A. Laura Brody's latest art installation, eloquently named "Phoenix Rising," has taken up residence at Adams Square Mini Park Gas Station, offering viewers a poignant expression of rebirth and transformation from January 12th to March 20th, 2026. This room-sized sculpture was crafted from a collection of discarded garments, remnants from the LA wildfires, and now reborn into a symbol of resurgence—a gown with a sprawling skirt, voluminous sleeves, and a collar wired to reach towards the sky.
In an effort to turn a tragic memory into something empowering, Brody—who is well-versed in the art of costume design with a career that spans 30 years working with big names like LMFAO and Rihanna, and companies such as Netflix and Disney Imagineering—hopes for Southern California to rise anew after destruction. “Phoenix Rising” is more than just an installation; it's a physical representation of hope and the cycle of renewal, GlendaleArtsAndCulture.org detailed in a recently published announcement.
The community is invited to an artist reception hosted by the Adams Square Neighborhood Association on January 24th, which will offer an up-close look at the powerful installation and a chance to meet the artist behind it. The Adams Square Mini Park Gas Station stands proudly at 1020 E. Palmer Ave., Glendale, CA, with the art installation's sponsorship by the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission, and additional support from various local organizations.
Aside from her dynamic work in the entertainment industry, Brody is recognized for founding Opulent Mobility, which reimagines disability through art. The initiative has drawn acclaim for transforming mobility devices into art pieces, emphasizing the strength and diversity of the disabled community. Last spring, "Opulent Mobility: Re-Imagine Disability and Mobility In Collaboration with the Students of Glendale Unified School District" was showcased at the Brand Library & Art Center, casting a spotlight on disability culture and its inherent challenges—a subject Brody tackled in an interview with the Arts & Culture Commission's Spotlight Series, according to GlendaleArtsAndCulture.org.
Glendale, often hailed as the "Jewel City," houses the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture, which finds its origins back to 1907, and works alongside the Arts and Culture Commission to integrate arts into the daily life of its residents. By fostering this creative symbiosis, they aim to sculpt an evolving arts destination that reflects the proud identity and cultural diversity of the city. Adams Square Mini Park Gas Station's hosting of "Phoenix Rising" serves as a testament to this mission, further enveloping Glendale in a blanket of artistic expression.
