Arroyo Seco Secrets
by Pasadena Adjacent
More Sir, Please
I’m not going to tell you where the Tongva burried their dead (although it’s been pointed out to me by the old timers) No, this time it’s art and it’s not easilly recognizable as such. The above mesh is made from native species plants found in the Arroyo Seco: California Sycamore, Arroyo Willow, Alder and Cottonwood. It’s the work of sculptor Daniel McCormick and part of the Arroyo Seco restoration project. He studied under earth artist James Turrel: I’m impressed by this. His site specific art is under the 134 Freeway near the stenciled “thirsty boy”. About the old-timers, you can find the name of one on a small bronze plaque in the nearby vicinity. Happy hunting.
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For those who speak French
http://tinyurl.com/preview.php?num=925bpk
And if you don’t…
http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/turrell/index.html
Back to yesterday for a sec, that slanderous statement about the toothless denizens of you-know-where reminded me of a truism a good friend observed about such shoppers. She calls it the tooth to tattoo ratio….the more tattoos, the less teeth. Not the arty tattoos, but the kind reading “love” on one set of knuckles and “hate” on the other. Our local “mart” is, of course, open 24/7 (please excuse the cliche) and although I refuse to enter their consumer realm, it is told to me that after midnight the clientèle become an amusing collection of oddballs and drunken misfits. Perfect caption on top photo and please tell us that’s rust stains flushing from that outlet. Very interesting restoration project.
Great piece of stencil art. It actually exists within a context. Most of that stuff seems so random and stupid.
I may be missing something, I often am, but I thought the top photo was just brilliant.
I couldn’t have been more wrong about that puppy if I had tried. Cute, though I wouldn’t get on his bad side.
Love the Thirsty Boy! Funny, I usually photograph and write of happy places–most of the time. I had another site for a while (offrampincome) that was an outlet for my “id”. I like how your site touches on the more realistic and quirky aspects and treasures of our fine city. I always appreciate your comments too. Good work, `adjacent.
…”more realistic and quirky aspects and treasures”… that’s good – I think that too. ditto on the kneeling David Copperfield. (Did they have you watch that movie in Junior High as we did?)
Very cool sculptures or erosion protection structure. I do admire that he uses local plants & animals.
Oliver, Tash, Oliver Twist.
Lovely. When did you happen upon it, and what did you think when you found it?
The photograph of Danial McCormick’s bundles represent the work in the process of breaking down and returning into the environment as litter/mulch. It’s meant to. I’ve been walking by these bundle of twigs for awhile now and from the start I was curious about them. It struck me how beautiful they were and how they referenced the work of native basketry. Later on I was watching a program on artist’ and as soon as they interviewed Danial McCormick, I made the connection. Now you know.
D: Your local Wall-O-Mart was my first McMart experience. As soon as the Wall-O-Mart went 24 (in the vicinity of Aunt Wilma’s mobile estate) I made that 2:00 pm trip as I also did for Home-o-Depot. It felt more like I had entered the land of the walking dead.
Yes., it is a rust stain
John E: I couldn’t agree more.Another thing, it’s the only one I’ve come across. It’s maker didn’t plaster the city with “thirsty boy”.
AH: Thirsty boy is brilliant and no thanks to my point and shoot technique. Right, about the little skipper (dutch translation) after reading the stats I too might not want to turn my back on him. Geez, all that stuff about establishing Alpha pack position. As a cat person, it goes against my nature.
JT: Thanks..Happy photos, it’s what you have to photograph to get paid. Trust me, I know these things. You should buy the domain for offrampincome… funny. As for me, I live in the land of “id” it’s best that way.
Tash: Mr V thinks Thirsty Boy is wearing a toga. I toyed with the title of Toga Boy but then decided against it. Mr V frequently gives me bad advise. I watched the version produced in England. I believe the artful dodger Jack Wild died. He was a frequent subject in Tiger Beat.
Margaret: That’s a great question which is why I addressed part of the story at the top of the page. About the bundles, the fine art world often embraces hybrid forms. In fact the Arroyo revitalization plan was a commission granted to a husband and wife team Newton and Helen Mayer Harrison who do this kind of work and whose visual material/documentation, like the artist Christo, are presented in gallery exhibitions.
http://www.greenmuseum.org/content/artist_index/artist_id-81.html
great pic of thirsty rust boy – loving your work!