Core Memories is inspired by how landscapes hold memory, both in the physical form and in the experiences of people who live nearby. The project is grounded in the distinct topography and layered history of Puente Hills, shaped by natural processes and decades of compacted trash.

Today, this site serves multiple roles: a place for education, recreation, nature appreciation, and a resting place where humans become part of the earth in death. Yet for neighboring communities, mostly communities of color, the legacy of the Puente Hills Landfill is one of environmental degradation.

 Residents recall the smells, noise, and constant flow of dump trucks. Supervisor Hilda Solis, who grew up in the western Puente Valley, noted that, “No one really knew that’s where LA County sent all their trash for decades.” But as the landfill expanded, areas like Avocado Heights, Bassett and La Puente faced the daily impacts of air pollution, traffic, and a lower quality of life. “We grew up thinking that was normal,” Solis reflected.

 Our project expresses these overlapping histories and aspirations through rammed earth sculptures resembling geological core samples. Constructed from soils excavated directly from Puente Hills, these monoliths embody the physical strata of the site and the accumulated memories associated with it. Core Memories follows the stipulation found in the artist contract that the proposal must contain “site-specific content.” Visitors are invited to walk between these slices of exposed earth, engaging with tactile, layered memories.  

 Aligned with the goals of the Puente Hills Regional Park Project and the Environmental Justice Center (EJC), Core Memories uses recycled concrete to minimize waste and incorporates native plants to reduce landscape maintenance. Additionally, the same collected soils will be employed in public engagement activities, creating a connection between the community and the site.

Marking a shift from landfill to environmental justice, Core Memories offers a way to remember the complex history of Puente Hills, acknowledge the experiences of those affected by living near the landfill, and celebrate the site’s ecological renewal.