Dear friends of Track 16,

In the face of the fires in Los Angeles words can be elusive. Artists lost their homes and studios. Witnessing the struggles of artists and art workers in this disaster is to see a microcosm of what the wider communities affected by the fires are going through. The gallery’s own Camilla Taylor lost her home and studio in the Eaton Fire within hours of returning to L.A. after a residency. A tremendous number of artworks were destroyed in studios and from collections, but we’re also seeing a moving outpouring of support within the community. Angelenos and those who love L.A. have been donating goods, services, and funds. Incredibly touching has been to witness the volunteering to help feed, cloth, and distribute all kinds of needed sundries.

There is a lot more to do as the recovery begins and new fires threaten the region. There are two main relief funds directing resources towards the L.A. art community. Grief and Hope will be distributing funds to artists and art workers who have lost their home and / or studio as a result of the fires in the Los Angeles area. LA Arts Community Fire Relief will be providing emergency relief for artists and arts workers in all disciplines who have lost residences, studios, archives, artworks, or livelihoods or have otherwise been impacted by the fires.

There are many guides for directing help to people, orgs, and businesses. One that I’ve been using is 2025 Wildfires GFM List. If you’re an artist or art worker who’s been affected or displaced by the fires, Gallery Platform LA has put together a disaster relief resource guide.

Camilla Taylor, who has mounted two exhibitions at Track 16, was driving back from a residency in Oregon on the day the Eaton Fire ignited and tore through Altadena. She saw the fire’s fast approaching glow as she arrived home after a long drive. She and her husband Jason immediately fled with their four cats. By morning their home and her garage studio were gone. Camilla had been preparing for multiple upcoming exhibitions including a solo exhibit at Track 16 towards the end of this year. They’ve been fortunate to find housing and she’s determined to find a new studio to make and remake work. Yesterday she was interviewed on Madeleine Brand’s show Press Play on KCRW. Camilla and Jason do have a GoFundMe if you’d like to contribute and there are works at Track 16 that are available on our web shop.

In support of the disaster, Kathleen Henderson and Track 16 are making available her Outtake drawings with 100% of the proceeds going to the Grief and Hope GoFundMe. The Outtake drawings were first offered in Henderson’s 2020 exhibition at Track 16 as a fundraiser for voter registration efforts in Navajo Nation, then as the pandemic hit we sold Outtakes to raise money for clean water in Navajo Nation. We look on these small original works – priced at just $300 – as a resource when the need arises. They’re available here on our web shop.

Track 16 has postponed its programming, but will re-open on Saturday, February 15th with an exhibition of Joseph Beuys multiples titled Potential Goods.

Los Angeles has shown its strength and resilience through community and mutual aid. We love L.A.!

Sending love to you all,

Sean Meredith

Director/Partner

Track 16