La Casita Del Arroyo ‘Paint Out’ Event to Feature 20 Artists From Local Area This Weekend

At least 20 local artists will participate in this year’s “Paint Out,” a La Casita Foundation event to support the maintenance of the gardens at the historic La Casita Del Arroyo on Sunday, Oct. 2. 

Foundation President Polly Wheaton said residents are welcome to watch the artists as they create, painting sceneries surrounding the historic building at 117 South Arroyo Boulevard on October 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The artists are locals, from Pasadena, Glendale and San Gabriel Valley

“It’s free, open to the public and we would love to have everybody come and enjoy the artists that are painting and also have the opportunity to see the inside of La Casita, because it’s a wonderful building to hold events in,” said Wheaton. 

According to Wheaton, the building, built in the 1930s, underwent renovations some 10 years ago. 

“We redid the interior, which included redoing the kitchen and refinishing the floors and the side of the building,” said Wheaton. “We’d really like people to contact the city and use it because it’s a great facility with beautiful views.” 

During the event, attendees will have an opportunity to talk to the artists about how they started and how they work on their projects, and purchase their artworks. 

According to Wheaton the price of paintings that will be created will range from $200 to $1,000. 

“It’s not crazy, wild, or expensive and it’s a great place to buy Christmas presents,” she remarked. 

Proceeds from the sale will be used for the gardens at the historic La Casita Del Arroyo which have been maintained by the La Casita Foundation since1944. 

“The city owns La Casita, but we are in partnership with the City and we maintain the outside, we maintain the gardens. And so this is how we raise money to help maintain the gardens,” said Wheaton. 

Built in 1933, La Casita was created to be a community meeting house by Myron Hunt, renowned architect and a member of the Pasadena Garden Club.

In 1985, after a devastating fire, La Casita was rebuilt together with a new garden that was composed of mostly California native plants. A Butterfly sanctuary, built on the hillside leading into the Arroyo was created in 2010.

La Casita is a designated Pasadena Cultural Heritage Landmark. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and received a Historic Preservation Rehabilitation Award from the City of Pasadena in 2015.