I realized my commitment to this Hollywood project might be unclear if you don't know me well. I love it. I show it every chance I get. I put it under museum glass. I printed it on metal. And I mounted it on acrylic for The Other Art Fair last month.
Why this push to share it when I'm now in a new city doing new work? I wonder myself.
I'm attached to it for several reasons, though the most important is the idea that a photograph can somehow capture the physical, emotional, and spiritual essence of a space. And that most places exist in our minds as well as on maps.
Hollywood (the place, not the project) seems to embody these ideas perfectly. When I moved to LA, I was shocked at how different the area was from the vision I had in my mind. If you've ever been there, you know what I mean. Hollywood is gritty. The "walk of fame" leads to McDonald's or a Starbucks, and the most famous people you'll see are the several Marlyn Monroes and Supermans hustling tourists for tips.
But still– it's Hollywood. Say the word out loud and see if you can help yourself from feeling a bit more glamorous. That's what I love about the place. It is sad, hopeful, mythic, and authentic. That's what I love about the work. Each photograph represents the hopes, fears, aspirations, and dreams I had walking those streets and how I felt them reflected in the sun's rays or the curve of a palm tree.
So at its core, my Hollywood is an invitation– to look at your world with the same set of open eyes and open heart. See what it is that's around you and appreciate it for what it is.
To see more of the project, and its latest iteration in acrylic, head over to my Saatchi Art profile. If you see something you like, let me know. And as always, alternate sizes, substrates, and print surfaces are available.