Pasadena Mural Is a Sign of Renewal, Hope

Artist, Who Lost Home in Eaton Fire, Is Leading Collaborative Community Project

A large mural project at the Pasadena Buddhist Temple (PBT) is turning into a true expression of renewal and hope after the devastating Eaton Fire more than a year ago.

“As the first anniversary of the fire approached, I was thinking about what we, as the affected community, could do to help heal and inspire hope,” said Kyoko Gibbs, bomori, or minister’s wife, of PBT Resident Minister Rev. Gregory Gibbs. 

“I believe it is important that we continue to show our support for the fire survivors, especially because people tend to forget what they have still been going through unless they have experienced it themselves,” she said. 

On Jan. 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire raged through the communities of Altadena and mainly northeast and northwest Pasadena, damaging the PBT Hondo. In all, about 15 PBT Sangha members lost their homes or businesses.

Kyoko Gibbs said the temple’s Sons of Gardeners, referred to as “SOGS,” who volunteer twice a week to maintain the temple grounds, were discussing painting a concrete section of the ramp outside and it occurred to her to create a mural instead. She shared the idea with the SOGS and the temple board, who gave their quick support.

“I knew who I needed to ask to lead the mural designs — Miki (Yokoyama),”  she said. “I met her through the meal program that was offered for nine  months last year, with support from Japanese American restaurants, Little Tokyo Service Center, and other generous contributors and volunteers. She graciously agreed to create the designs. The collaborative community work is incredible.” 

PBT Sangha member Shelley Yamane-Shinmoto said the mural project is being funded by a grant the temple received last year from Keiro, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that serves older adults and their caregivers in the Japanese American community.

She said the grant was given to three local Nikkei organizations: Pasadena Buddhist Temple, First Presbyterian Church of Altadena and Pasadena Nikkei Seniors. With the grant, a variety of relief programs were offered, including dine-in lunches and workshops, a field trip to Tanaka Farms in Irvine, a Los Angeles Dodgers game and performances by the Grateful Crane Ensemble.

In addition, Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) has also been instrumental in supporting the fire victims and has provided stipends to local restaurants that supplied weekly lunches. Over a nine-month period, over 4,000 meals were distributed to fire victims. LTSC also sponsored informational workshops on topics such as housing, insurance, FEMA, legal issues, rebuilding and mental health.  

LTSC continues to support the fire victims by providing much needed mental health services — even by having bilingual therapists onsite for those who come out to paint the mural.

“It's a comfortable and convenient way for participants to talk to trained counselors,” Yamane-Shinmoto said. “They can talk and paint together. As you can imagine, one of the biggest challenges is mental health as many fire victims suffer from some form of PTSD — sleeplessness, anxiety and  stress manifesting in physical symptoms. The LTSC therapists (bilingual) have been with us every step of the way and have become critical to the recovery efforts.”  

Yokoyama is an Altadena artist who herself lost her home and all of her artwork in the Eaton Fire. A native of Fukushima, Japan, Yokoyama has worked across canvas, murals, objects and live performances, according to her profile. She has created murals at locations across Los Angeles and in Japan. 

Her mural covers half of the temple’s north wall and is about 75 feet long and 6 feet high. It has images of the temple, wildlife, as well as other houses of worship, some of which are still standing and some which burned to the ground.

The “Healing and Hope Mural Project” began Feb. 1 and was initially expected to take about two months to complete with painting sessions held on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Approximately over 60 people to date — mostly survivors of the Eaton Fire, neighbors, PBT Sangha members, friends and family members — have flocked to the temple to help paint the mural. Others, including new BCA President Glenn Inanaga, Grateful Crane Ensemble leader Soji Kashiwagi, Gardena Buddhist Church Resident Minister Rev. John Iwohara and Pasadena City Council member Tyron Hampson, have visited the mural and added to the efforts.The outpouring of support for the project has meant that the mural is now expected to be completed by the middle of March.

“It is already quite beautiful,” Rev. Gibbs said. “She (Yokoyama) understands the trauma and loss that those who lost their homes are still feeling. The piece is beautifully drawn and fleshed out in warm soothing colors, yellow, gold, green, red, pink and many shades of blue.”

Rev. Gibbs said the mural can be viewed after Sunday services, before the 1 p.m. tai chi classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and before the 11 a.m. open discussion class on Tuesdays. At other times, the public is invited to view the mural whenever the main gate on Glen Avenue is open.

“Being part of this project, I wanted everyone to heal and stay hopeful,” Kyoko Gibbs said. “Because we are not alone, and I believe we are stronger together.”