DTLA by 4x5

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

The clearest days in Los Angeles are immediately after rain showers.

It rained yesterday.

Rogue Wave's "D Tour"

Evan and Pat. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

I had another “hey I know these guys!” moment last night while watching TV. Though, this one more somber than the last. I came across an Independent Lens documentary on PBS last night called D Tour: A rock 'n roll film about life, death and bodily functions. It is the story of Pat Spurgeon, drummer for the great Bay Area band Rogue Wave. Pat was born with one kidney. The original transplant he received 15 years ago began failing just as the band began to reach success. The mostly self-shot documentary follows his grueling wait for a new transplant organ as well as his amazing decision to tour while on dialysis. (Which gives the film its name, “D Tour.” D is for dialysis.)

I photographed Rogue Wave for KEXP in NYC while they were there for the CMJ music festival in 2005. They seemed like really nice guys. Really driven, nice guys. They were obviously a tight group but after seeing this documentary I had no idea to what depth.

This moving film is eye-opening. Stunning. It touches on love, friendship, passion, loyalty, endurance and the incredible pain that comes with heart-wrenching life-and-death medical decisions. It also touches on the very timely topic of the state of healthcare in America. I’ve met so many musicians over the years that have no health insurance. Not out of complacency, but simple financial necessity. And on occasion, one of them gets injured or sick. But I can tell you that every time that happened, the wagons were circled, benefit shows were booked and healthcare simply becomes friendcare. The story of Pat Spurgeon, and his former bandmate and close friend Evan Farrell, is as inspirational as it is heart-wrenching.

And I can think of no better time for people to see this than now. Now that legislators are deciding who lives and who dies based on how much of a premium they can afford.

Getty Center

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

We have a friend in from out of town. Perfect excuse to go to the Getty Center. If you have never been to this museum, you have not seen one of the best museums on the planet.


The West. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


The hand of Saint Ginés. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Cirque du Santa Monica

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Cirque du Soleil is currently in Santa Monica. The tent is adjacent to the pier, on the North side.

The first time I saw the chapiteau was in 1986, when it suddenly appeared in the parking lot of the old Navy Hospital in Balboa Park in San Diego. I was in high school and my only exposure to the circus was the kind that smelled like elephant poop.

I remember walking up to the tent, nearly 25 years ago, to inspect the odd behemoth. I circled it like it was a beached whale, or an asteroid that just landed in a corn field, trying to figure out what it was and why it was there. At the time, no one had heard of this French circus with an unpronounceable name. It was early in the day, so no one was there yet. Even the ticket trailer was closed. But the price list was in the window. I remember saying out loud, "Fifteen dollars?! For a circus ticket? Yeah... right. Good luck with that here in the U.S."

Last night, I approached a very similar tent again—with the same sense of awe. Music pounded inside the tent as I looked through the ground glass, sea air blowing under the focusing cloth. A show was in progress.

A lot has changed in the years since. Not least of which is the ticket price.

Michael Lehrer - Architect

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Earlier this week I photographed award-winning architect and art teacher Michael Lehrer at his studio in Silverlake for Architect Magazine. It's a wonderful, open-floor former manufacturing building directly adjacent to a preschool. Michael is a big proponent of artistic "cross-pollination" and the value of playfulness in design. During the day, they open two huge garage doors and the studio is instantly filled with a soundtrack of children playing. I imagine some of those squeals and the laughter make it to the final design of some of their buildings.

Once a month, they order pizza and host a night of life-drawing. Also, there's a workshop where designers are encouraged to use their hands after hours of just their brains. The small, cramped little workshop has birthed composite resin chairs, end tables made from old catalogs and coffee tables with legs shaped like deer hooves.

Michael was a great subject. Open, playful and talkative, he made my job incredibly easy.

He also had two dogs, Lolita and Ginger. They had their photo taken as well. But you'll have to wait til the issue comes out to see them in their debut.


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Credits
Production Manager: Pamela Sunnarborg
Photo Assistant: Jeff Johnson

On the Road - Farewell Ryan & Julie

Goodbye, home. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

By pure providence, my trip to Seattle coincided with the departure of two of my best friends from the Emerald City. I met Ryan first, circa 2004, through the music community. Sometime thereafter Ryan began dating "The Girl Next Door." Literally. They were neighbors. They fell in love. Happily ever after, etc. Since then, they have been friends, confidants and double-date partners.

They lived in a small, 20s era courtyard apartment complex officially known as "The Taylor Court Apartments." Unofficially known by residents as "Ghetto Melrose Place" or just "Ghetto Melrose." Anyone who visited them or participated in their epic barbecues or annual Halloween Party can attest to the wonderful spirit at that place.

When Pamela and I left Seattle back in Summer '08, our very last stop before hitting the road for SoCal was Ghetto Melrose. And it was there that Ryan took the last photos of us as residents of the 206. The photos were beautiful, lyric.

Since I was present for their last day there as well, I took the photo above as payback. And though not nearly as artful as Ryan's, I think I captured the feeling quite well.


Progress looms. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Not unlike us, a few years back they became restless. They were changing. Seattle was changing. Some changes were subtle, some not. The seven story condo abomination built behind their building that brought nearly a year of construction noise and stole their late afternoon sunlight was an obvious one. And the last one.


Home Sweet Home 2.0. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

As of last week, they are residents where the nights are long, the stars bright: Texas. Austin specifically. I felt honored to be there as they said goodbye to the city that changed all of us. I know it was just as emotionally confusing as when we left. I was glad I could be there.

The Rainier beer tallboys and Ryan's incredible bbq fish sandwiches didn't exactly hurt either.

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 4)

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On a quiet, winding road alongside Lake Washington there is a small nondescript grassy park with a small lonely bench. A casual passerby may not even notice it. When I lived in Seattle I must have driven by it 20 times and never even saw it. That is, until one walks up to the bench to find it covered in scribbles and carvings written to "Kurt." That Kurt would be Kurt Cobain and that park sits adjacent to the house were he died 15 years ago.


"Sorry about the Guitar Hero thing." (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Officially, it's called Viretta Park. Informally, it's known as "Kurt's Park" and is the defacto Cobain memorial in Seattle. Every time I've visited it's a completely new bench, covered in messages like a guestbook. I've always been fascinated by the way people communicate indirectly like this. A long conversation taking place between people, separately, all drawn together by a single purpose or the emotions of loss.


Rest in Peace. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

I visited Kurt's Park this time with my 15 year old nephew. He's a huge Nirvana fan. It dawned on me as I photographed him at the park that he was born the year Kurt died. He's a physical reminder of the time that's gone by since that horrible day. As I watch this long-haired rebellious kid, who loves playing his guitar, wearing Converse sneaks with "Endorsement" written in Sharpie marker on the toes, I realize that Kurt really does live on.

Endless, Nameless.



Smoke offering. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 3)

Mudhony (sic). (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Grunge history in the throne room of Scott Colburn's recording studio/church in Ballard.

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 2)

Lake Union from the Space Needle. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 1)

Tall boy. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

A slab of meat.
A can of beer.
And thou.