November 26, 2010 | By Melanie Hicken, melanie.hicken@latimes.com

DOWNTOWN GLENDALE — A vacant building across from the Americana at Brand has once again been transformed into a gallery, the second event curated by a local arts nonprofitusing remnants from past fires.

Several hundred community leaders and arts patrons last weekend gathered at 216. S. Brand Blvd. to celebrate the opening of “Inspire” — an exhibition featuring more than 150 pieces by 45 different artists.

It is the second exhibition Glendale-based nonprofit Art from the Ashes has produced at the city-owned building, the future home of the Museum of Neon Art.

“This is a good use for the space and keeps interest alive in the meantime,” said City Councilman John Drayman, who helped orchestrate MONA’s move to Glendale.

In July, Art from the Ashes partnered with the Glendale Parks & Open Space Foundation for their exhibit, which featured art made out of ash and other remnants left behind by the Station fire.

The month-long run attracted more than 2,000 patrons and raised more than $40,000 — a portion of which went to support rehabilitation efforts at Glendale’s Deukmejian Wilderness Park, which saw nearly all of its 709 acres scorched during the Station fire.

For complete article, please click here to visit the Glendale News-Press website.

In Southern California we are no strangers to devastating wildfires. But hidden beneath the rubble, a local woman is finding beauty and promise.

For more information and to watch the video on the KTLA Heroes website, please click here.

June 16, 2010

Members of two organizations hope to create a sense of healing and renewal through art in the aftermath of the Station fire.

ART from the Ashes, a collective of more than 40 artists from Glendale, Burbank and across the country, has formed a partnership with the Glendale Parks & Open Space Foundation, a fundraising arm of the Glendale Parks Recreation and Community Services Commission.

Their first joint venture is an art exhibition to benefit the rehabilitation of Deukmejian Wilderness Park, much of which was destroyed during the massive Station fire last year. Proceeds will go toward rebuilding park trails and renovating the historic Le Mesnager Barn. The foundation is made up of seven board members and celebrated its first year last week, said President Dottie Sharkey, who also serves on the parks commission. This is the first fundraiser.

For complete article, please click here to visit the Glendale News-Press website.

March 23, 2010 | By Melanie Hicken

GLENDALE — With city funding for parks becoming increasingly limited, Community Services & Parks Commissioner Dottie Sharkey wanted to find a way to keep maintenance and programs off the chopping block.

Sharkey began the process last spring of forming the Glendale Parks & Open Space Foundation, an independent nonprofit community organization that will raise money to supplement city funding for parks and community services.

“Parks are always kind of first to go,” said Sharkey, who serves as president of the foundation’s board of directors. “I don’t think our community realizes how much the city, and parks and recreation do here.”

While the foundation’s formation comes at a time when many local nonprofits are reporting dwindling donations, Sharkey said the struggling economy motivates her.

“In a tough economy, why not start a foundation, get it all into place, and hopefully as things start turning around, we will be ready to go with something to help Glendale parks,” she said.

Marc Stirdivant, a senior administrative analyst for the Community Services & Parks Department, said many cities have created similar foundations.

“It’s exciting for us to have something come online in Glendale as we face all of these challenges in the economy,” said Stirdivant, who serves as a city representative on the foundation’s board.

For its first fundraiser, the foundation will partner with local nonprofit Art from the Ashes to create an exhibition benefiting the restoration and rehabilitation of Deukmejian Wilderness Park.

The park has been closed to the public since last year’s Station fire, which scorched nearly all of the park’s 709 acres, leaving most of its trails unsafe.

For the complete article, please click here to visit the Glendale News-Press website.