The historic Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center and the Theatre Palisades, Pierson Playhouse reported that their buildings have been entirely destroyed by the ongoing fires ravaging the coastal Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Southern California.
While the temple assured its congregation that the Torah scrolls were rescued and are in a secure place, the performing arts theatre noted on its Facebook page that the “beloved Pierson Playhouse is gone,” having completely burned down yesterday evening — only days away from opening the curtains on a new production.
Exacerbated by heavy winds and dry conditions, four concurrent wildfires have ripped through Los Angeles County in the last 48 hours, resulting in five confirmed deaths so far. The flames have engulfed the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Pasadena, Sepulveda Basin, and Sylmar neighborhoods, burning over 1,000 structures, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate, and shuttering businesses and cultural institutions.
Reports of the Palisades fire encroaching on the famed Getty Villa grounds emerged on Tuesday evening, January 7, though a spokesperson for the foundation told Hyperallergic that its staff, collections, and facilities have remained unharmed so far. The Villa will remain closed until early next week, and the Getty Center in Brentwood will also stay shuttered through at least Sunday, January 12, out of safety concerns and to help ease traffic.
Multiple other museums and galleries across Los Angeles County are closing temporarily out of precaution, citing air quality concerns, high winds, environmental factors, and commitment to staff safety. Jessica Youn, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, confirmed in an email to Hyperallergic that while the museum’s campus and collections are safe, it will remain closed to the public on Thursday, January 9.
The Hammer Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles in Westwood Village and the Broad Museum in Downtown Los Angeles have also announced temporary closures for today, January 8. A spokesperson for the Hammer Museum said the art and campus are safe, and that the institution is assessing the possibility of extended closure on a day-by-day basis.
Shuttered commercial galleries include Lisson, Sean Kelly, The Box, the Hauser and Wirth Bookstore, and Control Gallery.
Near the Getty Villa, the Kauffman estate in Malibu, also known as Villa de Leon, was reportedly ablaze as seen in a video shared by Los Angeles Magazine on Instagram. The Italian Revival estate was built in 1926 and has been used as a set in a variety of high-profile music videos and commercials, including but not limited to Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi,” Foster the People’s “Call It What You Want,” Selena Gomez’s “Love On,” Beyoncé’s “Haunted,” and Tyler the Creator’s “A BOY IS A GUN*.”
While currently unharmed, the Eames House, the 20th-century modern architectural landmark designed by industrial design couple Charles and Ray Eames in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, has also suspended visits and tours until further notice. In a statement to Architectural Digest, Eames Foundation Executive Director Lucia Dewey Atwood mentioned that the team “worked quickly to remove a small number of objects from the house before they had to evacuate the building.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
