STREET SIGNS - The Wrinkles of the City 2

A couple of months ago I caught an airing of INSIDE OUT: The People's Art Project on HBO, a film documenting JR's global art project that he created after winning the TED prize in 2011. It reminded me of the moving images that the French artist installed throughout Los Angeles that same year as part of his The Wrinkles of the City series, one of which served as the very first Street Signs. I captured another of JR's elderly faces on the back of the building that houses Angel City Brewery at 216 South Alameda Street in the Downtown Arts District. The eyes on this one are particularly captivating.

STREET SIGNS - Wrinkles in the City

One of my favorite things about Los Angeles is street art. Whether it's a mural, graffiti, wheatpasting or an object hanging from a telephone wire, you never really know where you'll come across an installation. I'll be sharing some of my favorite pieces with you through JIGSAW's Street Signs section.

This particular piece, located at 1759 Glendale Blvd. (Echo Park), is part of French artist JR's Wrinkles in the City series from last year. The TED Prize-winning artist left his mark on Los Angeles, from Downtown to Venice, with his massive photos of elderly faces and body parts pasted onto the sides of various buildings.

When I first saw this one, I thought it was a tribute to George Carlin – just using a really unflattering photo. With his crazed eyes the yelling old man is frightening but also perhaps a bit mischievous. You can see more of JR's projects at jr-art.net.