, to take on some of the requests and offer their volunteer services. She's also received droves of people wanting to help with email and other administrative tasks to keep up. "We are making sure that no one gets missed," she said.
The outpouring of artistic love is helping to fuel communities in pain, filled with people from all walks of life who face the reality of rebuilding precious places once called home. The efforts of Heber, Bingham, and other fellow artists and volunteers are beautiful reminders of what was and proof of the beauty found in wanting to help—one person at a time.
Their art also stands as a sign of connected we all are. As Bingham said on her feed, "My friends have lost their homes. It affects us all."
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