oneshotexhibition.org blog

People consider graffiti as a nuisance, a sort of degregaton towards society, bundle itself with crime, a bad influence on the youth, and a form of destruction and vandalism. Graffiti is not well-respected from the mainstream public.

But graffiti is another type of art form that people should learn from it. Like all great art, graffiti has a story to be told by the culture, language and interpretation that strives to be able to push the boundaries of dialogue even further, creating a new form of artistic communication, so personal that only certain people will understand and that the message of their work but should be an understudy of this phenomenom.

You might say graffiti can be taken as part of the Cubism art movement in the early 20th Century that inspire the likes of Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris and Architect Le Corbusier, the way they reinterpret objects, style and language, but seemingly graffiti is more considered of a guerrilla movement that terrorize communities because of its gang affiliation.

One recent account of gang graffiti violence happen in Pico Rivera where a grandmother confronted a tagger who was about to deface a cinder-block wall and was shot by an accomplice who was nearby. The article “A Life Lost to Graffiti” on the L.A. Times is showing proof that gang graffiti is out of control in all parts of L.A. and it’s getting a bad rap far from being an integral part of society in regards of creativity.

There are good and bad connotations about graffiti but it seems to lie on the wrong side of the equation. Not enough authority to curtail the violence and destruction associated to graffiti, no programs for the youth to express the creativity they possess in graffiti and no direction in the state of graffiti which is a good indication that this art form is thriving.

Song of the Blog: True Affection by The Blow in the CD Paper Television

A person junk is a another person’s treasure. We could find inspiration in junk or disregarded impedimenta to inspire creativity and art. Artist (i.e. Ed Keinholz, Robert Rauschenburg), Architects (Frank Gehry in his early days) has found junk as a way to express some meaning of objectivity as to possess beauty.

A U-pick it, U-pull it junkyard in Sunland, a place of industrial grit and grime, is where you find a specific auto part you need and dismantle the car to get to it. The most interesting thing you will find is a treasure trove of the most interesting stuff you will ever find: military vehicles, corrugated metal welded to a heavy steel American car with armaments that looks like it came from a Road Warriors movie set.

Another image from this desert storm is a shipping container elevated by 4 steel columns and girders, standing up at least 30 feet high, with a ladder attaching to it. Imagine how housing could occur in this comportment.

Another feature of this raggamuffin playground is this 50 ft. high steel structure that looks like it came from a car wash or a restaurant that serves a meal to your car from a girl in roller skates. It is a monument to behold.

Song of the Blog: Pin that Badge by Little Barrie from the CD Pin that Badge EP

Whittier, California, 12 miles Northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, is considered a sleepy town that a majority of L.A. residents don’t where Whittier is and why it is significant.

One of the reason why is residents who lives in the westside of L.A. (Santa Monica, Venice and Culver City) don’t know where is Whittier, let alone how to get there without a GPS.

It is one of the oldest town in the county of Los Angeles, where it was the home of Pio Pico, the last Mexican Governor of California. It’s still there once you get off the 605 Freeway, exiting at Whittier Boulevard, population about 83,700 people with a projected population of more than 90,000 by 2010 and over 100,000 by 2050.

One of the interesting sights about Whittier is the small town feel in the historic Whittier Village which reminds some the town of Mayberry in the TV show Andy Griffith because its idyllic scenery and the tree-line streets. The main cross street of the old town is Phillidelphia Street and Greenleaf Avenue, where the old Whittier Village Clock is attached to the corner of Bank of America Building.

Whittier Village Clock (photo by Michael Scheer of Scheer Images)

Bank of America building @ the corner of Greenleaf Ave. & Phillidelphia Street (photo by Michael Scheer of Scheer Images)

Whittier hasn’t change much but there will be a point where more housing will start to coagulate these kinds of streets to build better communities.

Hillside view of South Whittier (photos by Michael Scheer of Scheer images)

Song of the Blog: Hammerhead by Chik, Chik, Chik on the CD !!!

An article in the last Sunday LA Times regarding documentation of Los Angeles significant and less significant (but holds a certain degree permanence to a neighborhood and place) buildings. The purpose is to insure that the context of the community doesn’t disappear by unscrupulous developers who destroys the history of a building and the neighborhood. The project is called “SurveyL.A.: Los Angeles Historical Resources Survey Project” , developed by the L.A. Department of City Planning’s Office of Historic Resources with the accordance with the Getty Foundation.

This is a momentous turn for communities in Los Angeles to preserve the historical fabric on what Los Angeles is build upon, to give buildings certain designation of worthiness to the neighborhood.

It is a belief which buildings of social and cultural significant will garner attention, pride and value of each structure. It is have control against the lax procedures of land-use entitlements and gives new developments and construction more restrictions.

You might say it hinders progress but it also insure the quality of life. It’s more important than money itself.
6442 Coldwater Cyn. Blvd. , North Hollywood (example of a non-historical but significant modern building that needs to be preserved)

Song of the Blog: Out California Way performed by a Tasmanian country band ‘Coyote Serenade’ in the CD Yippy Yo Ki Yay.