I informally named a small cluster of shops at the southeast corner of Lake Avenue and Altadena Drive Triangle Square. The “Triangle” comes from the uniquely shaped plot of land on which the shops sat—directly across the street from Triangle Park, where I painted the scene. The “Square” nods to the traditional town square, a hub for commerce and creativity, as there were artist studios located on the site.
The original painting, just 5” x 7”, was enlarged to banner size. It became the theme image for my Ode to ’Dena exhibition at the storied California African American Museum (CAAM) in Los Angeles.
Several weeks after the Eaton Fire, I returned to paint Triangle Square again. By then, the National Guard had set up an outpost there, with a heavily armed man in a Humvees in place. Every so often, a guardsman would step out, walk to the property’s edge, and look toward me. I’d give him a wave; he’d give me a nod. When I finished, I walked across the street to show him the painting. When he saw it, he dropped his tough guy persona. We had a friendly conversation, and I shared what I knew about the history of Triangle Square.