Photo: Diane Edwardson, March 2005. The historic viaduct footings have always been a magnet for graffiti and guerrilla art. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
A commenter on The Eastsider's story, The frustrating job of protecting LA's history, referenced past guerrilla art on the viaduct footings. The following is a brief account of the TV art the commenter refers to.
Back around Christmas 2004, some TVs with alternate messages appeared on the historic viaduct footings. At first neighbors were bemused and applauded the witty commentary. As the weeds dried and the the months dragged on, neighbors grew increasingly weary of the guerrilla art that never seemed to go away and became an eyesore. The TVs became magnets for graffiti and other vandalism.
As brush clearance time came and went; the TVs remained. The City said the TVs were toxic waste and had to be disposed of properly. However, since the TVs were not a wooden structure built on a historic landmark in the VHFHSZ, that has to be cut apart with power tools, the TV guerrilla art was more easily removed. The TVs were removed about a year later (far too long for many neighbors' tastes).
The TVs continued to pop up periodically until someone started a guerrilla garden a few years ago. Even the guerrilla garden has been called into question because it too alters the historic landmark.
