United Wilmington Youth Foundation Restoring Historical "El Mercadito Market" Mural

The decaying historical mural that adorns the exterior of El Mercadito "Maravilla" market on L and Hyatt streets in Wilmington is finally getting a restoration by members of the United Wilmington Youth Foundation and community volunteers. 

The current owner "Jorge" has occupied the store for the past 33 years. Around the same time in 1979 the mural was painted by Javier Moreno and Mario Falcon. Moreno passed away four years ago and the whereabouts of Falcon are unknown. However, their significant mural has became a cultural historical landmark loved by the community. A much needed restoration of the mural has been necessarily for years. The mural has suffered damage from the past decades of gang warfare in the area. Graffiti and age on the mural have caused some of the original parts to become distorted and worn down. 

Old photographs of original mural are used in restoration 

(Defaced) Jose Maria Morelos Mexican Revolutionary for Independence 

Emiliano Zapata and images of gang truce for peace

Restoration day 4

History of El Mercadito
The building of El Mercadito has been standing in the same place for 113 years. It has gone through about 4 different owners and renovations. The first business was a small gas station then it was turned into a market. Jorge explains, the first two owners were of American decent. As the community  and demographics started to evolve  the market was centered around the Hispanic community. Inside the market there a carneceia and kitchen where people can buy homemade menudo, pupusas, and other antojitos.

Food and Fresh Meat Counter

Original Refrigerators 60-years-old and Still Going

Although I never lived in area, the neighborhood holds significant memories for me. In the 1970s and into the 1990s my parents and family went to church down the street at Holy Family  Catholic Church or better known as Sagrada Familia. The mural on the market was always something I looked at and never forgot as we drove past on L street on the way to mass.  20 years later its no wonder that mural means so much to the community. The impact of the colorful mural captures the spirit of a by-gone era with its cultural pride and message of peace but will continue to impact the newer generations within. 

Important Dates

• Restoration will continue until June 28, 2013 
• Cupcake and lemonade sale Saturday June, 22 2013 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 
• Youth essay writing contest deadline August 23, 2013 prize $1000 email UWYF for rules on the contest info@uwyf.org
• Revealing and celebration September 7, 2013 more details will be posted

Volunteers and supplies are welcome! please stop by Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m

United Wilmington Youth Foundation is a non-profit organization started in 1992 by Santos Trani in order to empower youth in Wilmington to contribute in the community positively and avoid gangs. The non-profit was  revived last year with a new set of energetic youth and mentors ready to start making changes in the community. Follow them on Facebook here

The Heart of the Harbor is Beating

A walk down a familiar street....Avalon Boulevard in Wilmington, each time I walk this street I spot something I did not notice before. Enjoy the walk.

Ticket booth at old Granada Theater now a church 

C & C Liquor with an apartment on top possibly the owners place 

The signage is pretty 1960s 1970s 

Lobo taking a bath! he used to live behind Slanguage but he moved to a different bar

Fonts from the hood

Doorway one

The last pay phone on earth 

They don't even want to advertise here

Graphic Design studio been here since the 70s.....nice doorway too

A peek into Amelia's Dance Club..They even got a disco ball

Engine blocks made into sculptures 

Thank you for hanging in there more city beauty to come


Peace

DJ

News Updates

The Harbor Area has been plagued with rumors about a serial killer after the murder of Cristy Alvarez last week.  According to authorities, the rumors are false and Cristy's murder was the only recent incident in that area. However, there is still worry in the air because her killer is still on the loose. Last night I went to her memorial sight to leave a candle and it really was an eerie feeling. I just wanted to pay my respects even thought I did not personally know who she was. Her murder sparked me interest and concern in the community and people are coming together to mourn and help the family. Today there will be a fundraiser for her family at a private residence in Wilmington and tomorrow there will be a peace walk  with the community and the Brown Berets from her memorial site to Banning Park. 

Here is the Daily Breeze story about the murder

Fundraiser today January, 14 2012

http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_19730735?source=pkg

Cristy Alvarez found near train tracks on L Street and Hyatt

The only other confirmed murder was in San Pedro when Eva Tice was stabbed on Christmas Eve on her way back from church.link

I hope these ladies rest in peace

In other news yesterday was the 44 year anniversary of Johnny Cash "Folsom Prison Blues" Geesh how time flies but in order to honor that rare moment here is Johnny. More on this story here

I also have to start a new book I promised to read like  years ago I pulled it out of my bookcase 

so its a start.

Wise Latina: Expressions of her barrio known as Wilmington

It is great how in the past few years the younger generation of Wilmington residents have been bringing the city to light from its usual forgotten past. This new generation cares about the community and wants to see it thrive. Organizations like Slanguage art studio, WECAN, The Wilmington Wire, have gave a voice to young  artists and those concerned with community issues. 

Anabell Romero is no exception this "Wise Latina" has been expressing her ideas and concerns as part of the Wilmington City Council and journalist.

Read her first blog post as community correspondent of San Francisco's NPR station, KQED. 

Mi Barrio: Growing up in Wilmington 

Wilmington: Missions Down "B" Street

We used to drive by  Figueroa and Harry Bridges (B street) to Wilmington on a weekly basis. That was the usual route my dad used on the  way to church . Most of what I remember is seeing the same scene like a movie set as we passed by. The ironic thing is that scene did become a movie set for many films. The three buildings I remember vividly were Shipwreck Joey's, an old Mexican restaurant (or bar not sure) and a liquor store. Thanks to " Life in Wilmington" on Face Book I was told that the liquor stores name was called North star liquor. I still have not heard a response about the restaurant that might remain a  mystery.From what I recall I do not remember ever stopping at the liquor store with my parents, I just remember how dark and seedy it looked to me at night. The only time I passed by on foot was when I walked from San Pedro to Wilmington in my teens. 
Shipwreck Joey's basically was a cabaret style  topless bar that was not well liked by some. The main reason is because of the sign and the building was very noticeable from all angles. When you would drive on the freeway entering or leaving the Harbor Area  the first thing you would see was a bright yellow sign that said "Topless" in huge letters! The place had been painted so many times however, the signature architecture remained unforgettable. When I finally was able to drive myself all this was gone, so  I am trying to see if I can re-create some of those  memories of that street. 


 For a long time I tired to  find some kind of  information on these buildings. I did run into four good images of the different facades of  Shipwreck Joey's. I think this building was  the most memorable. Although many people hated it and wanted to see it gone it was well loved by the movie industry. 


In 2000 almost  none of these buildings or houses that were nearby existed anymore. Everything was basically bought out by the port of Los Angeles for re-development. Businesses that once lined this gritty industrial corridor north of Harry Bridges Boulevard -- Keep On Trucking, Shipwreck Joey's Cabaret, World of Birds and many others -- have been erased, leveled to make way for a harbor terminal expansion and road-widening project. (Zahniser B1) 

This amazing photograph  is was taken between 1979-1980. The photographer is John Humble and it is currently part of the collections at Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C. Check out the rest of John Humbles collection, I really like his style because he loves the raw and gritty parts of the city. It is even more intense because he got to capture many images no longer in existence mostly from the 1970s and 80s. 

Shipwreck Joey's in the movie " To Live and Die in LA"  (1985) Photo from Seeing Stars. I think at one point after this is was painted a bright red with bold yellow letters. 

Shipwreck Joey's used in " Fight Club"( 1999) it was transformed into "Lou's Tavern" Photo from Seeing Stars

This is the only photograph that I was able to find of what was North star Liquor. I was hoping to find more original photos but no luck. This scene is also from "Fight Club" (1999) and it features Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in front of it. Photo from " This Pedro Thing" 


Helen's obsession with Shipwreck Joey's 


Helen (Rest in Peace) was an odd women. I first met her as a kid back in the mid 1980s. She used to come to our house because her and my parents used to go to the same church. Helen looked liked maybe she was mixed with Mexican and Samoan or even Filipino.She was over weight and usually wore long skirts or moo-moos. She was deeply into the Catholic religion and had a very strong personality. She was always  real blunt and not shy at all. The reason I say she was odd is because; she basically was a wanderer who roamed from house to house of church friends sleeping on couches, or even front porches. She seemed somewhat mentally ill at times. All the people like my parents forgave her because her state of mind. We never knew much about her background her age,or anything personal she mostly ignored you when you asked her anything. One funny memory of her was when we used to go onto the 110 freeway North and just as we were passing "Shipwreck Joey's" topless bar she would start yelling and screaming to " God" that she wanted that place shut down. It would not fail she did it every single time. The day Shipwreck Joey's went out of business she swore god made it happen because of her. She died about ten years ago of an illness. 


The place mostly got a bad reputation because it became an eyesore but some shady business did happen there much like in the movies.

The former prosecutor could have been sentenced to a maximum 10 years in prison and fined $5,000, but the lighter sentence was given in exchange for his testimony at the September trial of co-defendant Stephen Gotter Bach, 41, of Inglewood. Bach worked as a bartender at Shipwreck Joey's Topless Cabaret in Wilmington -- where the securities theft scheme reportedly was devised -- and at Frontview Cabaret in Harbor City.( Simons A3)

Here is a Los Angeles Times story about the rise and fall of Shipwreck Joey's 

Topless Bar Loses Its Shirt to a Truck Stop; [South Bay Edition]

GREG KRIKORIAN. Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext). Los Angeles, Calif.: Sep 6, 1990. pg. 3

Abstract (Summary)

[Rocco Grieco]'s plans for the 55,000-square-foot property that straddles the east end of the Harbor Freeway follow the closure in early July of its only tenant, Shipwreck Joey's, which opened in the 1970s. On Aug. 1, Grieco signed a 10-year lease for the property.In addition to the diner, Grieco said, the property will include a snack bar, six truck-wash stalls, trucking scales and several showers. "In the Harbor area, there's no place for these guys to go in and just shower unless they rent a hotel room," Grieco said. "These guys need these kinds of services."

Then again, [Robert Castagnola] said, it was Grieco's decision. And Grieco, owner or co-owner of several apartment buildings in San Pedro and Wilmington, has shown over the years that he knows something about business. "Rocco does have a nose for money," Castagnola said.The dirty dancing already is gone from the corner of B and Figueroa streets in Wilmington. And a year from now, the way Rocco (Rocky) Grieco figures it, he'll really be cleaning up at that corner.In more ways than one.By then, Grieco said, Shipwreck Joey's, a once-popular topless bar that closed in July, will be just a memory. In its place will be a diner.On the dusty lot next door, there will still be trucks, Grieco said. But instead of using the lot for parking, truckers will be using Grieco's new six-stall truck wash and scales.And if all goes as planned, the 37-year-old San Pedro real estate agent will have several indoor showers on the site, another feature of a deluxe truck stop for drivers who once cooled their heels between hauls with beers at the bar.Grieco's plans for the 55,000-square-foot property that straddles the east end of the Harbor Freeway follow the closure in early July of its only tenant, Shipwreck Joey's, which opened in the 1970s.

On Aug. 1, Grieco signed a 10-year lease for the property.Shipwreck Joey's, for years a landmark of sorts in the Harbor area, was hard to miss. With a bright orange exterior, opaque windows and the form of a bare-breasted blonde beckoning clientele, the bar was an eyesore to many, eye-catching to all.It also was the latest in a list of tenants that occupied the 4,000-square-foot Art Deco-style building constructed in the 1930s. And like the others, from the original Bayview diner to a later nightclub to a country and Western bar, Shipwreck Joey's did great business for years.But as shipyards closed in the port and other topless bars drew away customers, business at Shipwreck Joey's began sinking in the late 1980s. And when the owners of the huge lot that housed the bar put the land up for sale in 1988, leaving its future in doubt, it seemed just a matter of time before Shipwreck Joey's would close.Grieco thought about leasing the site and opening his own topless bar But that idea did not sit well with his wife, Joanne, he said."I went to a couple of topless places to see what their business was like. And I found they made big money," Grieco said. "But when I told my wife I was thinking about opening a topless place myself, she said, `You're crazy.'"She was against it from Day One."After considering other possibilities, including a small shopping center, Grieco said he came up with the idea of converting the property into a sort of super truck stop after watching the number of trucks along Figueroa Street and the Harbor Freeway."I counted 1,000 trucks going to and from the port in one hour. I know that sounds unbelievable, but it's true," Grieco said. And that number, he said, gave him a new idea."A full-service truck stop" is how Grieco describes it.The plans, Grieco said, call for converting the old bar into a 1950s-style diner that is convenient for truckers but that caters to a broader clientele."I'm not going to make it too nice so truckers won't come in, or too rough so yuppies won't come in," Grieco said. "I just want a place where I could bring my kids for breakfast."In addition to the diner, Grieco said, the property will include a snack bar, six truck-wash stalls, trucking scales and several showers. "In the Harbor area, there's no place for these guys to go in and just shower unless they rent a hotel room," Grieco said. "These guys need these kinds of services."Maybe so, but even some of Grieco's friends wonder how he would have made out if he had opened a new topless bar after the close of Shipwreck Joey's."I've got mixed emotions," said one friend, Robert Castagnola, 31, a Teamster who once frequented Shipwreck Joey's. "I think he'll do well, but I tried to persuade him to go with a topless place because he could have made a fortune with the right management."Then again, Castagnola said, it was Grieco's decision. And Grieco, owner or co-owner of several apartment buildings in San Pedro and Wilmington, has shown over the years that he knows something about business. "Rocco does have a nose for money," Castagnola said.So will Castagnola be as likely to visit his friend's diner as a strip bar?"Yeah, I'll go there," he said. "You know Italians, we stick together."

If you happen to drive by passing Figueroa and  Harry Bridges (was B Street before) today, it is all still under construction for a new waterfront  redevelopment project. It is amazing how much different this area will look after so many years of griminess. In an odd way I will definitely miss the old history but as you all know that is just me I like anything rusted up. If you are interested in seeing the future plans check out the Draft EIR.








Alrato,




DJ

PS has anybody actually ever been inside Shipwreck Joey's? don't be ashamed if so lol we love insight. Also please let me know if anybody finds out the name of that bar or restaurant next to North Star Liquor.

Sources: 

GREG KRIKORIAN.  "Topless Bar Loses Its Shirt to a Truck Stop :[South Bay Edition]. " Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext)  6  Sep. 1990,Los Angeles Times, ProQuest. Web.  2 Nov. 2010.

Zahniser, David. "PORT OF IMPASSE - Harbor department, last business still locked in talks." Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA) 5 Sep. 2000, LOCAL: B1. NewsBank. Web. 2 Nov. 2010.

Simons, Teresa. "Ex-deputy D.A. sentenced for role in securities theft." Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA) 30 Oct. 1984, NEWS: A3. NewsBank. Web. 2 Nov. 2010.

Harbor Area Crime: Wilmington, San Pedro

These last few weeks have been hectic in the Harbor Area especially in Wilmington. Just yesterday the Daily Breeze reported that the Rios Jewelry store on Avalon Blvd was the site of an attempted robbery. The owner ended up fatally shooting one suspect while another got away, this was at 6 p.m. in the daytime! just an hour prior the Slanguage crew was driving by on Avalon to get pizza.

Read the rest of story here. 

Wilmington jewelry store owner fatally shoots robbery suspect, wounds 1

From wire service reports

Posted: 08/19/2010 06:48:44 AM PDT

Updated: 08/19/2010 07:02:51 AM PDT

The owner of a Wilmington jewelry store fatally shot one robbery suspect Wednesday and critically wounded another, police said.
A third suspect was arrested and a fourth remained at large, said Officer Karen Rayner of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section.
The suspects entered Rios Jewelry store at 825 N. Avalon Blvd., near Anaheim Street, about 6:20 p.m., police said.
The suspects who were shot were taken to a hospital, where one was pronounced dead, police said.
The neighborhood at Wilmington Town Square was busy with shoppers and other pedestrians, Los Angeles police Detective Gus Villanueva told reporters at the scene.
The fourth suspect remained at large as of 11:30 p.m., Los Angeles Lt. L. Parker of the Harbor Station said. He was described as a man in his 20s.

Also last week this 28-year-old women stabbed her husband at the " Right Step Hotel on Watson street. The man ended up dying from his wounds. Now this hotel is no joke, I had a boyfriend when I was a teen who lived on Watson street, so I always passed by the motel. It is basically a crack head type of place. There is even a sign on the side of the hotel that says " Drug Free Zone" haha yeah right what a joke and unfortunately incidents like this is not a surprise in that vicinity.

  
Woman arrested in fatal Wilmington stabbing

By Larry Altman Staff Writer

Posted: 08/10/2010 06:48:22 AM PDT

Updated: 08/10/2010 08:00:41 PM PDT

A woman was arrested on suspicion of stabbing her husband to death Tuesday at a Wilmington hotel, police said.
Angelina Sevilla, 28, allegedly attacked Luis Sevilla, 36, at about 1 a.m. at the Right Step Hotel at Watson Avenue and Anaheim Street, said Detective Lou Paglialonga said.
The husband tried to drive away, but crashed into a light pole and parked car at Anaheim and Lakme Avenue. He died later at a hospital.
The stabbing occurred during a dispute. The nature of the problem was not known. Angelina Sevilla was arrested at the hotel.
- Larry Altman

There was also a few stabbings in both San Pedro and Wilmington this past Saturday night, both incidents were unrelated, but happened minutes apart. 

San Pedro, Wilmington stabbings

By Larry Altman on August 15, 2010 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | ShareThis

SAN PEDRO (CNS) - A man was stabbed in a gang-related attack in San Pedro today, police said.

The stabbing at 568 W. Santa Cruz St. was reported about 2:20 a.m., Los Angeles police at the Harbor Station said. The stabbing appeared to be gang-related, but it was unclear why, the officer said.

Police withheld the victim's name, but said he should live.

About 10 minutes later in Wilmington, two men were stabbed in what police called a gang-related attack on Gulf Avenue, and one of them was listed in critical condition.

 a gang-related attack on Gulf Avenue, and one of them was listed in critical condition.

To keep up on crime on the Harbor Area/South Bay read Daily Breeze  Crime and Courts

Wilmington: Tacos y Mariscos Sahuayo

It took me close to a year to finally try this place out. My homie Carlos had told me about this spot and praised the shrimp tacos. I never went mostly because this resturant is located deep in the east side of Wilmington between diesel  gas stations, dingy motels and lots of industrial traffic. I love grimy streets don't get me wrong, but sometimes when it comes to my food I get picky. I trusted my homie's opinion, but I just had not got around to hitting the place up. Last week at a Slanguage meeting, Carlos came by the studio and I asked him about the place;  a year later he still highly recommends it. I told him the reason I was leary about it but he mentioned that was a natural reaction because of location. When he first went  it was with Slanguage artist Steve De La Torre, Steve really liked the shrimp tacos and mentioned, " Only crackheads and Longshoremen know about this spot." I started laughing!

The community of Wilmington is home to the largest port on the west coast, there are also four refineries and plenty of other industrial based businesses. There is tons of traffic and movement in the area  With that also comes unwanted pollution and as every town has is,  "crackheads."  Despite the downsides the ladies and gentlemen who work hard all day need to eat, so that is where Tacos y Mariscos Sahuayo comes in. 

Tacos y Mariscos Sahuayo  is located on the corner of Pioneer and Anaheim St. Sahauayo is a city located in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Typical Sahuayan food is carnitas, birria and Tacos al pastor.

The resturant was a nice decent size. We were greeted by the senora who owns the resturant along with her husband who is the cook. Carlos knew the lady from going there often, so she was real sweet with us. We sat down and ordered, I knew I wanted the shrimp tacos so I got two with the works. This place did not offer chips and which is a downside, but I was not too concerned. Carlos also ordered an appetizer called Queso Fundido or Cheese Fondue. I have heard of this dish before, but I never knew much about it. All I knew it usually was heated up in a metal pot and set down at parties and people would dip into it kind of like nacho cheese. After some reading on cheese fondue I read it was a popular party dish back in the fifties, sixties and seventies. The origins are said to come from Switzerland because it was a way to get rid of hardened cheese. The meaning of the word is actually French  fondre, meaning "to melt."  I was surprised to eat this item in a Mexican resturant, but am glad I did . The lady explained that they used a queso popular in Michoacan. She said that they were not able to provide customers with the actual fondue pots because of certain regulations being it is an actual fuel burner in the pot. 

Since there was no pot we had to dig in the cheese quick before it hardened but oh was it so yummy!

  The cheese came with a nice Pico-de- gallo, chips and tortillas.

 The best way Carlos suggested was to spread the queso on a tortilla and top it off with pico de gallo.  The choice was excellent, it reminded me of a really good quesadilla on corn tortilla since. I usually eat quesadillas on flour so this was a great alternative.

Now to the main item! I was very well pleased with these tacos they were so on point. First of all the corn tortilla is layered with beans which as Carlos pointed out not too common in shrimp tacos, that touch  gave it an extra kick. The shrimp is sauteed with spices and topped off with cheese, lettuce, cilantro, tomatoes and onions. Add some limon and take a bite of Jalapeno your tummy feels the goodness. Two tacos were really filling and cost around $ 2.50.

Do not be intimidated by the location ( like I was) or even the clientele and no there is no crackheads hanging around outside. The reason for that saying was because in there was another location with an outdoor patio that sometimes had that problem. They shut down the other location and have been successful at this spot.  They do close early since they cater to the lunch crowd in the area. Now go and try  this place out for yourself.

Tacos y Mariscos Sahuayo
1134 E. Anaheim St
Wilmington, Ca 90744
(310) 835-3534
9 a..m.  to 6 p.m.

Man Fatally Shot In a Wilmington Bar

 We had just gone to this bar (Foc'sle)  not long ago to check out a really old mural that was painted in the bar from the 1950s by Artist Frank Bowers. This bar is mostly locals only so it sounds like an unfortunate incident. Here is the history of this bar from LA Time Machines.

Man fatally shot at Wilmington bar

By Larry Altman Staff Writer

Posted: 05/18/2010 06:36:24 AM PDT

A 35-year-old man was shot and killed during a dispute with three men at a Wilmington bar, police said Tuesday.
A Rancho Dominguez man was arrested minutes after the about 10:40 p.m. shooting Monday at Foc'sle Bar at Avalon Boulevard and D Street, Los Angeles police Lt. David McGill said.
During an argument, one of the three men pulled a gun and shot the victim several times in the upper body.
The men fled, but witnesses obtained his license plate number, which was relayed to police and sheriff's deputies.
Deputies kept watch on the suspect's home in the 19000 block of Laurel Park Road in Rancho Dominguez and arrested him on suspicion of murder when he pulled up in the car.
A woman in the car was arrested as an accessory.
The names of the people involved were not immediately available.
- Larry Altman
http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_15108924?source=rss_viewed

Fotos Para Ti

Sometimes I do not have time to blog about every place I go eat, or interesting photo, but here is this week in photos from food to random happenings. Check it out!

 Ceviche from Agua Verde in Wilmington 

I taste tested it, and it is a different style ceviche were it is not as lemony as the traditional version it is a dryer version.  It is just as good, but I guess I prefer mine soaked in limon. I really enjoyed their salsa and chips, the salsa is not too spicy, but for some reason it tastes like it has a hint of bean flavor, very good though.

625 W Pacific Coast Hwy
Wilmington, CA 90744
(310) 549-1033

 

 

 This Sand Chick was seen floating around sola in the industrial part of Wilmington. There was originally a nice production across the whole fence, but it got buffed mysteriously and the only thing life was this lonely, but lovely Sand Chick. 

Senku Sushi

Jalapeno poppers and eel which were both delish! $1,50 beer too!

335 E 2nd St Ste 223
Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 680-1930

Budda loves coffee and donuts too! 

They hate 18th st so much they crossed this laundromat sign out because it said 18 min wash lol hilarious! 

Sandwich Saloon a San Pedro Classic, pastrami sandwich and some really good chili topped with cheese and onions. 

813 S Gaffey St
San Pedro, CA 90731 

(310) 548-5322

That is it for today I got to run, but as always keep posted!

Peace,

DJ

"Residue" Opening Reception Saturday, March, 20th 2010

Check out fellow Slanguage member Raul " Spew" Vasquez on his first solo exhibit at the Slanguage studio this Saturday. Read the scoop below from Slanguage website.

Slanguage presents

RESIDUE


Featuring works by Raul "SPEW" Vasquez
Curated by Karla Diaz

March 20 - April 17, 2010

Slanguage, 640 N. Avalon Blvd., Wilmington, CA 90744


Opening reception: Saturday, March 20, 7 - 10 pm
Works and merchandise for sale, musical performances, and drinks


Graffiti artist Raul “SPEW” Vasquez, one of Slanguage’s first, young artists that worked at the studio, returns for his first solo exhibition, RESIDUE. The show is comprised of thirteen ink-pen drawings made between 2007-2008 while the artist was incarcerated. They are intricately detailed and weave a wide array of designs and shapes taken from calligraphy and gang-affiliated writing. They show the artist coping with solitude and isolation.


SLANGAIR (Artist in Residency)
This is the first exhibition part of Slanguage’s residency program, SLANGAIR (Artist in Residency), which annually invites two artists from California, including one from Los Angeles, a national artist, and an international artist to the studio. During their time at Slanguage, each artist builds a body of work to show at the studio’s gallery space.


Please email info@slanguagestudio.com for more info.

A Look Back at the " Projects"

I found this vintage collection of photographs from  Housing Authority of Los Angeles Photograph Collection  of some of the public housing in Los Angeles in its early days.

Some structures were originally intended to house family of WWII workers and then later became low income housing. Other structures like the Nickerson Gardens were built specifically to help low income families get on their feet.

 In Los Angeles county today there is only about 14 housing projects left.  Over the years public housing has gotten a bad reputation because some of the crime and violence that has came from the sites.

Things have gotten better in some projects, but there are others that continue to stay dangerous.

Most of the issues have to with poverty, drugs and gangs in which many claim the projects as their territory.

I have known and have family who live in the Rancho San Pedro Housing Projects, they have told me that things are much better then they were ten years ago. Before they would see crack heads and gang members wondering through the yards, today crime is down and it has gotten more peaceful.  

The public housing that did get out of control got  torn down and rebuilt with new apartments or town homes nothing like before.  

Below is a brief photographic history of some of Los Angeles Housing. 

Dana Strand Projects Wilmington torn down in 2002.

 The Harbor City Projects or known as Normont Terrance were also torn down around 1996.

 

Photo of Aliso Village in 1941.

Aliso Village Projects Lincoln Heights torn down in 2000.

Jordon Down Projects 1950s.


Family  receiving keys to new housing unit 1940s.

William Nickerson J.r. at grand opening of Nickerson Gardens.

Estrada Courts 1941  

     Pico Gardens 1940s  4th St in Los Angeles

                              Women hanging clothes at William Mead Housing 

 Pueblo Del Rio Projects during construction 1942.

Location 1801 E. 53rd St.

Los Angeles Times recently did an article about these projects.

At an impoverished housing complex, a reflection of South L.A.

I recently dropped off a friend there, and it really reminded me of how the Rancho San Pedro projects used to be.

 Site of the future Imperial Courts Projects 1940s

Rancho San Pedro Projects 1940s

Sources:

Housing Authority of Los Angeles Photograph Collection

Public Housing Brochure



Alrato,

Dona Junta