PRESS RELEASES

“Family Stories” and “The Toy Room Project”
Pasadena Police Department Installation
By Carrie Adrian, Chair, Zonta ZISVAW Committee

“Family Stories”, which I fondly refer to as “the tree of life”, was at last installed August 18, 2008, in the hallway in front of the Toy Room at the Pasadena Police Department thanks to the assistance of the Armory Center for the Arts staff: Jay Belloli, Director of Gallery Programs and Chris Oliveria, Installation Manager. We were unable to install the entire work for lack of wall space, but through skillful placement, we retained the essence of the piece.

This installation is part of the Zonta project to rehab the Toy Room where children stay when their parents are brought to the police station. It is a tiny room with a large, old fashioned TV looming from the wall that is very difficult for small children to see. Plans include installation of a flat screen TV along with a DVD/video player. A friend has already donated 18 Disney classic videos for the library.

toy room before installation

Craig Watson of Charter Communications, who arranged for the installation of cable and DSL lines, suggested some art would brighten up the area where the children stay when brought into the police station. This thought led to my contacting Scott Ward, Executive Director, Armory Center for the Arts for ideas. Less than a week later, the Armory learned that the Madison School library was going to be redone and “Family Stories” about to be tossed. The Armory took immediate steps to save this beautiful installation. They felt the hallway would be a perfect spot for “Family Stories” and presented the idea of installing the piece to the Police Department for their blessing. Thanks to the efforts of Sergeant Pete Hettema of Youth and Family Services for getting this done.

By way of history, “Family Stories” was created by the children of Pasadena under the direction of Edgar Arceneaux and installed in the library of the Madison School in NW Pasadena. Arceneaux is a local artist who earned a BFA from Art Center College of Design and a MFA from the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. He is a lecturer who has published several works among his many accomplishments in the arts. As a recipient of many awards and participant in numerous solo and group exhibitions, he has gained international recognition and fame.

image of installation in library

Pictures are the best way to describe the project. It was first laid out at the Armory by Jay Belloli and myself to get a sense of the dimension of the tree and rivers relative to the space available. We had approx. 140 piece-puzzle in half a dozen packing boxes to assemble with little more than the picture shown above. It was a challenge.

images of installation

Wendy Cobleigh and Rene Arrobio are responsible for the second project: furnishing and decorating an Interview Room for victims of domestic violence. The office has been cleared and the Department is in the final process of installing needed recording/video equipment. Hopefully that will be completed by month-end so the work can begin.