In an enthralling demonstration of Altadena and Pasadena’s rich artistic culture, the ALTA Arts Collective is hosting a two-day event, the ALTA Art Tour, which runs through on Sunday, Oct. 15.
This expansive event provides a unique opportunity for art lovers to explore the creative environments of local artists, observe their artistic methods, and understand their sources of inspiration.
The artists are welcoming the public into their studios.
Among the talented artists participating in the ALTA Art Tour, organized by the ALTA Arts Collective in Pasadena and Altadena, are Liz Crimzon, Sabine Meyer zu Reckendorf, Toti O’Brien, Donna Bates, and Alicia Savio.
Each of these artists has her own unique style and medium of expression.
Liz Crimzon, a photographer, said she was inspired to join the ALTA Arts Collective because of her previous experience working with them. She believed in the wonderful and fun experience they would create.
“I knew that what they were going to produce was going to be wonderful and it was going to be fun, and that was what inspired me,” Crimzon said. “I jumped at the opportunity to join them … to do the art tour with them. I think it’s made me a little less cloistered because it brings you out into the community and it connects you with other artists, and you’re a little less reticent to show your work to the public.”
Crimzon’s artwork, she said, is aimed at reconnecting people with the way they saw the world as children, reminding them of the beauty and magic of nature.
Sabine Meyer zu Reckendorf, a designer and sculptor, had transformed her house into a work of art itself. She used recycled materials – especially metal – to create sculptures, often incorporating light and kinetic elements.
“I actually am a designer, but I also build what I design, and that was at the beginning mostly lighting and furniture,” she said. “And now I build all kinds of sculptures out of recycled materials. Sometimes things that I find – pieces that I make into something else. And often robots or animals, and they often have light in them. I also am into kinetic art, so I have a lot of machines that I made. They do various things, like nothing really important. I usually just do some moving things just for the fun of it.”
Sabine’s artwork was known for its fun and colorful nature, spreading joy to those who experienced it.
Toti O’Brien, a textile artist, is showcasing her tapestry work during the ALTA Art Tour. Her art, created during the Covid pandemic, reflects a sense of calm and endurance, she said.
“It’s a kind of work that’s very appropriate because it’s very centering and very calm, with being isolated and the patient and endurance,” O’Brien said. “Also it has not been out there because it was created in those years where we didn’t have shows.”
O’Brien will be doing other shows after ALTA Art Tour, including a four-person show she’s curating at the Altadena Library. She will be doing a show at the Pasadena Library Hastings Branch in November and December.
Donna Bates, a figurative artist and human rights advocate, joined the ALTA Arts Collective to share her artwork and support the local art scene. Her work will be on display at the home of her friend, Sabine Meyer Zu Reckendorf. She says her paintings address women’s rights.
“I am a huge human rights advocate, particularly women’s rights, and I like to think that that comes across in all my work,” Bates said. “One of my newer works speaks to women’s reproductive rights and another to the crazy division that seems to be prolific in this country. I try to create big, dramatic, graphically strong, yet technically executed representational works that reflect the times we live in and my take on it.”
Bates is extremely thankful for having connected with the ALTA Arts Collective and looks forward to collaborating with them in the future..
“From what I’ve seen, the leaders of ALTA Arts Collective work extremely hard setting up events, organizing this tour, managing websites, dealing with artists’ questions, and they’ve only asked for a small fee to participate,” Bates said. “So I’m extremely impressed with Alta Arts Collective!”
Alicia Savio, a painter and sculptor, will feature a variety of paintings and sculptures, including her series titled “Houses of the Third World,” reflecting her Latin-American heritage.
“Being a member of ALTA Arts Collective allows me to share my artwork with the community in Pasadena and Altadena along with fellow artists that live and work in the area,” Savio said. “Since all the artists on the ALTA Arts Tour self-promote the event, we share our clientele by referring them to each other’s nearby studios. For example, in my area there are two other artists, Leah Knecht Studio and Blandine Saint-Oyant Studio, so I hope whoever comes to visit Savio Studio will also go visit their sites on the tour.”
The ALTA Arts Collective fosters a sense of community and collaboration among local artists. They also provide opportunities for artists to meet, share their work, and inspire one another.
To participate in the ALTA Art Tour, art enthusiasts and the local community can visit the official website of the ALTA Arts Collective at https://altaartscollective.com.
