REBIRTH AND RENEWAL- Ellen Friedlander & Nancy A. Scherl > First Place: Karen Numme Destroy, Rebuild LA #23
First Place: Karen Numme Destroy, Rebuild LA #23
Karen Numme/Destroy Rebuild LA #23
FIRST PLACE
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FIRST PLACE
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Karen Numme:
JUROR COMMENTS:
"Karen Numme's photographic collage, Destroy, Rebuild LA #23 of firefighters, electrical wires, poles, mailboxes without houses, fleeing individuals and large menacing grainy splashes of yellow and red took me back to January 2025, and the devastation that swept Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. At first, I must be honest, I could not bring myself to engage with these photographs.
They struck such a painful memory in response to so many friends who are still struggling to find their new normal without their physical past. However, as Nancy and I discussed the submitted photographs, I could see that my personal bias needed to be addressed, that Numme's photograph reminds us that rebuilding a life is an ongoing process. It takes a community to support those that have endured great losses and art helps to share this message. Numme's photographic collage puts us back into the moment of destruction and the human experience of loss. In choosing this strongly constructed photograph as the winning image of "Rebirth and Renewal" we wish to bring attention to the ongoing rebuilding and renewal that all those individuals impacted by the Los Angeles fires this past January are working through today and for the rest of their lives."
-Jurors Ellen Friedlander & Nancy A. Scherl
THE JURORS ASK KAREN NUMME:
"Destroy, Rebuild LA #23 draws one in, in spite of the trauma induced memory associated with imagery, However, this is a very sensitive subject to photograph, due to the severe loss which so many Angelenos endured and are rebuilding from in the aftermath of the fires.
Can you share with us a little bit about how personal the LA fires were for you?"
Karen Numme: "My close friend lost everything in the Altadena fires—her home, her car, her belongings, and the records of a business she had built with care—it was more than physical loss. It was the unraveling of a life she had known. It was so devasting that she closed her business. Ilistened to her over many phone calls. She wept, terrified and uncertain, asking questions no one could easily answer: Where will I go? What now?
In the chaos, she found the strength to keep going, renting a temporary house while trying to chart a path forward. Her courage in the midst of devastation reminded me It was important to me to document the catastrophic fires in my work, which is still ongoing."
Jurors: "Did you montage images from your archives or were they actual images taken during the LA Fires?"
Karen Numme: "The images I montaged are my photos of architecture and urban elements I previously shot as well as images taken specifically for this series. In addition, I incorporated images of the live raging fires from the televised news. "
Jurors: "The complexity of your image addresses and mimics rebuilding, rebirth and renewal. It is so layered and holds so much power. Would you speak more about the significance of specific elements within the photograph: the mailboxes, the telephone lines, the fleeting men on the right side and the silhouette of the fireman on the left side."
Karen Numme: "In the photograph I used these specific elements to tell the broader story of the destruction caused by the fires and unspoken yearning to rebuild. Mailboxes and telephone lines—ordinary yet essential tools of neighborhood communication—are often among the first things lost by the wild fires wrath, along with lush vegetation, cherished homes, and the urban fabric that all surrender to ash. Fires do not discriminate. Amid the scorched ruins I chose to enlarge one of the firefighters to emphasize the vital role they play as not only guardians of trees and timbers but of memory and the pulse of the community trying to hold on."
Jurors: "Having an architecture background, can you talk a little bit about your ideas for rebuilding to not only preserve the essence, the look of what has been destroyed, but also how you envision rebuilding to now make everything more fire resistant and safer for all?"
Karen Numme: "I am not a practicing architect and I don’t feel qualified to answer this question which demands much more research."
MORE ABOUT KAREN NUMME:
“I seek to evoke a sense of urgency, resilience, and the shared responsibility Los Angeles, a city of constant transformation, now stands at a crossroads—its built environment scarred by devastation, yet held together by the unwavering dedication of those who fight to protect and restore it. Destroy-Rebuild LA is a series of composited photographs that capture this pivotal moment, honoring both the city’s architectural legacy and the resilience of its people.
As an artist with a Master’s degree in Architecture, my work is deeply rooted in an understanding of space, structure, and the emotional imprint of the built environment. My concern for preservation and respect for urban landscapes has intensified in light of the recent destruction LA has endured. This series reflects both the physical and symbolic rebuilding of a city that holds an undeniable cultural and historical significance.
Each image in this series juxtaposes destruction with reconstruction, placing figures—first responders, workers, and protectors—within fractured yet hopeful landscapes. These individuals embody the relentless effort required to safeguard the city’s essence, navigating the delicate balance between loss and renewal. By layering multiple elements in my compositions, we have in shaping the future of Los Angeles.
Destroy-Rebuild LA series is not just a documentation of crisis but an artistic tribute to those who refuse to let the city fade. Through these images, I invite viewers to reflect on their own connection to the urban environment and to consider the role we all play in its survival and transformation.”
Karen Numme was raised in New York and relocated to Los Angeles after residing in New York, Boston, and Washington, DC. She has consistently pursued visual arts, earning a Landscape Architecture degree from Harvard University and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of New Mexico. Her background in both fields significantly shapes her perception of her surroundings. Her early artworks consisted of monochromatic collages made from metal, plexiglass, and spray paint drawings that examined light and particles in space.
Her preferred medium has naturally evolved towards photography. Utilizing an iPhone and post-processing techniques, she explores light and space by creating environments through reflections and composites. Karen's early artworks and photography have been exhibited in galleries, museums, and publications in the United States and Europe.
Exhibitions and publications include:
Tati Space Gallery – Albania, Blank Wall Gallery – Athens, Greece, APA Magazine – Photography Winner Award (Series),
The Hand Magazine – Issue #37 Full Page and Shadow and Light Magazine – B&W Issue Mini Portfolio Winner.
Image For Sale
Contact:
Karen Numme
knumme13@yahoo.com
www.karennummephotography.com
www.instagram.com/karennummephotography
---------------------------------------------
There are still many different ways that you can help those affected by the fires, here are just a few of them specific to artists/photographers:
www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-la-photographers-impacted-by-fires
www.armoryarts.org/support/fire-relief
Donate photography gear here:
www.AltadenaPhotographers.org
----------------------------------------------
REBIRTH AND RENEWAL HOME:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl
FIRST PLACE:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl/first-place-karen-numme-destroy-rebuild-la-23
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl/honorable-mentions-mara-zaslove-seeking-nature-lela-edgar-secret-ash-jamie-riva-47-and-rising-kathryn-dunievie-the-jump-vicky-stromee-capturing-the-light-4---/1
BEST SERIES:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl/best-series-leanne-trivett-s-self-portraits/1
EXHIBITION #1:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl/exhibition-1/1
EXHIBITION #2:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl/exhibition-2/1
JUROR COMMENTS:
"Karen Numme's photographic collage, Destroy, Rebuild LA #23 of firefighters, electrical wires, poles, mailboxes without houses, fleeing individuals and large menacing grainy splashes of yellow and red took me back to January 2025, and the devastation that swept Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. At first, I must be honest, I could not bring myself to engage with these photographs.
They struck such a painful memory in response to so many friends who are still struggling to find their new normal without their physical past. However, as Nancy and I discussed the submitted photographs, I could see that my personal bias needed to be addressed, that Numme's photograph reminds us that rebuilding a life is an ongoing process. It takes a community to support those that have endured great losses and art helps to share this message. Numme's photographic collage puts us back into the moment of destruction and the human experience of loss. In choosing this strongly constructed photograph as the winning image of "Rebirth and Renewal" we wish to bring attention to the ongoing rebuilding and renewal that all those individuals impacted by the Los Angeles fires this past January are working through today and for the rest of their lives."
-Jurors Ellen Friedlander & Nancy A. Scherl
THE JURORS ASK KAREN NUMME:
"Destroy, Rebuild LA #23 draws one in, in spite of the trauma induced memory associated with imagery, However, this is a very sensitive subject to photograph, due to the severe loss which so many Angelenos endured and are rebuilding from in the aftermath of the fires.
Can you share with us a little bit about how personal the LA fires were for you?"
Karen Numme: "My close friend lost everything in the Altadena fires—her home, her car, her belongings, and the records of a business she had built with care—it was more than physical loss. It was the unraveling of a life she had known. It was so devasting that she closed her business. Ilistened to her over many phone calls. She wept, terrified and uncertain, asking questions no one could easily answer: Where will I go? What now?
In the chaos, she found the strength to keep going, renting a temporary house while trying to chart a path forward. Her courage in the midst of devastation reminded me It was important to me to document the catastrophic fires in my work, which is still ongoing."
Jurors: "Did you montage images from your archives or were they actual images taken during the LA Fires?"
Karen Numme: "The images I montaged are my photos of architecture and urban elements I previously shot as well as images taken specifically for this series. In addition, I incorporated images of the live raging fires from the televised news. "
Jurors: "The complexity of your image addresses and mimics rebuilding, rebirth and renewal. It is so layered and holds so much power. Would you speak more about the significance of specific elements within the photograph: the mailboxes, the telephone lines, the fleeting men on the right side and the silhouette of the fireman on the left side."
Karen Numme: "In the photograph I used these specific elements to tell the broader story of the destruction caused by the fires and unspoken yearning to rebuild. Mailboxes and telephone lines—ordinary yet essential tools of neighborhood communication—are often among the first things lost by the wild fires wrath, along with lush vegetation, cherished homes, and the urban fabric that all surrender to ash. Fires do not discriminate. Amid the scorched ruins I chose to enlarge one of the firefighters to emphasize the vital role they play as not only guardians of trees and timbers but of memory and the pulse of the community trying to hold on."
Jurors: "Having an architecture background, can you talk a little bit about your ideas for rebuilding to not only preserve the essence, the look of what has been destroyed, but also how you envision rebuilding to now make everything more fire resistant and safer for all?"
Karen Numme: "I am not a practicing architect and I don’t feel qualified to answer this question which demands much more research."
MORE ABOUT KAREN NUMME:
“I seek to evoke a sense of urgency, resilience, and the shared responsibility Los Angeles, a city of constant transformation, now stands at a crossroads—its built environment scarred by devastation, yet held together by the unwavering dedication of those who fight to protect and restore it. Destroy-Rebuild LA is a series of composited photographs that capture this pivotal moment, honoring both the city’s architectural legacy and the resilience of its people.
As an artist with a Master’s degree in Architecture, my work is deeply rooted in an understanding of space, structure, and the emotional imprint of the built environment. My concern for preservation and respect for urban landscapes has intensified in light of the recent destruction LA has endured. This series reflects both the physical and symbolic rebuilding of a city that holds an undeniable cultural and historical significance.
Each image in this series juxtaposes destruction with reconstruction, placing figures—first responders, workers, and protectors—within fractured yet hopeful landscapes. These individuals embody the relentless effort required to safeguard the city’s essence, navigating the delicate balance between loss and renewal. By layering multiple elements in my compositions, we have in shaping the future of Los Angeles.
Destroy-Rebuild LA series is not just a documentation of crisis but an artistic tribute to those who refuse to let the city fade. Through these images, I invite viewers to reflect on their own connection to the urban environment and to consider the role we all play in its survival and transformation.”
Karen Numme was raised in New York and relocated to Los Angeles after residing in New York, Boston, and Washington, DC. She has consistently pursued visual arts, earning a Landscape Architecture degree from Harvard University and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of New Mexico. Her background in both fields significantly shapes her perception of her surroundings. Her early artworks consisted of monochromatic collages made from metal, plexiglass, and spray paint drawings that examined light and particles in space.
Her preferred medium has naturally evolved towards photography. Utilizing an iPhone and post-processing techniques, she explores light and space by creating environments through reflections and composites. Karen's early artworks and photography have been exhibited in galleries, museums, and publications in the United States and Europe.
Exhibitions and publications include:
Tati Space Gallery – Albania, Blank Wall Gallery – Athens, Greece, APA Magazine – Photography Winner Award (Series),
The Hand Magazine – Issue #37 Full Page and Shadow and Light Magazine – B&W Issue Mini Portfolio Winner.
Image For Sale
Karen Numme-Destroy Rebuild LA23
19"H x 13" W
19"H x 13" W
Archival Paper
$450 unframed
Limited Edition of 15
Signed on Back
Contact:
Karen Numme
knumme13@yahoo.com
www.karennummephotography.com
www.instagram.com/karennummephotography
---------------------------------------------
There are still many different ways that you can help those affected by the fires, here are just a few of them specific to artists/photographers:
www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-la-photographers-impacted-by-fires
www.armoryarts.org/support/fire-relief
Donate photography gear here:
www.AltadenaPhotographers.org
----------------------------------------------
REBIRTH AND RENEWAL HOME:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl
FIRST PLACE:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl/first-place-karen-numme-destroy-rebuild-la-23
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl/honorable-mentions-mara-zaslove-seeking-nature-lela-edgar-secret-ash-jamie-riva-47-and-rising-kathryn-dunievie-the-jump-vicky-stromee-capturing-the-light-4---/1
BEST SERIES:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl/best-series-leanne-trivett-s-self-portraits/1
EXHIBITION #1:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl/exhibition-1/1
EXHIBITION #2:
https://laphotocurator.com/rebirth-and-renewal-ellen-friedlander-nancy-a-scherl/exhibition-2/1
