Artist Kim Abeles recognized for collaboration with female inmates who fight fire

June 19, 2019
Kim Abeles and the Firefighting Women of Camp 13 / Valise 2 - Tools from the series, Valises for Camp Ground: Arts, Corrections, and Fire Management in the Santa Monica Mountains 2018 Hand constructed “backpack” valise made with Cordura, Velvet, Clay miniatures of firefighting tools, Embroidered names of each position on a fire crew, brass hardware Size: Closed: 23” x 10” x 14” Open: 10” x 167” x 22" This inaugural Camp Ground project with inmates from Camp 13 was managed by the Armory Center for the Arts, with Kim Abeles as the first commissioned artist. Camp Ground: Arts, Corrections, and Fire Management in the Santa Monica Mountains is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

American for the Arts honors project that embedded Abeles in Los Angeles County Fire Department's Malibu Conservation Camp #13.

Link to the LA County Arts Commission website to learn more.

"This project was a meaningful collaboration with the women firefighters of Camp 13, the supportive staffs of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, LA County Fire, Armory Center for the Arts, the Department of Corrections, the National Park Service, and me. I am grateful for the generosity that people are always inclined to share, and I learned a lot from the inmates about giving and receiving."

Link to visual checklist for all 10 valises

Kim Abeles and the Firefighting Women of Camp 13 / Valise 2 - Tools from the series, Valises for Camp Ground: Arts, Corrections, and Fire Management in the Santa Monica Mountains 2018 Hand constructed “backpack” valise made with Cordura, Velvet, Clay miniatures of firefighting tools, Embroidered names of each position on a fire crew, brass hardware Size: Closed: 23” x 10” x 14” Open: 10” x 167” x 22" This inaugural Camp Ground project with inmates from Camp 13 was managed by the Armory Center for the Arts, with Kim Abeles as the first commissioned artist. Camp Ground: Arts, Corrections, and Fire Management in the Santa Monica Mountains is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
Kim Abeles and the Firefighting Women of Camp 13 / Valise 2 - Tools from the series, Valises for Camp Ground: Arts, Corrections, and Fire Management in the Santa Monica Mountains 2018 Hand constructed “backpack” valise made with Cordura, Velvet, Clay miniatures of firefighting tools, Embroidered names of each position on a fire crew, brass hardware Size: Closed: 23” x 10” x 14” Open: 10” x 167” x 22" This inaugural Camp Ground project with inmates from Camp 13 was managed by the Armory Center for the Arts, with Kim Abeles as the first commissioned artist. Camp Ground: Arts, Corrections, and Fire Management in the Santa Monica Mountains is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
Kim Abeles and the Firefighting Women of Camp 13 / Valise 2 - Tools from the series, Valises for Camp Ground: Arts, Corrections, and Fire Management in the Santa Monica Mountains 2018 Hand constructed “backpack” valise made with Cordura, Velvet, Clay miniatures of firefighting tools, Embroidered names of each position on a fire crew, brass hardware Size: Closed: 23” x 10” x 14” Open: 10” x 167” x 22" This inaugural Camp Ground project with inmates from Camp 13 was managed by the Armory Center for the Arts, with Kim Abeles as the first commissioned artist. Camp Ground: Arts, Corrections, and Fire Management in the Santa Monica Mountains is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
Valises for Camp Ground installed in the Community Room at the Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA
Valises for Camp Ground installed in the Community Room at the Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA