Artist statement: Many people living in the greater Los Angeles area may have traveled the world but have never visited the unique and vibrant neighborhoods of their own home town, Los Angeles.
Founded in 1781 as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles” , The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels, downtown Los Angeles now presents a mix of historic landmarks, city government, arts and culture, up-scale lofts, and people going through hard times. Divided into districts, each area presents a unique focus – the theatre district, clothing district, jewelry district, flower district, financial district. Theatres and businesses once representing the height of wealth and fashion have been recycled for new uses: theatres turned into churches and department stores into Quinceañera dress shops and condominium-lofts. Businesses in the area that were once owned by the early 20th century immigrants from Europe, are now run by a new set of first-generation immigrant entrepreneurs.
In this exhibit, I present to you my casual observations of the life and life-styles of the vibrant and ever-changing world in the heart of Los Angeles, our City of Angels.
Nancy Lehrer