A cold night and a constant threat of rain lessened the crowds but not the spirit of Pasadena’s semi-annual Spring ArtNight celebration of artists, galleries, music, spoken word and dance Friday night.
The City of Pasadena sponsors the free annual event to showcase arts and cultural institutions, with specially created installations for the evening.
Friday evening got off to a noisy start as the Immortals lion dance team filled the rotunda at City Hall with a clanging and enchanting traditional lion dance.
Also sharing the rotunda at City Hall were the Nextdoors, the husband and wife team of Russell Mark and Mika Olsen, who joyed with musician guests made up of Altadena musicians who suffered losses in the Eaton Fire.
Shuttle vans transported arts lovers east and west and all across Pasadena for a wide range of visual, tactile and emotional displays of art in all its forms.
The Armory Center for the Arts was awash in families and children who participated in a host of art and craft activities, led by Armory teaching artists.
Among the other highlights were a Muse/Ique season preview, along with singer/songwriter Rachel Gonzalez at the Pasadena Senior Center.
PUSD students showed off their collective skills with “No Boundaries 20,” featuring displays of works from TK-12 students.
Shumei Arts Council also presented a stirring performance from the Makoto Taiko drummers, along with the illuminating photo exhibit, “Journey to the Cosmos,” by Keiko Yamasaki.
Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang delivered a powerful message with a fascinating installation of work in his “Material Odyssey” show, featuring works created from the explosions of gunpowder on various mediums from paper to porcelain, at USC Pacific Asia Museum.
