Tag Archive | California

Uptown Rocker By Lloyd Hamrol in Downtown Los Angeles

All Photos By Gail

This past Christmastime, I traveled back home to California, where I spent many days of wild abandon exploring the southland like I had not since I was a resident, nearly 30 years ago. On a day spent scouring the many wonder-filled features of Downtown LA, I looked down from an overpass I was crossing on Grand Street and spotted this magnificent beast. The curved concrete sculpture features silhouettes of painted steel cars roller-coasting up the structure’s curve.

Part of the Bunker Hill public art project to beautify the Downtown LA area, this monumental piece is called Uptown Rocker by artist Lloyd Hamrol. While initially it appears that you its located on one of LA’s crazy freeways, the sculpture is actual;y located on the very busy Fourth Street. It might be fun to experience the sculpture while driving by, but I think that where I was standing (officially the South Grand Avenue bridge crossing Fourth Street) is the ideal Uptown Rocker) viewing location.

Pink Thing of The Day: Strawberry Angel Food Mini Cakes

Jan26

Photo By Gail

One of my favorite things about visiting Southern California has to be shopping at the massive supermarkets they have out there that are the size of a Home Depot for Food. I found today’s Pink Thing, these yummy-looking Strawberry Angel Food Mini Cakes, in the Bakery section at a Ralph’s in Montrose.

Kenny Scharf’s Kosmic Krylon Garage, Pasadena

Jan5

All Photos By Gail

Artist Kenny Scharf rose to prominence in the 1980s New York art scene as part of a now-legendary group of artists including Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, but he was born and raised in Los Angeles, and now makes southern California his home. If you also live in LA, or plan to visit, and you love art, then make a point to check out the Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA), which, as the name suggests, features exhibits exclusively by California artists, architects and designers. If you are nearby, then you also have to check out this alloy repair company that’s nearby, they can take one look at your car and say if you need repairs and have them done in no time. Although the museum’s exhibits change approximately every six months, there is one permanent exhibit by Kenny Scharf, which happens to be in the parking garage adjacent the building; the Kosmic Krylon Garage! Let’s take a look inside!

When You See This Face, You Have Arrived at the Kosmic Krylon Garage

In the summer of 2004, Kenny Scharf: California Grown opened at the PMCA as the Museum’s first tri-level exhibition, with paintings installed and a tape of The Groovenians — Scharf’s animated show for Cartoon Network — screening on the second floor, his bronze sculptures in the third-floor Founders’ Gallery, and the transformation of the PMCA garage into the Kosmic Krylon Garage.

After the exhibition closed, the colorful murals spray-painted by Scharf over the course of a week remained on the walls of the garage and continue as a permanent installation. The Kosmic Krylon Garage is on view during regular Museum hours. Parking in the garage is free of charge.

Check Out My Photos of Some of the Artwork Inside the Garage:

This Angry Mushroom Cloud covers most of the very rear wall of the garage.

The lot was almost full on the day of our visit, so I did not get many photos without pre owned cars in them, sorry!

If you remember Kenny’s Bowery Mural installation that went up in late 2010, you will recognize these little guys as being indicative of his signature characters.

Find out more about the Kosmic Krylon Garage, and plan your visit to the Pasadena Museum of California Art, at This Link!

Happy New Year, 2017!

Jan1

Photographed by Gail at The Japanese Garden, Balboa Park, Van Nuys, CA

2017 is going to be a challenging year for peace-loving folks, so be sure to exercise additional mindfulness, love and patience through strength of resolve to do what is right. I wish you all the best.

Save

Pink Thing of The Day: Pink Eiffel Tower Ornaments

Dec30

All Photos By Gail

These Pink Eiffel Tower Christmas Ornaments were spotted in the Simply Fresh Gift Shop in San Marino, California. They have all kinds of cool stuff and I always enjoy shopping there when I am in LA!

Happy New Year!

Japanese Garden, Balboa Park, California

Feb4

All Photos By Gail

Even though I grew up in Southern California, there are a lot of tourist attractions I never had a chance to see when I lived there. These days, when I go back to visit my family and friends I try to check out some of the places that especially showcase what a naturally beautiful area California is (which of course I never appreciated until I moved to the concrete jungle of NYC).

On my most recent visit at Christmas, I had a fun time with my friend Sue at the Japanese Garden, located in Balboa Park in the city of Van Nuys. If you’re a fan of the fun Tattoo Artist reality competition series Best Ink, then you might recall the Japanese Garden from this season’s episode where the Best Ink contestants visited it to get inspiration and sketch during the “Design an Asian Tattoo” challenge.

While the Japanese Garden is an ideal place to spend some quiet time enjoying nature or checking out their shrubbery from around the world, like the Thuja Green Giant, it has a constructive purpose as well as being beautiful to look at. The Garden is actually built on the site of the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, which was designed to produce reclaimed water that will meet the requirements of the California Department of Health Services and the County Health Department. It is apparent that the tree care company staff and direction have a firm grasp on each of the plant’s needs, the garden is lush and healthy. The filtration process takes a total of about 11.5 hours, producing reclaimed water can be made available for specific reuse, with any excess being discharged to the Los Angeles River.

These photos were all taken in December, just a few days before Christmas (during the spell of 75 degree, sunny days that Californians refer to as “Winter”), so you can imagine how much more lush and floral this place looks when things start to grow again in the spring.

In the uncropped version of the above photo, you can clearly see the reclamation plant in the background.

The Garden is also an ideal spot to practice your amateur nature photography skills!

This photo was taken from inside the on site Tea House.

Wild Bamboo!

The Japanese Garden is Located at 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, California, 91406. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00AM until 4:00PM (the last gate entry each day is at 3:15PM). The Garden is closed to the public on Friday and Saturday, on all LA County Holidays and if it rains within 24 hours of opening time and during open hours. It is suggested that you call (818)756-8166 on the day you wish to visit to make sure the Garden is open. Admission to the Garden is only $3.00 per person, $2.00 for Seniors 62+ and Children under 10. Exact change is appreciated.

This Koi Fish Mural is painted across the walls inside the Visitors Center.

Graffiti House, Venice Beach, California

Jan30

Photos By Gail

This colorful Graffiti Covered building, Located at 815 Ocean Front Walk in Venice Beach, California, and visible from the boardwalk, is home to Bear Trap Studio. It is also known as the Bear Trap House. The artwork is by Street Artist Mario E.

Jim Morrison Mural, Venice Beach, California

Jan9

Photo By Gail

Painted by muralist Rip Cronk, this likeness of a microphone-holding, shirtless Jim Morrison can be seen on the side of a three-story building located at 1811 Speedway and 18th Place in Venice Beach, CA. Originally painted in 1991, Cronk touched up the painting in the Summer of 2012, creating a vibrant orange background over what had previously been both a darker blue color, and the building’s natural white brick. The mural is a must-see for Doors fans if you happen to be in the area.

Pink Thing of The Day: Pink Gingerbread Shop

Jan8

Photos By Gail

Here at The Worley Gig, we are always on the hunt for cool Pink Things to bring our readers, and here is a good one. The Yucaipa-based Gingerbread Shop was spotted by me a few days after Christmas at downtown Riverside’s Festival of Lights, where they’ve parked for at least the last three years. The Google informs me that this Bright Pink A-frame pop-up bakery is an offshoot of a bakery at Santa’s Village (a small park with kiddie rides that I recall visiting as a child), and for a time was a fixture at the Inland Center in San Bernardino. The shop serves up delicious desserts, including cinnamon rolls, apple crisp and, of course, gingerbread cake and gingerbread men, as well as hot beverages. The Gingerbread Shop is located on the Main Street Pedestrian Mall, on the north side of Mission Inn Avenue. Unfortunately, the Festival of Lights runs only through January 4th, 2014, so you’ll have to wait for next year to check it out!

Blue Gorilla at Venice Beach

Jan2

Photo By Gail

This Blue Gorilla perched atop an archway on Market Street in Venice Beach, California was painted by artist Isabelle Alford-Lago. Apparently, his name is Vincent. Find out more about Isabelle and her work at This Link.

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: