Projects


This page is dedicated

to past projects that have

taken place at Old Fire Station 23.

Many artists and organizations have already lent their support for this effort.
They know that Fire Station 23 has the capacity to be an fundraising resource
for the community which already attracts world wide interest.

Old Fire Station 23 is a Los Angeles and US designated Historic Site.
It is located at 225 E. 5 th St. in Downtown Los Angeles. If you or your orgnization
is interested in utilizing Fire Station 23 to facilitate your next event then take
the time to contact us at:

Daniel Taylor
Caretaker of Historic Fire Station 23
Executive Director
Corporation for History, Art and Culture 213-624-5510
PO Box 71021
Los Angeles, CA, 90071
http://www.thechac.org


OUTLINE
Corporation for History, Art and Culture Firehouse Project Mission Outline To lessen the burden of government in the area of the arts, public education and community development by raising money to create a Center for History, Art and Culture at Historic Landmark, Firehouse Old 23s’, located at 225 E. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA.

 

Fire House History
Fire Station No. 23, located at 225 E. 5th Street in downtown Los Angeles, was constructed in 1910. The 3-story, 13,600 square foot structure, which cost $53,000 to build, was constructed to serve the needs of the growing downtown wholesale and industrial district.

 

Preserving the Dedication Stone
The work of preserving the Dedication Stone began officially on Wednesday December 10th 2003. Donna Williams of Williams Art Conservation identified all of the significant pieces of the stone and made notes on on the condition of each piece were made. Each piece was labled and photographed.

Fire House Cultural Events (current)

Reuniting Families One Father at a Time...


Fire House Cultural Events (current)

"Exploring the Beauty of Skid Row..."


2004 Summer Community Outreach



In June of 2004 CHAC was introduced to the community by founder and Executive Director Daniel Taylor who was and is the current caretaker of Fire Station No. 23.

The community was invited to see the building, learn about the Firehouse cultural center project and exhibit in the fire station. Exhibits included art by Rebeliz and Alexander. Art and an anti gang coloring book by OG Mann. Also an outstanding giant Black History Collage by Black on Black Decor all local artists.

Movement 2004

Reopening the Historic Palace Theater

In December of 2004 CHAC along with other local community groups including Artist Salon, Gallery Row and others sponsored an event to promote the revitalization of Broadway and the historic Palace Theater. It was called Movement 2004 and featured dancers from all over Los Angeles Performing on the old Vaudeville stage. In addition the downstairs and corridors became an art gallery with work from outstanding downtown artists. Hollywood Shorts Film Festival also screened film from LA filmmakers.

1st Annual Fathers Day Affair



Peace-N-Hood Coloring Book

In 2005 we granted artist OG Mann (Manuel Compito) $1000 to produce his Peace-N-Hood coloring book and develop a series of greeting and postcards to promote his artwork and the CHAC Cultural Center Project.

In June of that year CHAC sponsored in association with OG's in Service a skid row volunteer group founded by Mr. Compito, the First Annual Fathers Day Affair to help promote responsible fatherhood in the Skid Row community and to focus public attention on the plight of families in the area. The event featured speakers from area churches and other organizations, as well as local performers and activities for area children.

The Fire History of Old 23 Exhibit


In the spring of 2005 CHAC in association with lafire.com produced a museum quality exhibit of the fire history of historic Los Angeles Fire Station No.23, in order to create a record of this remarkable Historic Landmark. All known Photographs on the subject were scanned at 300 dpi and stored on DVD to preserve them for future generations.

Then they were re-printed on high quality photographic paper and beautifully framed. Text was written to tell the story of Old 23 and to provide captions for the pictures. The text was written in both Spanish and English for the enjoyment and edification of current and future generations of Los Angelinos.

Los Angeles First Ever Town Crier Competition


CHAC is proud to have participated in this Los Angeles first Town Crier Competition. Town Criers from all over North America came to Los Angeles for three days and appeared at various City events including a special presentation at City Hall.

1st Annual Community Unity Festival on 5th 2005

Charles Porter with UCEPP a Co-sponsor
Michael Blaze of Unified Fathers For Life, a local organization and co-sponsor, Festival organizer.


Nic Cha Kim. Co founder of Gallery Row a co-sponsor of the event.
Leslie Croom, founder of HOPE, a co-sponsor and Festival organizer.


Fire Station 9 received an award.
Some local Skid row children helped to announce it.


The Station 9 crew was there too.
Local artists showed their stuff. This one by OG Mann.


Julia Gayle entertained.


We also had a stage full of music, Rappers, Rockers, Latin, R&B Rides for the kids on an old fire engine courtesy of collector Joe Ortiz An Old 23 Fire Station history exhibit in English and Spanish 12 art exhibits, face painting, local community speakers.

On October 29th of 2005 we held a festival to bring the emerging loft and recovery communities together to celebrate our common community, values and humanity. Residents were treated to art, musical performances, speakers and food.

Local children delighted in many activities including rides on an Old 1960's Fire Engine. It was held on E.5th St. Downtown between Los Angeles and Maple Sts.
2006 Outreach and Events




In 2006 we co-sponsored 2 events with Downtown Dog Rescue and 2 events with USC Institute of Genetic Medicine Gallery to acquaint people with the CHAC the Cultural Center Project and the Peace-N-Hood coloring book of artist OG Mann. We also continued our support and sponsorship of the 2nd Annual Fathers Day affair. During this event CHAC presented an outstanding community service award to Fire Station 9 for their continued service to the Downtown Community. Not only is Station 9 the busiest Station in the nation it is also the station that became active when Old 23 was retired.
Because of the appeal of Peace-N-Hood to inner city youth Lori Weise and Downtown Dog Rescue invited us to encourage kids in the Watts area of Los Angeles to bring their dogs in to their events for free medical, spade and neutering, license, computer chip tracking and training.
We were also asked to co-sponsor and promote 2 events with the USC Institute of Genetic Medicine. The first was the opening of their new exhibit about the juvenile correction program that trains qualifying inmates in fire fighting. The exhibit called Fire was a collection of photographs taken at the training camp and at the scene of several forest fires.
The other event was in conjunction with the League of Womens Voters. It was a seminar on the juvenile correction system and its intended and unintended consequences. On both occasions we took the opportunity to introduce OG Mann and familiarize them with the information contained in his work and art. We introduced the book and Mr. Compito to several national anti gang and youth support groups as well as Los Angeles Deputy Chief of Police Braxton.
Fantazius

In the Spring of 05 CHAC co-sponsored an event at the newly renovated Spring Arts Tower. It was an art and music event. Once again Los Angeles artists and musicians exhibited and performed at this Downtown gala event for the enjoyment of the movers and shakers of the Historic Core.
Community Unity Festival 06

























Community Unity Festival 06 was organized in conjunction with Unified Fathers for Life and Helping Other People Emerge (HOPE).



H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Emerge) Child One Community Photographic Exhibit









Due to the efforts of many local and national sponsors, the second Community Unity Festival was able to raise money to create a stunning exhibit photographic of kids in the Los Angeles Downtown Community.

The exhibit was produced by H.O.P.E. with the help of CHAC. All of the pictures were photographed by local parents and also by HOPE members. The exhibit photos were exquisitely reproduced, framed and hung by, well-known photojournalist and historian Michael J Christopher who also designed the look of the exhibit and assisted in the photo selection process.

It was presented at the Nopal Press & Fine Art Gallery in conjunction with the Downtown Los Angeles Artwalk.

The purpose of the exhibit is to raise awareness of the presence of these children, often found in the most dangerous sections of our community. And to motivate Downtown Los Angeles resolve to create safe neighborhoods with greater opportunity for our most vulnerable residents.