Reflection & Refraction

Echo Park is a neighborhood in East Los Angeles, California, centered around the historic Echo Park Lake, an oasis within the city's urban landscape. Originally transformed from a reservoir into a public park in 1891, the area earned its name after a landscaper claimed he could hear his voice echoing off the surrounding hills. That interplay of reflection and refraction remains a defining characteristic of the lake today. During Los Angeles’s infrequent periods of heavy rain, the lake overflows beyond its usual boundaries, temporarily expanding the oasis. The excess water, illuminated by sunlight, creates new perspectives on the lake’s flora and fauna, revealing unexpected dimensions of its natural beauty. This experience of rediscovering beauty within familiar surroundings inspires HELD to continually seek new ways to appreciate the world around us.