Hawai'i-born artist Lani Trock will guide a free immersive sound experience at Arlington Garden on Saturday, July 18, inviting Pasadena residents into an evening of deep listening and gentle movement in the garden's formal Olive Allée.
The program, called "Field of Listening," runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The garden opens to participants at 6 p.m. Trock and three collaborators will lead attendees through guided listening exercises, movement, and group stillness. The Armory Center for the Arts, which is presenting the event, describes it as a restorative offering for community members seeking care and reconnection in the wake of the Eaton Fire, which devastated parts of Pasadena and Altadena in January 2025.
Trock co-leads Soft Future, a community-oriented music collective, with her husband David Moses, a multi-instrumentalist and improviser based in East Los Angeles. The July 18 program also features sound artist Sheila Govindarajan, a licensed clinical Ayurvedic practitioner with more than 15 years of experience, and Kiernan, a classically trained cellist raised in Los Angeles who performs under one name.
The event is free but space is limited. RSVP is required through the Armory Center for the Arts website. Participants should bring a blanket, cushion, or portable chair for lawn seating. Comfortable clothing is recommended.
Arlington Garden, at 275 Arlington Drive, is Pasadena's only dedicated public garden, according to co-presenter Living Earth. The three-acre site sits on Caltrans-owned land leased to the city and is a 15-minute walk from the Metro Fillmore Station. Organizers encourage carpooling, public transit, or biking, as street parking is limited.
Connection to the Armory
Field of Listening doubles as a participatory response to Trock's installation in "Material Prophecies: Craft as Divination," an exhibition on view through Saturday, August 1, at the Armory Center for the Arts Caldwell Gallery, 145 N. Raymond Ave. The show, curated by Director of Exhibitions Taylor Bythewood-Porter, features eight artists working with earth, fiber, metal, and film.
The exhibition is rooted in the San Gabriel Valley landscape, according to the Armory's curatorial statement, reflecting on cycles of wildfire, floods, and regrowth. Galleries are open Thursdays through Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is always free.
The July 18 event is presented in partnership with Arlington Garden, Living Earth, and the Armory Center for the Arts. Lead support for Armory programs comes from the Perenchio Foundation, with additional funding from the California Community Foundation.
Upcoming Pasadena community events
- Saturday, July 18: Field of Listening with Lani Trock, Arlington Garden, 6–7:30 p.m. Free; RSVP required.
- Through Saturday, August 1: "Material Prophecies: Craft as Divination," Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave. Thursdays–Saturdays, 1–5 p.m. Free.
