Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Eaton Fire took their homes—and their school. One year later, students rebuild community through art by reviving a lost Mary Cassatt mural.
After the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena, these young artists found healing, resilience, and hope through a powerful community mural project.
When the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, families lost homes and students lost their beloved elementary school. In the aftermath, a group of young artists came together to process grief and rebuild a sense of belonging—through art.
Inspired by Mary Cassatt’s The Modern Woman mural, originally created for the 1893 World’s Fair and lost for over a century, students re-imagine the historic artwork with their own stories of resilience, regrowth, and community strength. Incorporating native plants and influential women from history, the mural becomes a symbol of strength and healing after disaster.
This short documentary explores recovery, resilience, feminist art history, public art, and the transformative power of creative expression.
If you believe in the power of community, art education, and rebuilding after tragedy, this story is for you.
CREDITS
Director / D.P. / Editor
Megan Lovallo
Producers
Tré Borden
Dorian Lynde
Executive Producer
Scott Keiner
Senior Producers
Karla Carnewal
David Friedman
Cinematographers
Matthew Allan Smith
Sarah Greenwald
Production Sound
Sean Hamilton
Assistant Editor
Danielle Strassman
Post Production Sound
John Conway
Development Coordinator
Sarah M. Turner
Production Coordinator
Goto McCagg
Assistant Production Coordinator
Amelia Mylvaganam
Color Grading Post Producer
Adam Enatsky
Artists
Hennessy Christophel
Sofia Laçin
Keilany Reyes Balderas
Hazel Cagle
Jasmine Connell
Annika Dougall Wang
Phoebe Grayczyk
Lidia Hauge
Ashley Hernandez
Kaylei Haslam
Gemma Kidd
Chanel Koah
Camila Maldonado Padilla
Serafina Mangubat
Alissa McFeat
Scarlett Muralles
Faith Perez
Mikaela Prasad
Danica Rico
Allyson Rodriguez
Sadie Slade
Raegan Sturm
Olivia Teshome
Nia Watts
Curators
Rena Hoisington
Kimberly Jones
Mary Morton
Thanks
Arts Bridging the Gap
Aveson Academy Students and Faculty
Michelle Bird
Aaron Gerwer
Gina Giambalvo
Annelise Madsen
Arlynn Page
Jennifer Riddell
Studio Tutto
Tre Borden /Co
Images
Archives of American Art
Hubert Howe Bancroft, The Book of the Fair, 1895
National Gallery of Art, Washington, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington, Chester Dale Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Mrs. Jane C. Carey as an addition to the Addie Burr Clark Memorial Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington, Rosenwald Collection
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Footage
Adobe Stock
Nexstar Med Inc.
Music
Courtesy of Universal Production Music
⏱ Chapters
00:00 The Night of the Fire
00:13 Fire Spreads Across Altadena
00:37 Losing Homes and Schools
01:17 Finding Healing Through Art
02:11 The Lost Mary Cassatt Mural
03:52 Who Was Mary Cassatt?
05:24 Reviving The Modern Woman
06:28 Fire Followers & Native Plants
07:21 Women Who Inspire
08:36 Painting Day Begins
09:28 One Year After the Fire
10:21 What Would Mary Cassatt Think?
11:39 A Mural That Feels Like Home
12:52 Seeing Ourselves in the Art
14:00 Loss, Rebirth, and Community
Still haven’t subscribed to our YouTube channels?
National Gallery of Art ►►youtube.com/NationalGalleryofArtUS
National Gallery of Art Talks ►►youtube.com/NationalGalleryofArtTalks
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.
More National Gallery of Art Content:
Facebook: facebook.com/nationalgalleryofart
Twitter: twitter.com/ngadc
Instagram: instagram.com/ngadc
Pinterest: pinterest.com/ngadc/_created
E-News: https://mailchi.mp/nga.gov/signup
The Eaton Fire took their homes—and their school. One year later, students rebuild community through art by reviving a lost Mary Cassatt mural.
After the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena, these young artists found healing, resilience, and hope through a powerful community mural project.
When the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, families lost homes and students lost their beloved elementary school. In the aftermath, a group of young artists came together to process grief and rebuild a sense of belonging—through art.
Inspired by Mary Cassatt’s The Modern Woman mural, originally created for the 1893 World’s Fair and lost for over a century, students re-imagine the historic artwork with their own stories of resilience, regrowth, and community strength. Incorporating native plants and influential women from history, the mural becomes a symbol of strength and healing after disaster.
This short documentary explores recovery, resilience, feminist art history, public art, and the transformative power of creative expression.
If you believe in the power of community, art education, and rebuilding after tragedy, this story is for you.
CREDITS
Director / D.P. / Editor
Megan Lovallo
Producers
Tré Borden
Dorian Lynde
Executive Producer
Scott Keiner
Senior Producers
Karla Carnewal
David Friedman
Cinematographers
Matthew Allan Smith
Sarah Greenwald
Production Sound
Sean Hamilton
Assistant Editor
Danielle Strassman
Post Production Sound
John Conway
Development Coordinator
Sarah M. Turner
Production Coordinator
Goto McCagg
Assistant Production Coordinator
Amelia Mylvaganam
Color Grading Post Producer
Adam Enatsky
Artists
Hennessy Christophel
Sofia Laçin
Keilany Reyes Balderas
Hazel Cagle
Jasmine Connell
Annika Dougall Wang
Phoebe Grayczyk
Lidia Hauge
Ashley Hernandez
Kaylei Haslam
Gemma Kidd
Chanel Koah
Camila Maldonado Padilla
Serafina Mangubat
Alissa McFeat
Scarlett Muralles
Faith Perez
Mikaela Prasad
Danica Rico
Allyson Rodriguez
Sadie Slade
Raegan Sturm
Olivia Teshome
Nia Watts
Curators
Rena Hoisington
Kimberly Jones
Mary Morton
Thanks
Arts Bridging the Gap
Aveson Academy Students and Faculty
Michelle Bird
Aaron Gerwer
Gina Giambalvo
Annelise Madsen
Arlynn Page
Jennifer Riddell
Studio Tutto
Tre Borden /Co
Images
Archives of American Art
Hubert Howe Bancroft, The Book of the Fair, 1895
National Gallery of Art, Washington, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington, Chester Dale Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Mrs. Jane C. Carey as an addition to the Addie Burr Clark Memorial Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington, Rosenwald Collection
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Footage
Adobe Stock
Nexstar Med Inc.
Music
Courtesy of Universal Production Music
⏱ Chapters
00:00 The Night of the Fire
00:13 Fire Spreads Across Altadena
00:37 Losing Homes and Schools
01:17 Finding Healing Through Art
02:11 The Lost Mary Cassatt Mural
03:52 Who Was Mary Cassatt?
05:24 Reviving The Modern Woman
06:28 Fire Followers & Native Plants
07:21 Women Who Inspire
08:36 Painting Day Begins
09:28 One Year After the Fire
10:21 What Would Mary Cassatt Think?
11:39 A Mural That Feels Like Home
12:52 Seeing Ourselves in the Art
14:00 Loss, Rebirth, and Community
Still haven’t subscribed to our YouTube channels?
National Gallery of Art ►►youtube.com/NationalGalleryofArtUS
National Gallery of Art Talks ►►youtube.com/NationalGalleryofArtTalks
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.
More National Gallery of Art Content:
Facebook: facebook.com/nationalgalleryofart
Twitter: twitter.com/ngadc
Instagram: instagram.com/ngadc
Pinterest: pinterest.com/ngadc/_created
E-News: https://mailchi.mp/nga.gov/signup
