From a productivity point of view, today was one of those days in which not much on my list got done, but I'm going to blame the weather for that. You see, it's Winter in Los Angeles, and it is about 80 degrees outside. It is not my fault.
My friend Dylan texted me yesterday saying he wanted to shoot some pieces of graffiti in my neighborhood. He has been working on a wet plate collodion project called "Public Access", and since he told me about it, I have been pseudo-scouting my surroundings for him.
We met around 8:30 and headed out all the way to the end of the block to shoot a piece called Supernatural Conductor by Ekundayo. I shot around the block, and documented his process on film as he prepared the plates, loaded up, shot the image and developed the plate in a make shift chemistry lab / dark room right on the sidewalk. Then, we drove around back streets and alleys looking for other potential pieces to shoot. We wrapped around noon and went our separate ways.
Having shot just one roll of film and carrying two other loaded cameras with me, I still had the urge to explore some more and look for opportunities to shoot for myself. Instead curiosity struck me and I had to check out a small retail community brewing up on Adams Blvd. West of Fairfax, Adams Gateway.
Adams Gateway is a brilliant, guerrilla type urban retail intervention in shipping containers which has the potential to revive, or jump start the soul of the West Adams community by bringing together new and potential residents as well as deep rooted families that have lived in the area for decades by offering cool shops with local crafts, a soon to arrive coffee truck, vintage goods, amazing and funky music at Dig It Vinyl and locally designed wicked clothing for those with a rockabilly attitude at Superiority Complex. I myself can't wait to get my WA T-Shirt from Tastemaking , they didn't have my size today :(. I think it is going to be the I ♥ NY of Mid City. Oh! And here's the best bit; ORGANIC vegetables at DO. Yes, I said "organic". And it is right next to J n J's Burger Shack / BBQ, a neighborhood staple serving BBQ ribs, Pork Belly sandwiches and burgers.
Don't get me wrong, I still cringe at the idea of gentrification, but what I think that I'm witnessing here is perhaps the best example or urban sensibility to the existing community and growth while addressing need; and it is happening from within, promoting residents, and local crafts before corporate sterility.
