Hacker's conference

From Lostlosangeles:

(Detroit, Michigan)

As I see these holes, these dark spaces, in my photos, I find myself wanting to exaggerate them. I discover that I want to darken the shadows and indicate this mysterious space, as if the decay was emanating from some mysterious space. A portal to another reality.

Graffiti Week, Part III

Here's the third post in our Graffiti Series, from the guy who goes by lostlosangeles. In these three pictures he shows us how graffiti speaks to decay and rebirth in the cities of Los Angeles, New Orleans and Detroit. If you missed the first two installments, check out May 21, 2012, "Graffiti Week, Part I," and May 22, 2012 "Graffiti Week, Part II" -- Ed.

From lostlosangeles:

LOS ANGELES...CITY OF DREAMS

When photos have text incorporated into the picture, I tend to name them based on that text. This is often due to my tendency to shoot graffiti that makes a commentary.

Some friends and I were hiking in Griffith Park in LA. This is perhaps one of the best vantage points of LA in all it's splendor: chaparral, steel, concrete, and smog. This graffiti perfectly frames the conversation.

NOLA RISING

It's a lot harder to explore abandoned Six Flags New Orleans these days. At least that's what the urbex rumor mill tells me. I was clearly quite lucky this day. The park was wide open and the storm clouds hung overhead, adding to the ominous atmosphere.

One thing I noticed about graffiti in New Orleans was that it often spoke of hope and inspiration. For me, this is a welcome departure from the usual narcissism.

BAROKEN AND YET

Walking down the hallway, passing blank room after room, I was suddenly struck by the burst of color coming from this long broken window. The fall colors lay an intense contrast against the cold concrete and graffiti. New life, just outside this dead car plant. This new life in turn being fed by death. Just outside the window and in the roots of these trees, a cemetery.

Reppin' for the Motor City

From Dave Brigham:

Thanks to my father-in-law, Rich, for tipping me off to this David Byrne article about the long decline of Detroit. Musician, writer, actor, artist, advocate for world music and former leader of Talking Heads, Byrne gives a great sense of why the Motor City is in the dire straits that it's in today: domination by the auto industry shut out any public transportation presence; white flight, as in many other big cities in the 1960's, following fierce riots; the financial meltdown that has hit few cities as hard. It's a great read and features some cool photos and Byrne's hope that "if the city center here can become more of the focus then a much smaller town with vibrant life might emerge."

While Byrne focuses largely on the problems besetting Motown, actor/professional jackass Johnny Knoxville has teamed with Palladium Boots to produce "Detroit Lives," a 30-minute documentary highlighting what's right with the city.

The first part, through film-strip footage and talking head commentary, provides a quick story of the rise and fall of the city. Then, local artists, activists, restaurateurs and musicians step up to talk about opportunity for creativity and commerce:





In the second part, Knoxville tours the city with two members of longtime local band The Dirtbombs, talks with MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, tromps through a dilapidated movie and music theater, and even strolls through Berry Gordy's former mansion:






In the third and final part, Knoxville and guests in his beautiful old Cadillac convertible discuss urban farming, explore an old Cadillac factory, hang out in an old industrial building that's been converted to artist lofts, and learn about Detroit's DIY ethic. Stick around 'til the end to see the Heidelberg Project: