(Berlin) Wall Project - Berlin to Los Angeles
Berlin/L.A. Wall, 2009 (credit: Wende Museum) |
The Berlin Wall fell in November 9th, 1989. Twenty years later, on November 8th, 2009 a section was permanently resurrected on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles by Los Angeles' Wende Museum. Watch the documentary below to hear from Germans what happened in their country.
Fast forward to to 2012 Driving along Wilshire near LACMA and it's easy to forget that the Wall installation is the largest piece of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany. These 10 sections of the Wall are nearly 40-foot long, but are easily blocked by food trucks lined up opposite the LACMA.
During a visit to the LACMA "Through the Mic series," I had a chance to walk around the Wall. On the street side, you see sections of wall painted by different artists. None of them instantly recognizable to me.
On the opposite side, the Wall reveals three other artists. All of whom are world-renowned street artists: Herakut (Germany), Retna (Los Angeles) and DFace (London.) And overshadowing the Wall is a glass-fronted building with a new installation from Retna. To see it at night, glowing from the lights, is memerizing.
Wall Project and Retna building, 5900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles |
The Wende Museum
Open to the public Monday - Thursday by appointment only from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. (except on holidays). To schedule an appointment, call 310-216-1600 x305 or e-mail ccuevaswolf@wendemuseum.org.
The Museum is open without appointment on Fridays from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. and a tour of the Museum’s vault is offered every Friday at 3 P.M. Admission is free.
Group Visits
For visits by groups of ten or larger please call to arrange an appointment: 310-216-1600 x305
5741 Buckingham Parkway, Suite E
Culver City, CA. 90230
Labels: Berlin Wall, Dface, Graffiti, Herakut, Hip Hop, LACMA, Los Angeles, Obey, Retna, Shepard Fairey, street art, Thierry Noir, Vyal, Wende Museum