Public Transformation System

Angelenos might complain vociferously about traffic. But the truth is, except for our work commutes, most of us stick close to home. We eat, shop and play in our communities. To spark a little urban wanderlust, last year the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority commissioned five Los Angeles artists to create an image reflecting any neighborhood of their choosing, with one caveat: It had to be a neighborhood served by the MTA. These images were then turned into posters that, during the past several months, have been installed throughout the system, on buses, trains and at Metro stops.

“This is within a grand tradition,” says Jorge Pardo, art and design manager of the MTA’s Metro Art division. “There’s a whole precedent of travel posters and transportation posters from last century and the latter half of the 19th century. They’re absolutely iconic and wonderful.” Nearly 100 artists applied for the honor. The final quintet--Walter Askin, Raoul de la Sota, Jody Zellen, Bob Zoell and Artemio Rodriguez--each received $3,000 and 200 copies of their image.

Like most of his colleagues, Askin selected the place he lives as his subject. His vision of Pasadena was inspired in part by his work on Rose Parade floats and as a onetime participant in the Doo Dah Parade. It shows a line of lovably motley musicians and dancers performing under the sun. “That’s the one thing you kind of remember about Pasadena--sunshine on New Year’s Day,” says Askin.

Artemio Rodriguez chose to represent East Los Angeles through its cemeteries, particularly Evergreen. “I really liked that one for the diversity of the people buried there,” he says, although his piece reflects visits to several area cemeteries. “It was a difficult subject,” Rodriguez admits. “But I thought, ‘I’ll do it so beautifully, people will accept it and get into it.’ ” Besides, he says, “It’s not about death. It’s more about respect for whoever came before us and it’s a representation of family. You have your mother and your grandmother there so it gives you a sense of place.” Rodriguez even included his own name on one of the tombstones.

As to the other three commissions, De la Sota rendered the hills and bridges of Highland Park in explosive color, Zellen delivered a montage of photos to capture the history and energy of Miracle Mile, and Zoell represented Griffith Park and its many diversions in a playful digital image.

Susan Gray, senior public arts officer for the MTA, says the pilot project has been “enormously successful.” Her office is accepting applications from artists for a second round of posters, which will replace the current group this summer, and it’s a safe bet that there will be no shortage of candidates. As Askin puts it, “Probably in one day, more people see your work riding Metro Rail than during an entire run in an exhibition or gallery.”