In the wake of the disastrous and deadly Camp Fire, former Paradise, California, resident and community artist Jessie Mercer wanted to make something from the remnants of the town’s lost homes. Gathering more than 18,000 donated keys to homes, churches, schools, businesses, and cars, Jessie created an 800-pound sculpture of the mythological phoenix—a bird that is born again from the ashes of its predecessor. The finished piece, now in the Building Residency Center in Paradise, is a powerful symbol of loss and rebuilding.
Directed by Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman
Director of Photography Bill Meese
“We owe our ancestors a debt.” For years, folk artist Karen Collins and her husband built these shadow boxes and crafted these intricate dioramas to form the African American Miniature Museum, which reflects the history of African Americans in the United States. This painstakingly hand-crafted miniature museum is a way for Collins to teach future generations about their history and lineage in the country. Watch the full video to hear Collins’s story.
Directed by Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman
Director of Photography Bill Meese
Executive Producers Doug Baldinger Chris Naka
Co-Producer Todd Lerew
Special Thanks
L.A. Library and the “21 Collections” exhibit, where Collins’s work was featured from 2018-2019.