Pacific Palisades Art Association is hosting an Instagram challenge where people are encouraged to draw, paint or sketch a number of items by April 1 to be featured on its page.
“Direct message and tag us on Instagram @pacificpalisadesart to have your artwork featured on our Instagram profile,” read the challenge. “If you don’t have an Instagram but wish to participate, send us a photo of your work to palisadesart@gmail.com.”
The items on the list include a coffee mug, flower, dolphin, apple, sunset, telephone, jewelry or view.
“We are also having a side challenge where artists can send us a picture of what they are working on and we will feature their artwork on our profile,” PPAA wrote. “Send us an image to palisadesart@gmail.com, or tag us and direct message us the photo on Instagram @pacificpalisadesart [by April 4].”
Allied Artists Launches Fundraising Campaign to Benefit Wildfire Recovery
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
One group of artists with nearly three decades of history in Pacific Palisades is looking for a way to give back to its community and help heal through art.
Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore has launched the “Art is the Healing Force” fundraising campaign to benefit wildfire recovery.
“Our member artists donate paintings to auction on our Instagram page,” Allied Artists Board President Barbara Freund explained. “Bids start at $100, [and] 100% of sales proceeds are donated. To date, we have raised $1,170.”
Freund, who lives in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County along Piuma Road, said she has been experiencing “survivor’s guilt” after not losing her home in the Palisades fire—though it was damaged. She described jumping into action through art, trying to find different ways that Allied Artists could support ongoing efforts related to fire recovery.
“We’re trying to figure out ways to use art to help heal,” she described. “It’s not going to be the only thing that heals, but it certainly helps it.”
Some of the works that have been sold in the auction have been pieces by Ruth Askren, Allied Artists board member and paint-out chair, and Donna Goldstein.
Askren contributed a piece with a view of the Palisades. When it sold, she matched the bid to double the fund being donated.
Goldstein contributed a painting of the historic Will Rogers house, which was destroyed in the fire.
Freund has contributed five paintings, two of which had sold at the time of publication, with the three others still available.
“Beach Boys” by Barbara Freund
“The two sold are ‘Happy Trails’—painting of two figures on horseback with [a] dog trailing behind at Will Rogers State Historic Park—and ‘Beach Boys’—two dogs playing … at Will Rogers State Beach,” she described. “The paintings still available are ‘Keeping Pace’—[a] woman and dog running on a trail—and two of the view of the Palisades across Pacific Coast Highway from Will Rogers.”
When a donated painting gets sold, the contributing artist then gets to select the entity who receives the funds—as long as they were affected or are aiding those affected by the fire. Donations have been made to the California Wildlife Center and Skydog Sanctuary in Malibu, as well as California State Firefighters’ Association.
“The artists are donating and not getting a dime,” Freund explained. “Every little bit counts.”
Equally as important, Freund continued, has been the response from those who are bidding on pieces, “many of whom have lost their homes, and see these paintings of our local area as a reminder of their favorite places and places that will be beautiful again.”
The fundraiser is ongoing, Freund explained: “We continue to post paintings are they are donated … we’ll keep is going as long as we have art and artists [willing to donate].”
Allied Artists has been “painting and preserving the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area for 25 years,” read its website: “Our mission is to promote the appreciation of our environment through art, and to support conservation and maintenance of the national, state and local parks and open spaces in Southern California.”
“The members of Allied Artists organize exhibitions of their paintings in order to raise money and increase public awareness of the endangered land that they depict in their paintings,” read its website. “They collaborate with local, state and national agencies to present several art shows a year in local and natural settings in and around the recreation area.”
Over the course of a typical year, Allied Artists hosts several art sales and exhibits—including at Palisades Village Green—which each donate a portion of proceeds from sales to conservation and environmental organizations, including the upkeep and maintenance of the Village Green.
The next show Allied Artists will participate in will be at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, which will take place on Sunday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Keeping Pace” by Barbara Freund
“The group will present an art exhibit and sale featuring 20 local artists displaying representational landscape and seascape paintings of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area,” according to information about the event. “The 156,000-acre recreation area stretches from Runyon and Franklin Canyons in Hollywood to Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County, and contains over 500 miles of trails, including the 67-mile long backbone trail that follows the crest of the coastal mountains from Will Rogers State Historic Park to Point Mugu State Park.”
The sale will support Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, National Park Service and Western National Park Association.
Allied Artists also host paint-outs on the second Saturday of each month—which have continued since the Palisades fire, most recently at Sycamore Cove Beach in March. Freund said the organization is trying to find locations that are relatively “easy for everybody” to get to.
The next paint-out will take place at Satwiwa/Rancho Sierra Vista at the intersection of Lynn Road and Via Goleta in Newbury Park on Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
“If there are people who could use some art therapy, we do demos and we will support people,” Freund said, adding that for the paint-outs, “if I know in advance if people are coming, we’ll bring extra supplies.”
Freund and Askren have both participated in Homes in Memoriam, a collective of artists, led by Palisadians Ashley Miller and Amy Beemer Lev, creating pieces in the likeness of homes lost in the recent Los Angeles area fires free of charge.
As part of the conservation efforts, Freund said she plans to find ways for Allied Artists to participate in things like trail cleanups, giving back to some of the spaces that have inspired their work. She said that while rebuilding efforts are underway throughout the community, “Mother Nature will be working full-time” to restore the area’s beauty.
“This is such a difficult and challenging time for everyone—several of our artists also had homes destroyed or damaged—and we hope that sharing our art can help with the healing,” Freund concluded.
Tickets are now on sale for the Irene Dunne Guild’s 19th annual Think Pink for Women’s Wellness fundraising event, which will take place at Regent Santa Monica Beach on Wednesday, May 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Think Pink was founded by Palisadian Fran Flanagan, a trustee at Saint John’s Health Center who serves on the boards of the Irene Dunne Guild and Saint John’s Health Center Foundation. She has called the Palisades home for 50 years.
The event, which is planned around Mother’s Day, serves as a fundraiser for Saint John’s Health Center.
“As our community continues to recover from the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires, the Irene Dunne Guild is more committed than ever to creating meaningful gatherings, and bringing health education and awareness to women and their families,” read a statement about the event. “The Irene Dunne Guild, a support group of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation, raises funds for women’s health programs, nursing scholarships, medical equipment, programs for caregivers and family support services.”
The “informative” and “fun” social event includes breakout sessions, with lectures from “notable physicians and health experts.”
“Over the years, topics have included brain health, addiction, urology, dermatology and breast health,” the statement continued. “Think Pink culminates with a delicious luncheon held in the beautiful dining room at the Regent Santa Monica Hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean.”
There will also be “boutique shopping” available throughout the event, with net proceeds benefiting the programs, equipment and services at Saint John’s Health Center, including the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute. The foundation will receive 20% of proceeds as well.
“The Irene Dunne Guild is celebrating its 38th year as a major support group of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation in Santa Monica,” read the statement. “The Guild is comprised of over 100 members committed to putting their hearts forward to find innovative ways to fundraise, comfort patients, support caregivers, support families and educate the community.”
Since its founding in 1987, Irene Dunne Guild has raised more than $16 million to benefit Saint John’s Health Center programs. In previous years, the event has taken place at Bel-Air Bay Club in the Palisades.
This year’s event chairs are Suzanne Caldwell and Sila Vokshoor. Tickets are available for $195. RSVPs are requested by April 15. Regent Santa Monica Beach is located at 1700 Ocean Avenue.
“We look forward to seeing you at Think Pink 2025,” the statement concluded.
Riviera resident Conan O’Brien will return to host the 98th iteration of the Oscars in 2026, the Academy announced on March 17.
“For a second consecutive year, Emmy Award-winning television host, writer, producer and comedian Conan O’Brien will return to host the Oscars broadcast, and Emmy Award-winning live television event producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan return as the show’s executive producers for the third consecutive year, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang announced,” read a statement. “Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will return as producers for a second time, and Sweeney will also serve as a writer.”
O’Brien hosted the 97th Oscars on March 2, which brought in a five-year high in total viewers, which was close to 20 million. The show was ranked the “number one primetime entertainment telecast in both total viewers and adults for the 2024-25 season.”
“The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech,” O’Brien said in a statement.
O’Brien is known for hosting “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” and “Conan.” Prior to launching his hosting career, O’Brien served as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons.”
His latest work includes the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast and “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” which is a travel show on MAX that has been renewed for a second season.
“We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 98th Oscars,” Kramer and Yang said in a joint statement. “This year, they produced a hugely entertaining and visually stunning show that celebrated our nominees and the global film community in the most beautiful and impactful way. Conan was the perfect host—skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence. It is an honor to be working with them again.”
The 98th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 4 p.m. at Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. They will be televised live on ABC as well as in more than 200 territories across the globe.
A two-weekend run of “Beetlejuice Jr.” is underway at Paul Revere Charter Middle School, with remaining performances taking place between March 27 and 29.
“‘Beetlejuice Jr.’ is the perfect show for all ages, groups and families to enjoy together,” read information shared by the directors. “It’s an age-appropriate telling of the hilarious Broadway musical. It’s full of singing, dancing and whip-smart laughs, woven together to tell a heartwarming story about family, friendship and embracing who you are.”
Directed by Lara Ganz and Aaron Jung, the show is presented by Illumevate and PEP. Musical Director is gaba, with Jung, Sydney Diamond and Rebecca Barragan as choreographers. It features a cast of 35 youth actors in grades six through eight.
“With the devastating fires displacing so many families from their homes, including director Lara Ganz, she finds emotional resonance in this story of home; how we create it and who will protect it,” read a statement from the program. “Moved not only by the narrative, but by the heartfelt work of the students and unwavering support of the school community, she is eager to share this production with the city of Los Angeles.”
Performances will take place Thursday, March 27, at 6 p.m.; Friday, March 28, at 5 and 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, March 29, at 1 and 4 p.m.
“‘Beetlejuice’ tells the hauntingly comedic yet touching story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager obsessed with the whole ‘being dead thing,’” read a show synopsis. “Lucky for Lydia, her new house is haunted by a recently deceased couple (Adam and Barbara Maitland) and Beetlejuice, a delightful demon with a real zest for life. Trying to help the newlydeads maintain possession of their home, Lydia calls on Beetlejuice to scare away anyone with a pulse by calling his name thrice, allowing him to materialize and wreak havoc. The double-crossing specter, however, shows his true stripes … unleashing a Netherworld of pandemonium.”
All performances will take place in the Paul Revere Auditorium, located at 1450 Allenford Avenue. Tickets start at $10 for students and seniors, $15 for general admission, and $20 to $30 for VIP, depending on the row.
“Thank you for supporting youth theater and investing in the next generation of storytellers, problem solvers and leaders,” the directors wrote. “See you at the show.”
A sample of items available in the auction Courtesy of Pali High
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
An online auction to support displaced students after the Palisades fire is now underway.
“Palisades Charter High School—home to 3,000 students from over 100 Los Angeles zip codes—was recently devastated by a fire that forced the school to close and displaced its student body,” read a statement about the auction. “To support these displaced students and fund critical programs, the Pali High Booster Club has launched an online auction featuring over 150 incredible items—and everyone is invited to participate.”
Proceeds from the auction will go to the Booster Club, which supports student programs and activities that are not funded by public dollars, including “essential programs” in academics, athletics and technology, which have “all been disrupted by the fire and ongoing displacement.”
The auction will remain open through March 31 at 5 p.m. Items and experiences that are available include: “a luxurious stay at Four Seasons Maui,” “an exclusive getaway to Deer Valley,” “VIP concert tickets to any artist of your choice” and “celebrity experiences that promise unforgettable memories.” There is also a road trip with the Los Angeles Rams or “exclusive” Dodgers experience available.
“With the campus damaged and our students displaced, this auction is more than just a fundraiser—it’s a chance to show these kids that their community extends beyond their zip code,” said Mariam Engel, event organizer and parent volunteer with the Pali High Booster Club. “Anyone can log on, find something exciting and make a real difference.”
The auction is part of a community benefit for the school, which includes a dinner on Saturday, March 29, from 6 to 11 p.m. at Hotel Luxe. Tickets for the benefit are available here.
The Palisades Charter High School Band will take to the Hollywood Bowl stage for “We ♥️ LA,” a free concert for first responders and community members impacted by the recent wildfires on Tuesday, April 1.
The concert is being put on to “recognize the bravery and selflessness on display during the Los Angeles wildfires,” according to Hollywood Bowl.
Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel will lead Los Angeles Philharmonic. Six-time Grammy-nominated pianist Gerald Clayton—who was raised in Altadena—will take the piano, and singer Christina Aguilera will bring her “powerhouse voice” to the Bowl.
The Pali High Band will kick off the evening with “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The concert will feature music by Gabriela Ortiz, Gustav Mahler and George Gershwin, and film scores by John Williams, with music from “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter” and “Jurassic Park.”
“Leading contemporary composer Gabriela Ortiz champions the idea that ‘music has the power to grant us access to the intangible, healing our wounds and binding us to what can only be expressed through sound,’” according to Hollywood Bowl. “The orchestra takes up this powerful calling with Ortiz’s celebratory ‘Kauyumari,’ followed by Mahler’s poignant ‘love letter’ and a selection of film-music favorites by the legendary John Williams.”
Clayton will join LA Phil for Gershwin’s “jazzy and intricate variations” on “I Got Rhythm.”
Additional special guests—to be announced—will also perform.
First responders and community members impacted by the wildfires were invited to register for the event for a chance to receive free tickets. Registrants were randomly selected and notified beginning Thursday, March 20.
The concert will take place on April 1 at Hollywood Bowl—located at 2301 Highland Avenue—at 8 p.m. Gates will open at 6 p.m.
The program will be broadcast live on Classical California KUSC in Los Angeles (91.5FM) and Classical California KDFC in San Francisco (90.3FM). The KUSC and KDFC websites will simulstream the live broadcast and offer on-demand streaming of the program for one week following the concert.
It is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, American Express, Live Nation and Play it Forward.
Zócalo Public Square—with Palisadian Executive Director Moira Shourie—won two awards at the 17th annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, which were hosted by the LA Press Club at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel on December 1, 2024. “The Black Songwriter Who Took Nashville by Storm” by Robert Marovich was awarded first place in Commentary Analysis/Trend, Music, and “The Genius Mexican Composer History Forgot” by Oliver Mayer won third place in Commentary Analysis/Trend, Other Arts. Above: Shourie and Anna Gasparyan of Zócalo Public Square were joined by musician Melissa Etheridge, who was honored with the Distinguished Storyteller Award.
Photo courtesy of Moira Shourie
Westside Ballet of Santa Monica—which is home to Palisadian dancers—collaborated with The Ballet Agency to provide more than 70 student, professional and recreational dancers who were impacted by the Los Angeles fires with support.
The two programs hosted a Dancewear Drive on February 23 and 24 at Westside Ballet, allowing dancers and their families, ranging in age from 2 to 75, to collect dancewear they needed at no cost, “ensuring they can continue their training without the added burden of replacing their essential gear.”
“Through a collaborative effort, The Ballet Agency, led by professional ballerina Brittany Cavaco, coordinated a successful drive to collect new and gently used dancewear from major dance brands, including Bloch, Discount Dance, Capezio, Blue Water Dance, Freed, Suffolk and Orza, collectively contributing over $80,000 worth of new and gently used items,” read a statement. “Additionally, the ballet community organized personalized collections from dance studios and companies nationwide, ensuring that each dancer received the right size and gear to return to the studio and stage.”
Above: Cavaco is pictured with Westside Ballet Artistic Director Martine Harley along with ballet students Olivia Legowiecki (right) and Addison Russell (left) at the drive. Harley and Legowiecki are Sunset Mesa residents, and Russell is from the Huntington.
Palisades Native Artist Marisa Murrow Shares Thoughts Following the Fire, Written at the End of January
By MARISA MURROW | Contributing Writer
As I look across mobile home parks, specifically in Pacific Palisades—rooftops, swaying palm trees, singing birds, dog walkers, waves crashing and the cheers of people braving the chilly waters—it encapsulates how I feel about where I come from.
It is the sense of community and simplicity, framed by an open view of the ocean, that has inspired my work for over two decades.
These tight-knit coastal communities, where people share common ground, feel deeply familiar. Growing up on Chautauqua with the neighborhood kids, we had keys to each other’s homes instead of walls. We swam in each other’s pools, sold lemonade on the corner and walked to school together.
Much like my formative years at Corpus Christi and Marymount High schools, where uniforms created a sense of sameness, I see parallels in the materials and shapes of these prefabricated structures. They echo my experience of unity and shared identity.
Someone once asked me, “If you are all dressed the same, how do you know who your friends are?” I have come to learn, that to truly know a place—or more importantly, a person—we must go inside.
Upon graduating from art school (RISD) I embarked on a trip around the world for 11 months with fellow Palisadian Christine Williams. It was the best decision I have ever made.
We filled our eyes and hearts with memories that continue to have a huge impact on the way I live. As our trip was coming to a close, I began to ask myself what do I want the people to know about where we come from. How can I make art about that?
I will forever cherish the years I spent working on site at one of the best art studios in Los Angeles—perched outside, overlooking this incredible beachfront property in the Palisades. These moments have defined my concept of home, a definition that remains forever captured in my painted images.
Someone recently asked me if any of my paintings were lost in the Palisades fires.
“Countless,” I said.
It never occurred to me at the time that I was capturing something ephemeral—places that, one day, might no longer exist.
But since the fires, my passion for painting has taken on a deeper meaning. My work has become more than just a reflection of California’s landscapes; it is a way of preserving memory, honoring what was lost and celebrating the resilience of those who called these places home.
The recent commissions I have received are acts of love. They are testaments to beauty, to impermanence and to the way art can tether us to the past.
One of my collectors, a friend, ran out of her home with only a handful of cherished belongings—including my painting. That act alone reaffirmed for me the power of art to hold significance beyond its physical form.
My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected by the fires throughout Los Angeles and beyond. Words cannot express how deeply saddened I am to see loss and destruction on this scale.
Murrow’s work—including Palisades landscapes—will be on display in a two-person exhibition at Adler/Smith Gallery in Santa Monica from April 5 to mid-May. For more information about the artist, visit marisamurrow.com.
Charles “Chuck” passed away on February 4. He was just six days short of his 70th birthday.
Born on February 10, 1955, to Rodney and Evelyn Minium, he was the eldest of their three sons.
Chuck, with his brothers, Dick and Bill, grew up on Bienveneda Avenue and attended MarquezElementary, Paul Revere Middle and Palisades High schools.
Growing up on lower Bienveneda, he, his brothers and dad were part of a Father & Son neighborhood camping group that lasted for over 50 years. He was a good skier, both water and snow. Boating was his favorite pastime and he eventually purchased a Magnum ocean boat.
Chuck was married to Carolyn McLeod for over 40 years. They had two sons, Jason and Ryan. He also has a grandson Christian.
Chuck got his contractor’s license when he was in his 20s and continued working until he passed. His company, Chuck Minium Construction, was well known in the Palisades, and he had a reputation as an excellent finisher carpenter. He worked for Tony Bill on the restaurant Market Street, the Oak Room for Mort Faberow, and homes for Beach Boy Bruce Johnson and developer John Kilroy.
Chuck is survived by his wife Carolyn, son Ryan, grandson Christian, brother Dick, and nephews Dustin and Logan. He was predeceased by his dad Rod (1996), mom Evelyn (2022), brother Bill (2007) and son Jason (2005).
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