Travel Town: The Effects of Time (Part 1)

Earlier this year I took my kids and some visiting family members over to Travel Town in Griffith Park. Here's their website: http://www.traveltown.org/. Admission is free.


Travel Town began in the late 1940's when steam trains were being decommissioned and replaced by diesel engines. Charley Atkins, a Parks and Recreation employee, and some friends wanted to create a playground of sorts, a "petting zoo for trains," where children could climb on top and play on these old train engines.

Over the next few years, Los Angeles Parks and Recreation was able to obtain a couple dozen engines, as well as freight and passenger cars. According to their website, the engines pictured above were built in 1899 and 1904 - and donated in 1953 and 1952 respectively.

Travel Town also has a unique collection of Pacific Electric rolling stock and passenger cars. The Pacific Electric was a huge electric rail system that at it's height included over 1,000 miles of track stretching from the Inland Empire to the Pacific Ocean.

Here's a great example of a Pacific Electric "Red Car". These cars carried millions of passengers throughout metro Los Angeles from the early 1900's up until the early 1960's. Los Angeles, which now has the nation's worst traffic congestion, can only dream of a system like that today.


At closer inspection, it's obvious that the effects of time and elements have taken their toll on the old PE "Red Car" - as well as everything else at Travel Town.

By the 1980's Travel Town had evolved from a playground into a museum. A large covered shed was eventually built at the southern end of the park, protecting a few of the engines and rolling stock from the effects of time and damage from the elements.

Perhaps more importantly, it allowed a space for volunteers to begin the restoration work on the individual cars and engines.

I have fond memories of visiting Travel Town in the 1970's. As kids, we were able to not only climb into the cab of these engines, but literally climb on top of and explore them. They were like giant jungle gyms.

Dangerous? Sure, a little. But that's what made it fun. There were a few railings and handholds, but for the most part we kids just had to use common sense.

Today, there are large "KEEP OFF" signs preventing anyone from climbing on top of anything. Why?

First, the threat of lawsuits. Los Angeles, like every other city and corporation in America, is afraid of being sued by someone getting hurt.

Second, the effects of time: a few of the engines have deteriorated so much that it would be dangerous not just to climb on top of them, but literally walk around in the cabs.

Third, what were considered unique climbing toys in the 1940's today are now considered museum pieces. Most of these engines are now over 100 years old, and Travel Town is working to restore them for future generations. If not to climb on top of like a jungle gym, at least to at least to step inside and look at.

The effects of time: a San Francisco Cable Car (above) awaits restoration.

I heard that there was some sort of operating trolley car just a few miles away at a new outdoor shopping center called "Americana at Brand" in Glendale. Having never been there, we decided to check it out, see what it was all about. Here's a link to Part II. 
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Meet George Jetson

On the corner of Santa Monica Blvd & Crescent Drive in Beverly Hills sits "Jack Colker's 76" gas station, one of the best examples of what is known internationally as "Googie" architecture.



According to this wikipedia article Googie architecture originated here in Los Angeles and was based on the car culture and optimistic Space and Atomic themes of the 1950's and early 1960's. In addition to roofs slopping at an upward angle and large glass windows, buildings featured boomerangs, flying saucers, atoms, starbursts and parabolas in the designs.

Photo: Julius Shulman, 1952. Julius Shulman photography archive. The Getty Research Institute, 2004 

The name "Googie" was based on the Googie's Coffee Shop located on the corner of Sunset Blvd & Cresent Heights here in Los Angeles. When Yale University Professor Douglas Haskell saw the building on a visit to L.A., he ordered his car stopped and proclaimed, "This is Googie architecture." The name stuck.



The 76 Station in Beverly Hills is one of the best existing examples of Googie architecture here in Los Angeles. It's curved roof was was originally designed in 1965 for LAX by world-renound architect William Pereira. Looks like something out of the old cartoon series "The Jetsons" (remember that show?). When Pereira's design wasn't needed at the airport, it ended up as a gas station.

LAX's loss becoming Beverly Hill's gain.

© 2009 www.experiencingla.com

Chris Burden's Urban Light at LACMA

Located outside Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on Wilshire Blvd is Chris Burden's outdoor sculpture "Urban Light."


The sculpture consists of over 200 restored vintage light posts from around Los Angeles.


The historic lamp posts and the geometric patterns look neat during the day . . .


. . . but the best time to see them is at night. My wife and I were driving along Wilshire Blvd a few months back when I stopped and snapped off a couple quick pics.


Wish I had some more time - and a tripod.

Here's a link to another site with some better pics of "Urban Light" http://artandperception.com/2008/02/urban-light-chris-burden-bcam-lacma.html. My hats off to the photographer.


photo credit: http://artandperception.com/2008/02/urban-light-chris-burden-bcam-lacma.html

As a Christian, I'm reminded that "light" is use is a metaphor throughout the Scriptures. The first words spoken by God himself are the famous "let there be light" of Genesis 1. John's gospel describes Jesus as "the true light that gives light to every man." Jesus said of himself "I am the light of the world." The last chapter in the Bible describes God himself as the final and ultimate source of light.


photo credit: http://artandperception.com/2008/02/urban-light-chris-burden-bcam-lacma.html

Some friends of mine used a photo of themselves in front of the LACMA light posts for their Christmas card. It's a great pic - and reminds me of yet another way light is used in Scripture: to describe the followers of Jesus Christ. "You are the light of the world" Jesus said to his disciples, and by extension, to those who follow him today.


photo credit: http://artandperception.com/2008/02/urban-light-chris-burden-bcam-lacma.html

As we move into the Christmas season, it's a reminder for me to be perhaps less concerned about the twinkling lights around the house, more concerned with my character, my actions, and my involvement in those who Jesus described as "the least of these."

Maybe that's the kind of urban light God wants.

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Pink My Ride

Back in November 2009 I was in Van Nuys, a community in the San Fernando Valley, with a couple of UCLA students. There are tens of thousands of Mercedes Benz in Los Angeles, but this is the first pink Mercedes I've ever seen.



Yep, it's a Mercedes. After I took this picture, I noticed the liscence plate frame said "Pimped" -- as in "Pimp My Ride" a fairly popular show on MTV.


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Hey, it's for sale! Is that correct? Is the price really $1250? No, wait, it's got to be $7250. The paint job alone would cost - what? - two grand, right?



The paint is pretty impressive, although it's not my style. Reminds me somewhat of the classic lowriders, including those that were on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum
in 2008.



Over the years, I've heard Christians ask "what would Jesus drive?" - kind of an American take on "what would Jesus do?" It's sort of a weird question - kind of like asking "what kind of private jet would Jesus own?" Jesus would have taken the bus, or walked.

Meanwhile, the Apostle Paul, a leader in the 1st century church, would have driven "whatever" to get from point A to point B in advancing Christ's Kingdom.

For believers living in Los Angeles (and the rest of the Western world where owning a car is actually a possibility) that's a great principle. Not just with a car, but with pretty much everything.



I'm currently not in the market for a car, although - assuming it runs - $7250 seems like a fair price for a Mercedes. Or is it $1250? 



What do I know? I'm no expert on cars.



Wonder what insurance goes for?


I wonder where it is now?



View Van Nuys, California "Pink My Ride" in a larger map


(originally posted 11/21/2009)


© 2012 www.experiencingla.com






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No Stopping Any Time

I was in downtown Los Angeles a while back and snapped a quick picture of these two signs on the corner of Los Angeles & Temple Streets. A somewhat ironic placement of parking and street signs.

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The image of "laid back Los Angeles" is often just that, an image. The reality is that Los Angeles is fast-paced, driven, competitive city.

The early 20th Century industrialist and billionaire John D. Rockefeller was once asked, "how much is enough?" His response, "just a little bit more," reminds me how often I get trapped in the "more more more" attitude of society - an attitude only magnified in places like L.A.

If not in "stuff," then in work, in achievement, in recognition.

I like the slogan "work hard, play hard," but would add to it "rest hard" - or, perhaps better, "rest intentionally."

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Even when the signs around me say otherwise.

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Reflections

The patterns and shadows of the Wachovia office tower juxtaposed against the blue sky and white clouds earlier this month made for an interesting photo.

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This was taken earlier this month in Brentwood at the corner of Wilshire Blvd at San Vincente while waiting for the light. I just rolled down my window and looked up.

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See, there is an upside to traffic in Los Angeles.

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What Is - or What's Not - Art?

What's - or What's Not - Art ?

A few weeks back I came up behind this small commercial truck while driving on Sunset Blvd. in Brentwood here in Los Angeles.


I was impressed with the rolling artwork and managed to catch a few shots through the front window of my car.


Like the pink Mercedes in a recent post (see below) I wouldn't call this artwork my style. But it's still well done.

My kids friends' introduced them to a homeschooler's YouTube video: "What's Art?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvzdsHYUOxA. The YouTube video is sort of silly - something that only 10-12 year old would love - but brought up a good question: "what is art?"


According to arthistory.about.com: Art is form and content.

Form means (1) the elements of art, (2) the principles of design and (3) the actual, physical materials that the artist has used. Form is concrete and fairly easily described - no matter which piece of art is under scrutiny.

Content gets a little more tricky. "Content" is idea-based and means (1) what the artist meant to portray, (2) what the artist actually did portray and (3) how we react, as individuals, to both the intended and actual messages.


What isn't art? Here's another, similar sized truck a few miles away. It has about as much "form" and "content" as a dog marking out it's territory. Sorry. But it's really depressing, especially for people who have to deal with this form of domestic abuse in their neighborhoods on a regular basis.



Two different trucks. Two different outcomes. Something creative as opposed to something destructive. As stated elsewhere, Los Angeles is a city of contrasts. Rolling art alongside defacing or destruction of personal - or public - property.

As a side note, this past summer our family spent six weeks in Chicago. One thing that struck me: where was the tagging? Where was the graffiti? Chicago successfully banned all aerosol spray paint several years ago, and as a result has virtually no graffiti anywhere.

Wonder how that would work out in Los Angeles? Probably pretty well.

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An afternoon at Star Fleet Academy (aka Cal State Northridge)

http://webdesign.timches.com/2009/05/13/639/star-trek-reset/

Last May my wife and I went and saw the new JJ Abram's Star Trek movie. I realize I'm probably in the minority here, but as fan of the original series, I was generally disappointed with the film. Can a movie have too many special effects? Too many explosions? Fight scenes that are so unrealistic that they border on the absurd? Can a movie have so much "action" that it actually detracts from the story?

Wow, Lenord Nemoy is really getting old. And where was Bill Shatner? They couldn't find a cameo for him?

Of course, the movie had some enjoyable scenes, including the ones featuring the "Star Fleet Academy" in a futuristic San Francisco. I thought to myself, "Star Fleet Academy really looks like the library at Cal State Northridge." A few more minutes into the film, I realized it was the library at Cal State Northridge.

Living in Los Angeles, it's fun seeing how familiar (and not so familar) places are changed to fit in a film - especially if it's set in the past or the future.


This past week I was meeting with some professors over at Cal State Northridge and took some pictures to see if I could match the photo from the film. Pretty amazing what some special effects can produce.


http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEzjYEDCoV1nDB

I found this photo from http://www.movieweb.com/. Someone from CSUN took a few photos through an office window during the filming on campus in March of 2008. You can clearly see the "blue screen" which allowed the special effects crew to matte a 23rd Century San Francisco.

www.starfleetbase.com

Here's another shot from the film that really took advantage of blue screen and mattes. The only part that's Cal State Northridge is the grass, the steps, and the palm trees. Maybe that's how CSUN will look in the year 2309. But this being Los Angeles, I imagine there will be some zoning issues with the homeowners associations around campus.

So, what's the appeal of Star Trek? Perhaps that deep down most of us are hoping for a better future for our great-great grandkids and for planet earth - even if it's 300+ years in the future.

Of course, some of the "futuristic" technology in the films already exists. And while other things like "transporter beams" may never happen, they look very cool on film.

Over the years, Star Trek (the shows and the movies) have surfaced some great questions: What is humanity's purpose in the universe? What does it mean to be human? Are there moral absolutes? Is there life beyond planet earth? Is there an afterlife? Who - or what - is God?

While I don't necessarily agree with all the answers the show proposes, they're still great questions.

http://homepage.mac.com/m5comp/trekbits/

Wasn't it Socrates who said "the unexamined life is not worth living?"

Here's to finding the answers to those great questions.

Have a treky day.

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Gourment Food Trucks on Abbot Kinney Blvd: Passing Fad or Future Trend?

Driving home through Venice on Abbot Kinney Blvd I noticed yet another gourmet food truck in the parking lot at The Brig. As these trucks are usually out at night, I decided to pull over, check this one out.


This is "Nom Nom Truck". Thanks to twitter, you can follow where they are, when they'll be in your neighborhood.


Bánh Mi - the big item on their menu - is a Vietnamese baguette sandwich. OK, I had no idea what Bánh Mi was until I looked it up on the Internet. But it sounds yummy.

Nom Nom specializes in Vietnamese food, including something called a Vietnamese Taco.


I've had a good experience with a gourmet food truck previously, but already had dinner. On another night I might have tried something.


A block later on the same street I came across Fish Lips Sushi.


No tacos here: Fish Lips Sushi specializes in - surprise - sushi.


These two trucks were a block apart on the same street.

Are they a passing fad, or a peek into the future?

Los Angeles is known for setting trends that influence the rest of the country and the much of the world. Ten years from now, will cities like Omaha, Nebraska and Little Rock, Arkansas have similar gourmet food trucks, or is this a passing fad ... just another "L.A. thing?"

As a follower of Christ, I think there is something to be said about living in a city that sets trends that influence the rest of the world. I've met numerous Christians who've intentionally moved to Los Angeles for that very reason: wanting to make their faith real in a city whose impact spans the globe. Those who've moved here have found it challenging, and by that I mean on a practical day to day basis. Sure, you can twitter the location of a gourmet food truck, but good luck finding a Target or a Walmart.

2500 years ago the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah reminded the people of God to "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you ...[pray] for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

True anywhere - especially in a city like Los Angeles.

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A Boy Named Martial: The Getty Villa, Part I

One of the most moving and impressive pieces of art in Los Angeles is a nineteen hundred year old marble bust of a young boy named Martial, located at the Getty Villa.
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The Getty Villa is the original campus of the J. Paul Getty Museum. The museum now consists of two campuses: the Getty Villa and the much larger Getty Center a few miles away. More on that later. The Villa's collection focuses exclusively on Greek and Roman antiquities. It's an amazing place and definitely worth a visit.


What I found so compelling about the bust of Martial wasn't just how incredibly life-like and detailed the artwork is, or the fact that this piece is almost two thousand years old, but the actual young boy behind it all.

In Rome, as today, only the very wealthy could commission artwork of themselves or their family. In contrast, this little boy, who we know as Martial, was a slave. The tombstone, paid for by his owners, tells us that he died when he was 2 years, 10 months and 8 days old.

As a father of two children, I was emotionally moved thinking of this beautiful little boy dying at such a young age. I realize that historically, death among children has been common and tragically that's true today among children in the Third World. Yet putting a name with a face, as it were, and knowing the exact age when this child died, makes it so much more real.

As a Christian, I'm reminded how un-natural death is.

I wonder about Martial's family: were they polytheists - as were most Romans - or were they followers of the one true God? Did they have a hope in eternity? Of life beyond the grave? Of the resurrection of the death?

The bust of Martial is a reminder to me that the Christianity of the 1st and 2nd centuries wasn't simply an ethical code or a way to pass an hour on a Sunday morning. It was - and is - based on the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Christians of Martial's day were so convinced of this fact that they were willing to lay down their very lives for it.

I wonder if Martial's family had this same hope - or knew anyone who did.

Next to the bust of Martial, is another bust of a young boy from North Africa. We know much less about him (no inscription). My question here is how was the artist able to sculpt the marble of the boy's hair so intricately and realistically? Amazing.


Also interesting is that while Martial, who was European, was a slave, this young boy from North Africa was free. Unlike the New World, slavery in the Roman Empire wasn't based on race.


There's lots and lots to see in the Getty Villa, including these busts of wealthy or influential Romans (aka dead white males). These were the men who called the shots 2000 years ago (kind of like J. Paul Getty) ... but I was strangely moved by a little boy not yet three years old.

More on the Getty Villa in the next post.

© 2009 www.experiencingla.com
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