La Cienega and Oakwood, Stickers, taken June 20, 2013
Though these two were done by different people, they have a common theme. The top one has the name ripped off of the bottom, so I can’t tell who did it; the bottom one is by Postgen.com with the slogan Be the Revolution. The website no longer exists, so I couldn’t find out any information about the group. Both images speak for themselves. Sad.
Bankrupt Slut, Sticker, Sunset and Hyperion, taken September 10, 2013
Well, does it?
I remember hearing about Pussy Riot when a few of the women were arrested in February 2012. They were performing in a church, people were offended and they were arrested. That is the condensed version that most people are probably aware of.
However, after watching the documentary Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer, I learned the group is so much more. The women use music and the locations of their performances to further a social agenda that is important to young people in Russia. The government there is becoming more repressive, and Pussy Riot wants people to take a stand. The women who were arrested, took their punishment in stride. They even said they hope people in other cities form their own Pussy Riot groups and start performing. In fact, the members of Pussy Riot rotate as they are available to practice and perform. It is more than just a band, it is a movement.
Death is Enlightenment, Sticker, Silver Lake and Reservoir, taken March 20, 2013
Death is Enlightenment, Stencil, Silver Lake and Reservoir, taken May 22, 2013
Death is Enlightenment, Wheatpaste, Sunset and Descanso, taken June 26, 2013
I first noticed Death is Enlightenment in March. It was simply written on a sticker, like a file folder label, and stuck above the button for the crosswalk. I thought it was a one off, just a thought someone had and had to put it out there. Soon after, I went out of town for an extended period. But the day that I returned, I just had to walk around the neighborhood to see what was new and the first thing I saw was the Death is Enlightenment stencil at the same intersection as the hand written sticker. Then, a month later, I spotted the wheatpaste by El Seven Mares. It didn’t last long though.
Is death really enlightenment? Meditate on that one…
Jennifer Korsen, Sticker, Sunset and Manzanita, taken March 26, 2013
Jennifer Korsen, Sticker, Sunset and Descanso, taken July 17, 2013
Jennifer Korsen, Sticker, Sunset and Golden Gate, taken April 8, 2013
Jennifer Korsen, Sticker, Sunset and Descanso, taken July 17, 2013
Jennifer Korsen, Wood and Paint, Sunset Junction, taken February 15, 2013
Jennifer Korsen, Sticker, Sunset Junction, taken June 7, 2013
Jennifer Korsen, Paint, Fountain and Commonwealth, taken July 17, 2013
Jennifer Korsen, Sticker, Silver Lake Reservoir, taken June 13, 2013
Jennifer Korsen, Sticker, Silver Lake Reservoir, taken June 13, 2013
Jennifer Korsen, Sticker, Sunset Junction, taken May 3o, 2013
Script: “Use it or lose it”
The first work of Jennifer’s that I noticed was the wooden heart right outside of Intelligentsia, appropriately right around Valentine’s Day. And, I found it funny that someone (Jennifer?) took a picture of said heart on the bus stop pole and made a sticker of it, and then put it on the same pole. How meta.
The subsequent work I saw were the hearts with Los Angeles maps in them. I didn’t put the two together and realize it was the same person for a while. I really like the LA heart maps because, to me, it said that LA is in your heart. Even though I haven’t lived here all that long, I feel at home in LA and that it was always in my heart, even when I didn’t know it, and it will always be in my heart.
After that, I began seeing more variations, like the “use it or lose it” heart and the large wall on Fountain. She has a different take on the heart- anatomical instead of the traditional version- which is always nice to see.
Food Stickers, Sunset Junction, taken February 13, 2013
I thought these food stickers were great because they are simply pictures of food. It’s so simple, yet mouthwatering and funny. There was a plate of enchiladas a few blocks away, but it’s gone now and I never got a picture. Anything can be art.
Be Kind To Yourself, Sticker, Intelligentsia Bathroom/Sunset Junction, taken March 26, 2013
Street art goes to the bathroom. I saw this at Intelligentsia in Silver Lake in March 2013. Growing up, I always liked reading bathroom stall rumors in school and later in bars. I’ve seen gems like, “Abby rides a mean dick” and “Mike is a 3 minute man.” This sweet reminder to “Be kind to yourself” takes bathroom graffiti to another level. However, someone did feel the need to add on to the original message and in turn someone else felt the need to comment on the addition of “and the universe.” Mini bathroom graffiti war. This was also the first postal label as sticker that I saw, and have continued to notice to be popular right now.
