A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to My Current Obsession

On August 22, 2012 I was walking north on Spring Street looking to see what I might see about the Eastern Clock Company and the Eastern Building (here is a link to the article I eventually wrote as my homage to this phenomenal architectural jewel at Ninth and Broadway in Los Angeles) and what was supposedly its first Los Angeles (LA) location at 556 S. Spring Street.

That is when I came upon the wall mural in the above photo.

As the writer of this blog, "Art 4 Art's Sake", it probably doesn't take too big of a leap to guess I love art and love to write about art.

Anyway, I was so sure this was a new piece since I hadn't noticed it on my August 9th trip to L.A. (which included walking this portion of South Spring Street), that searching for information about a new mural was one of the ways I began as I sought out information about this mural that I admired and appreciated.

The mural is about two years old now, give or take.  Not new!

However, since I had walked South Spring Street in a southernly direction, all that I noticed was the mural in the photo to the right (a JR creation).  

It is always interesting to me what may be "there" that isn't actually seen by me.

Upon a closer inspection of this mural/art piece, it was fairly clear that there are two distinct contributions and/or styles involved.  One portion of the mural seems to be very similar in style to the art in the above photo.  The other portion seems to have been almost carved out of some tree bark or something, while incorporating the bricks from the building the mural is affixed to as part of the art installation.

I was happy, then, when I photographed what appeared to be a signature or tag for this piece.  Please see the photo to the left.

Why?

I had assumed only one artist responsible for this art/mural only to find it was a collaboration.  This was a collaboration between someone who goes by "JR", born 22 February 1983, and another artist, "Vhils", born in 1987.

A little over two years ago (as I write this) from 9th of June, 2010 to 27th of June, 2010; a group show, Eurotrash at Lazarides Gallery, 320 North Beverly Drive,  LA, took place.  

According to a piece written May 30, 2010 in The Dirt Floor, "Portuguese artist, Vhils, (aka Alexandre Farto) from a photo by French artist, J.R." is responsible for this amazing art installation.

The artists did receive permission from the building owner to create/install this art at its current location, the south side of the building on the west side of South Spring Street.  To easily see it while walking South Spring Street, you need to be walking north on Spring Street.

While I am happy to know the artists received permission, I have a hard time imagining they could pull it off without receiving permission.

According to the April 28, 2011 Home Dsgn article, Street Artist Vhils Large-scale Portraits, "The artist creates striking multi-textural faces in decaying brick walls by meticulously chipping away at the wall’s weathered layers."  This explains the effect you see when you view this piece with your own eyes.

Doesn't appear that Vhils plans to create anything in the L.A. area anytime soon. 

Since 2010 when JR collaborated with Vhils for the piece I am featuring in this blog post, JR has completed a new art installation in L.A. 

To finish this blog post, I thank both JR and Vhils for the thought provoking piece you did together on the building wall of South Spring Street between 6th and 7th.  Thank you.