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16Sep 2013 by Leisa

Historic Buildings of South Pasadena, CA

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Historic Preservation Lives on Main Street, S0uth Pasadena The thing I love about South Pasadena is that it has always maintained a Small Town Atmosphere. By Southern California standards, South Pasadena’s 2010 estimated population of 24,904 qualifies it as a small town. The city’s boundaries have changed very little since its incorporation and today it encompasses approximately 3.4 square miles. The Mission and Meridian Street crossing -- which can be seen in my painting below, is where the Gold Line metro station pass through. With its historically preserved old buildings it is truly a town where the old fashioned Main street still exists. Please enjoy the first two paintings in my Historic South Pasadena Street Scene series! [caption id="attachment_28115" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Old Meridian Iron Works in South Pasadena CA[/caption] Another…

03Sep 2013 by Leisa

Official Ribbon Cutting for the Opening of My New South Pasadena Studio

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On Wednesday, the 21st of August, I had the ribbon cutting of my new studio in South Pasadena. I was privileged to have the Mayor of South Pasadena Richard Schneider in attendance and who helped to cut the ribbon. Annika Burman, a local artisan and representative of the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Barb Skoog, a local artist helped out, too. Just want to mention and thank Scott Feldmann, the president of the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, and Bill Glazier, the editor of the South Pasadena Review weekly newspaper, for also attending. The really nice thing is that my mother Melva Collins was in town for the event as she happens to be visiting from New Zealand. She is an artist who did architectural art in NZ years ago…

21Aug 2013 by Leisa

More Studio Photos

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Here are some further photos of my new studio in South Pasadena. I am having an official open house today with a ribbon cutting ceremony and everything. Members of the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and City Council will be here to help me cut the ribbon at 6pm. The address of my studio is 812 Fremont Ave, Loft 101, So. Pasadena. You can enjoy the slideshow below. [gallery columns="4" link="file" type="slideshow" ids="3556,3557,3558,3559,3560,3562,3563"]

18Jul 2013 by Leisa

My New Studio in South Pasadena!

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Hello! Just wanted to let everyone know I have been busy finding and moving into my new digs the past few weeks. Bruce and I have a great new apartment/studio in South Pasadena! It is an artist's dream! South Pasadena is great because it has tremendous historical properties and is located conveniently to tour such in the greater LA area. The city website describes the area as follows: "The City of South Pasadena is a charming community, situated only six miles from downtown Los Angeles. Called the City of Trees, the area is known for its stunning homes, unique small businesses, and top quality schools. South Pasadena’s diverse population of about 25,000 occupies a mere 3.44 square miles of flatlands and hillsides on the west side of the San Gabriel…

01May 2013 by Leisa

USA Historic Preservation Tour – Fifth Award Presentation in New Mexico

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award

Historic Native American Adobe Village -- the Oldest Inhabited Community in North America! As we entered the state of New Mexico this sign welcomed us, and "Land of Enchantment" describes it perfectly! [caption id="attachment_3383" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The sign as we crossed the border into New Mexico[/caption] Before I tell you about the fascinating place that is the subject of my award painting, here are some views of the New Mexico landscape. [caption id="attachment_3384" align="aligncenter" width="450"] On the road in The Land of Enchantment[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3385" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The ruins of a historic Adobe Building in New Mexico[/caption] One tends to associate historic preservation with old historic buildings in architectural styles such as Federal, Colonial, Victorian, Craftsman etc, but long, long before any of these buildings broke ground, the Acoma Pueblo…

28Apr 2013 by Leisa

USA Historic Preservation Tour — Historically Preserved Rock Formations in Colorado!

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Restored Old Homes in Historic Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, Colorado Prior to arriving in Colorado Springs we had to traverse the Great Plains of Midwest America. You can really see how they came to be called that. Endless expanses of wide open space! You could almost see the buffalo herds roaming the plains as they used to in days gone by, with Indian hunters in fast pursuit! And imagine what it must have been like for new settlers coming across the plains in wagons to make their home there and start a new life! Now that would take some courage. Today this is cattle grazing country mainly as it is too dry to grow crops. One could see the odd ranch house from time to time, but otherwise is…

26Apr 2013 by Leisa

USA Historic Preservation Tour – Fourth Award Presentation and Restored Craftsman

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award

Old Craftsman Home Restored in Independence, Missouri Retiring from a career in management with a large regional insurance company, my next awardee Diane Rueter took on a full time project when she purchased a dilapidated Craftsman home on Delaware Avenue in Independence, Missouri. Here is the “BEFORE” photo. This is what is looked like when Diane purchased it. [caption id="attachment_3333" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Old Craftsman Home in Independence, MO, prior to renovation[/caption] It was a far cry from when it was originally built in 1915 for the Houchen's family by a well known local architect, Clifton B. Sloan. It was featured in this 1917 issue of American Builder, which describes the building as “well balanced and attractive”. [caption id="attachment_3334" align="aligncenter" width="328"] Article in "American Builder" from 1917 re Craftsman in Independence,…

26Apr 2013 by Leisa

USA Historic Preservation Tour – Through Nebraska and into Missouri

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The next leg of our journey was in a south west direction, leaving Iowa and briefly touring through Nebraska heading for our next Historic Preservation Award Event in the city of Independence, Missouri. Similar to its eastern neighbor of Iowa, Nebraska is part of the mid-western corn belt. However from time to time the tilled corn fields were broken up by patches of gorgeous purple lavender fields. [caption id="attachment_3318" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Driving through purple fields in rural Nebraska[/caption] Arriving in Independence, we took the opportunity to explore the historic city center and check out local architecture. We found stately Victorians (such as the boyhood home of President Harry Truman who grew up in Independence. ) and Queen Anns, large Craftsman homes and smaller bungalows. [caption id="attachment_3319" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Historic home…

25Apr 2013 by Leisa

USA Historic Preservation Tour – Third Award Presentation

Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award

Historic Preservation Recipient Zell Millard I was joined by the Mayor of Woodbine, Bill Hutcheson, and 30 local well-wishers for the presentation which was co-hosted by Woodbine Main Street. The award recipient, Zell Millard has held the moniker of “Mr. Woodbine,” for more than 60 years. Some years back, when an old country school house was slated to be razed, Zell went to work, found a new home for it, and organized the moving event. The Merry Brook School & Genealogical Center now anchors the south edge of a collection of buildings representative of Woodbine’s small town history: the Woodbine Depot, a 1928 canopy gas station, an outdoor amphitheater, an interpretive gazebo featuring Lincoln Highway history and one of the few remaining CNW Cabooses…all residing in the newly named Zell…

24Apr 2013 by Leisa

USA Historic Preservation Tour – How to Paint Historic Buildings Workshop

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Historic Preservation Alive and Well in Woodbine, Iowa We arrived mid-afternoon in Woodbine, the location of my third Historic Preservation Award the following day. The town of Woodbine, with a total population of just under 1500, is a wonderful success story of main street revitalization through a state funded program and a lot of hard work by Woodbine locals. As we traveled across the state it was clear that both urban and rural Iowa have a tremendous number of unique historic properties and yet the average citizen, as well as many officials, have no clue of the historic treasures that abound in their state. Too many homes and buildings have already been tossed to the scrap heap. I have especially noted this heartbreaking trend within smaller towns and communities, however…

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