I am heartbroken and devastated, but at the same time, I feel blessed by the power of community. I lost my rental place in the beautiful Pacific Palisades, along with all my belongings and the creative tools I had been collecting for years for my work and life. I am a designer and fellow at UCLA Art|Sci Center, and all of a sudden, I lost the life I had built for myself little by little due to the tragic fire on January 7th. Being an independent individual my whole life, asking for help has always been very hard for me. However, now it feels like a privilege to receive support, and I am deeply grateful for it. I am determined to rebuild my life by acquiring tools, creative supplies, clothing, living essentials, and furniture, while also restoring the hope I have always carried within me.

This banner photo is from the night I hosted a Hox Zodiac dinner—an ongoing project at the UCLA Art|Sci Center—during the full moon in the fall, at my home, which no longer exists. It was a night that brought our community together in a truly magical way.