Metro Neighborhoods Poster Series
In the tradition of celebrating transportation through colorful travel destination posters, Metro Art has commissioned a diverse range of Los Angeles artists to create works for the “Metro Neighborhoods” poster series. The intent of the series is to convey the distinctive character and vitality of neighborhoods and destinations served by the Metro network. The selected works are displayed throughout the Metro Bus fleet and Metro Rail system and are available as notecards and as rail card posters through the Metro Store. The series has been awarded a Print Magazine Design Excellence Award, an Illustration Magazine “Fresh” Illustration Award, a Los Angeles Society of Illustrators Award as well as a Tranny Award.
Kyungmi Shin, artist
Koreatown, 2009
Koreatown is depicted as a photo collage of bustling commerce with storefronts, malls, street life and urban signage that collectively provide a one day snapshot of this distinct community.
“I wanted to recreate the feeling of enchantment upon encountering the density of signage for the multitudes of stores and restaurants as you experience the streets in Koreatown; like a mini Korea, a trip back to my native country. The image is read from right to left as one would read traditional Korean books and transforms from daytime to nighttime. This collage creates the sense of intense, vibrant and complex neighborhood that dynamically changes, grows and is there to be explored.”
Cynthia Evans, artist
Hermosa Beach, 2007
Hermosa Beach is depicted in the style of vintage postcards. Evans celebrates the city’s centennial and 100 years of beach culture by commemorating its groundbreaking lifeguard service, iconic pier and museum, a female surfing champion from the 1930’s and the quirky environment of surf and sand culture.
“I wanted this painting to look fun, since the beach is definitely that. It is loosely based on vintage postcards and features old fashioned bathing costumes, a historic map and made up postage stamps.”
Patricia Fernandez, artist
Watts, 2006
What interests Fernandez most about the Watts Towers is the magical quality of the organic, sculptural walls that surround the historic landmark. Much like Simon Rodia, creator of Watts Towers, Fernandez used found pieces of material to design her collage.
“Illustrating my experience of the Watts Towers, I have mixed collage elements into the painting, much like Simon Rodia did, in his construction of the towers. Where he found ceramic fragments and small figurines given to him by the neighborhood folk, I used found fabrics and other paper pieces to create an image of celebration, color, and community life.”
Phung Huynh, artist
Alhambra, 2006
Alhambra was the first city in California with an iron pipe irrigation system. The pipes frame the cultural icons and symbols of the city, including its founder, B.D. Wilson, and depict the community’s diversity, commerce and history.
“Representations of Alhambra’s history are made in my artwork as well as an attempt to visually bridge historical references with contemporary scenes and attitudes.”
Lois Keller, artist
El Monte, 2006
Sculptural olive trees align the streets along Valley Mall, the city’s bustling shopping district, and reference the original barrios. Flower and strawberry fields lie in the shade of the San Gabriel Mountains.
“What began as a mere oasis along the Santa Fe Trail, became the final destination for many immigrants impressed by the undeniable qualities of El Monte. These groups settled in nine separate “barrios” which, over the years, built strong ties with one another, ties that eventually led to collective action in 1933 for improved treatment and wages.”
Sonia Romero, artist
Pomona, 2006
Romero pulls together a wide variety of cultural icons from the city’s history including the LA County Fair, Antique Row, the Arts Colony, the Wally Parks Motorsports Museum, and the goddess of Pomona herself.
“This is a symmetrical design which contains elements from many interesting aspects of the city of Pomona. These include: the goddess Pomona herself, orange trees from a bygone era, low-riders from the many car shows, the Ferris wheel, horse racing and farm animals from the Fairplex, the antique and art colony arches, and the Fox theater from downtown. The style of this piece is inspired by orange crate graphic labels.”
Karl Abramovic, artist
NoHo Arts District, 2005
Inspired by the eclectic atmosphere of the NoHo Arts District, Abramovic has depicted the comedy, musicals and cabarets featured at the Whitefire, El Portal, Secret Rose and Raven theatres. To research his project, the artist interviewed theater owners and representatives of the Valley Theatre League. Madame Butterfly, also one of the characters depicted in Abramovic’s work, was the first play produced at the Secret Rose Theatre.
“The pirate shown in my poster represents musicals such as the Pirates of Penzance as well as children's features performed in the Joy Theatre at the Raven Playhouse in North Hollywood. The cabaret actor represents shows featured at the Whitefire and El Portal Theatres.”
Nicholas Fedak II, artist
Topanga Canyon, 2005
Looking downward from the highest point of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, viewers can see glittering lights that shine like jewels. Hopelessly romantic, the image conjures up feelings of love and dreams coming true.
“I have lived in the Valley since 1978 and love it. I wanted to do something very dreamy. I thought of going on top of Topanga Canyon and creating an image that was ethereal. I shot it in the evening, at twilight, when nothing is clear, where something is like a memory and you can’t explain it in words.”
Ronald J. Llanos, artist
Van Nuys, 2005
Llanos depicts a series of Valley characters amidst the commercial hub-bub of Victory Boulevard and Van Nuys Boulevard.
“My inspiration for the poster project was to capture small vignettes or ‘snap shots’ of different people around the corner of Victory and Van Nuys Boulevard. Urban environments and people are a part of my own personal work. I also have a love for comics and artists that use drawing as a journalistic medium. The overall design was to imply a sort of comic book page layout”
John Trevino, artist
Chinatown 2004
Trevino has adapted the Monkey King character from Chinese folklore to symbolically bridge the gap between Chinatown’s traditions and its emerging pop culture.
“I think that for artist today it’s not enough to just show work on a gallery level, but that we have something greater to offer. With this approach, I feel I would not just increase the visibility of my work, but also the role of the artist as an active participant of the shaping and imaging of the future.”
Sam Pace, artist
Leimert Park 2004
A haven for jazz, hip-hop, blues, poetry, artwork and great soul food- Pace visually evokes one of LA’s best-kept secrets.
“I wanted to capture this unique area of Los Angeles…it’s a Mecca for African American culture, and I feel that it’s time to share it with the rest the world. This project is one way that I can help accomplish this goal.”
Manny Cosentino, artist
Echo Park 2004
Cosentino’s oil on canvas of Echo Park depicts an idyllic setting for a wide range of activities and festivals close to downtown.
“There it was all laid out before me: the palm trees, Echo Park Lake, the boathouse, Rafa doing Tai chi (like he did so many mornings) and breaking through the mist in the distance, the skyscrapers of Downtown.”
Sarajo Frieden, artist
Venice, 2004
Frieden’s playful panorama captures the gamut of fun activities that characterize the canals, beach and boardwalks of this creative community.
“A Venice breeze beckons. Fresh off the ocean, it hints at possibilities or surreal dream. Venice is a place, but it’s also a state of mind.”
Walter Askin, artist
Pasadena 2003 (this work won a Silver Medal from the LA Society of Illustrators)
Renowned for fostering parades and festivals, Pasadena is represented in a whimsical procession of playful characters marching through his hometown.
“…the real joy as an artist is to create work filled with delight, work that is more calm, more serene, more alive, more playful, more energized, more focused, more directed and more life filled for the time that we’re here.”
Raoul de la Sota, artist
Highland Park 2003
Dusk shrouds Highland Park homes and LA freeways while downtown's skyscrapers are sihouetted against a fiery twilight.
“Night has fallen and lights from traffic, houses and businesses glow in the dark. From the reddened horizon the sky deepens upward into night and onto that night is etched the stars and constellations of the ancient peoples.”
Artemio Rodríguez, artist
East Los Angeles 2003
Rodríguez illustrates how East Los Angeles cemeteries honor its diverse history and reflect the community’s sense of family and soul.
“There are at least 6 cemeteries in east LA…I think of cemeteries as a museum, a park and a garden. There you will find beautiful art pieces in the open air, palms and flowers.”
Jody Zellen, artist
Miracle Mile 2003
Zellen is interested in the patterns, structures and design of the urban environment and uses a wide range of imagery culled from the mass media as well as historical archives. Her poster design contrasts the formality and grace of the Wiltern Theater’s Art Deco architecture against the dizzying flurry of business along Wilshire Boulevard.
“In my photographic work I juxtapose images of old and new cities reflecting a sense of nostalgia for the past contrasted with wonder about the future. Through a bombardment of disparate images, my pieces celebrate the complexity and unpredictability of city spaces.”
Bob Zoell, artist
Griffith Park 2003
Zoell is an artist who frequently uses the language of advertising as his medium. Zoell depicts Griffith Park as a whimsical, fun environment boasting many attractions. Covering 4000 acres it’s the largest municipal park in the United States.
“What especially attracts me to the early posters of the 20s, 30s and 40s is the simplicity and minimal thinking in order to reach an audience of a busy modern world. The colors were often very bold and screamed ‘Look at me, forget those other guys, I am very simple, LOOK AT ME’.”