Dominique Moody: Nomad

THE woman in the picture is the artist in residence in the house across from the Watts Towers. Her name is Dominique Moody and she has been legally blind for the majority of her life. Pictured here is the creation of her life long dream. The idea of the "Nomad" has inspired her to travel California and spread her art. She creates things out of recycled objects found in the environment and plans to do the same with objects she finds on the road.

--J.Garcia

Jaide Garcia - Genius Loci: "Artistic Spirit"

THIS first picture says so much about the hidden spirit of L.A. because it captures how amazing aspects of the city are underrated. The Watts Towers are a huge landmark being represented on a tiny sign that shares a post with a "Dead End" sign, adding irony to the location. The Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center is another development in the area worthy of more attention. 

I went to South Central to find the hidden spirit of L.A. The community of Watts has so much history and culture that makes it a target for attention. Unfortunately, most of that attention is negative. After the Watts Uprisings in 1965 the neighborhood's reputation has gone from bad to worse. If you google Watts or Compton the first things to pop up are articles about gangs, the historical 'Riots' or NWA. However, in recent years the community has set out to re-establish itself and draw attention to the professional athletes, musicians and artists that it has produced. The Watts Towers have served as a symbol of pride and have spurred many artistic developments in the area. The sad thing is that the towers are mainly known internationally and by those proximally close to the community. I grew up near L.A. and I had never heard about the towers until this year. Many native Angeleno's that I've talked to didn't know what they were either! Yet they are recognized internationally as a great piece of art and visited by foreign tourists all the time.

--The second picture is self-explanatory and reveals the lack of care shown to our city's up-keep.--

A sight like this is definitely common while walking the streets of L.A. As depressing as it is it still represents the spirit of the city because of the consumerism followed by waste that is prevalent here. There is a lack of pride in the presentation of neighborhoods and streets that is evident through the mediocre response of tourists. When people visit L.A. what they see is what they get, but usually not what they expected. It may be embarrassing and yet we all still contribute to it.

--The third and fourth pictures capture the 'street art' that is popularly found in the L.A. area.--

There is real beauty to be found in these pictures. I am the least artistic person in the world so when I see things like this on the side of the road I am amazed before I am irritated. The spirit of this neighborhood in particular is displayed in the art found all over its city. Many graffiti artists have one way to share their voice and this is the only way they know how to be heard. In the same way there are many people who come to L.A. to pursue their form of art and follow their passion, even if it is misunderstood by those around them.

--The fifth and sixth picture are of a house and art center on 107th street in Watts. Many of the houses have unique styles and patterns on them in light of the towers that are directly outside their window. The art building was painted by members of the community over 30 years ago and is now used by their children.--

As disconnected as L.A. may be, there are still areas with a strong sense of community. The multiple areas within L.A. each have their own identity, but it is a collective identity. Areas such as Watts, Glendale, La Mirada, Yorba Linda and many others are segregated by ethnicity. As much as I don't like the segregation, I respect the close environment found in those places. There is so much individuality represented within the region that creates its own distinctive atmospheres and this picture represents one of the strongest cases of community spirit.

Last but not least, this location hidden at the end of 107th street in Watts represents the spirit of cultural diversity found in L.A. Although the neighborhood is predominantly African American and Latino, it once was home to people of German, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese descent as well. It was truly a cultural melting pot that served to bring people together and connect the creative aspects of many backgrounds. This neighborhood was a part of the "California Dream" that attracted many travelers and immigrants in the early 20th century. L.A. may lack many things, but the spirit of diversity will always be prevalent no matter where one finds themselves.

--J.Garcia

Misread City -- The Final Meditations

"I am interested in how the attention of the towers has affected the community and how members feel about their style and size. I want to see how the community feels about them and whether they take pride in the towers or rarely thinks about them at all."

The Watts Towers -- Jaide Garcia

images: watts towers, teikan; glendale, julian bleecker ralph bunche house, south los angeles, kansas sebastian: fashion district, oracio alvarado; watts, laurie avacado via flickr creative commons

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"As I recently have come to find out, Glendale used to be a city not very much liked by people not living in the city . Come to find out, Glendale used to be very racist and was home to the West Coast Nazi Headquarters. I find that to be completely shocking . . . however, I am sure that there are others who still have that perception of Glendale being [a] racist city. I am curious to find out about the history of the city and how the city started to change after a large number of people (Armenians) began to move to Glendale...I tis interesting that a city that was home to the racists is now a very diverse environment."

Talin Manooki -- the City of Glendale

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"For my final assignment, I want to speak to a classmate of mine who was born, raised and still lives in 'South Central' Los Angeles. His family's story represents the overall theme of the assignment, as his older brother has eared an doctoral degree from USC while his other brother is in prison. I find it interesting how different the two have turned out and it really suggests the dual atmosphere within the city. One brother fills the cliche that cannot be avoided, while the other has mode more of his circumstances. "

-- South Los Angeles -- Hailey Hannan

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"I would like to write about the L.A. Fashion District, off Maple and 11th Street, because I think that it can be misinterpreted. I have been coming here for years now and the first time I ever stepped foot there, I was really turned off by the culture and the location of the alley. I [plan] to ask people work the street carts or sell their goods to the public about the area. This will provide the sources for my reporting aspect of the essay. As for the reading and further information, I would like to incorporate the ideals fo gentrification and possibly graffiti into the story."

-- The Fashion District, Downtown -- Chelsea Vogt

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"My roommate, Sam, grew up in Kansas. Sam moved back to Los Angeles to attend LMU and work in the animation department. She has since received awards for her academic success as a black woman in her field . . . . being her roommate and her friend, I have been invited on a couple of occasions to join her family, lead by Aunt Alice....Alice is a quiet and stern woman whom everybody in the family respects and who has managed to do quite a bit to keep her family in Watts. Most of all the children go to magnet schools. Alice immigrated from Belize and Sam keeps a picture of the shack that Alice grew up in, in her dorm room on her desk to remind her of her family's struggles and her hope to visit their beginnings. I'm thinking a juxtaposition, demonstrating Watts can be an end in a successful story rather than an unfortunate beginning."

-- Watts -- Alex Deutsch

Urban Compass

ON Fridays I become a human jungle gym. The minute I step foot into the gym the children that participate in "Urban Compass" feel the need to drag me to a game of basketball or jump rope. "Urban Compass" is an after school program for elementary school aged children that takes place in Verbum Dei High School in the Watts area. The website for the program states that the objective of this program is to give children "an environment that challenges our young people to envision a rewarding future." With the youth of LA joining gangs at earlier ages, "Urban Compass" hopes to give these kids a safe place to go that focuses on their abilities in a positive manner. Tutoring, sports, enrichment and teamwork activities and field trips occur in order to engage them in a positive learning experience that takes place off the streets.

I became involved with this program due to my service organization, Crimson Circle. Being able to spend my Fridays with these kids has truly been a rewarding experience. It makes me hopeful for the future of Los Angeles. These are innocent kids, many who could be urged to join a gang or fall along the wayside. Hopefully, with programs like this kids will be able to hold themselves accountable and be proud of their accomplishments. It truly would be great to see more programs like "Urban Compass" develop throughout all of Los Angeles, despite levels of gang activity that are in each individual city.

Sometimes it is hard for me to visually see the hardships and poverty when I arrive in Watts on Friday afternoons. How can this really be part of the same Los Angeles that I attend school in and people travel to from around the world? It is important that these people and these areas of the city are never forgotten or overlooked. If anything they should have more of our focus. All it takes it a little bit of attention to a young one to show them someone has faith in them to succeed.

-- Reilly Wilson

(photo credit: jan tik via flickr creative commons)