“Los Angeles is many places in one place.”
-P. J. O’Rourke-
The first time I went to Los Angeles I ended up in a blacklight-lit alien themed bar buying dirt weed off a menu that served broccoli-mozzarella-wings. I was visiting a friend whose mom was a TV psychic. The highlight of my trip was being denied access to a jazz club Jeff Goldblum was playing because I had on sandals. I saw Pauly Shore outside the club, said hello, and got given the finger.
Waddadoosh!
Growing up in Chicago in Minnesota and Oakland you’re taught to not enjoy the two words Los & Angeles. LA is where they are from. The big bad they. Hollywood. Plastic surgery. The empty allure of endless entertainment. The hidden demonic arts that perform across the hills. Liberalism. Lakers. Sushi.
My most recent job requires me to fly to LA once a month. I work in a studio between Little Tokyo and Skid Row. I have been to the Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Santa Monica. Pasadena Culver City, Eagle Rock, and Highland Park.
Los Angeles is not a city. New York is a city. Chicago is a city. Oakland is a town. Cincinnati is a place you should never go to. All of Kansas should be sold to Australia. Tokyo is a city though. It has parts. Paris is a city. Mexico City is certainly a city.
But Los Angeles is not a city. It is far too big and sprawling to be considered a city. It might be a country. Or a world. It is filled with so many stars so it might be the cosmos. It has parts but is unparted.
There is glory in its never ending never end. LA is where I go to see my dreams. To become my dreams. To start anew and forget myself inside of a dream. I dream that sometime. Then I wake up.
These photos were taken all over LA. I barely think to take photos when I am there. Surrounded by movie magic I keep my camera mostly in my pocket. These remembrances were surprised.
The angels and their heavens know what it is like to live amongst the stars. I know what it is like to serve them cold soda and clean their tables. I’m unemployed in sometime heaven working as hard as I can.
Oakland is my home.
Los Angeles are my job.
BODILESS GUARDIAN
HALOED MESSENGER
WINGED SERVANT
Some seriously good photos here. I love the Virgin of Guadalupe one. That would make a wonderful print.
"All of Kansas should be sold to Australia" -- HAHA!