Opening May 8, 2026
Functional objects, crafted locally and spanning from the prehistoric era to today, are presented in the hands of community members. Sourced from nearby museums and cultural institutions, each object tells a story of the neighborhood’s deep history and evolving identity. Though only hands and arms are shown, the images speak volumes—subtly reflecting the cultural richness and generational diversity of the area. Each pairing of hand and object blends a photo-realistic pencil drawing with a photograph, creating layered portraits of connection, craftsmanship, and connections across time.
As part of his design development process, Haendel identified a diversity of people, all ages and cultural backgrounds, who live or work in the neighborhood to accompany him to museums and cultural institutions in the Wilshire/Fairfax area. Haendel invited the participants to engage with select objects in the various collections in creative ways and he photographed them holding and interacting with these objects, all of which have a connection to the LA region.
