Skip to Content
Art

Our Lady of Gentrification by Wild Life ~ Downtown

10:00 AM PDT on July 27, 2015

Our_Lady_Of_Gentrification-1

A brand new installation by Wild Life went up this weekend as part of the artist's residency at These Days gallery in Downtown. The theme of change and gentrification has long been at the heart of Wild Life's public art, and it's always presented in a way that both confronts and educates the people who walk by and happen to catch a glimpse.

The sculpture is accompanied by a small placard that reads:

OUR LADY OF GENTRIFICATION

Once upon a time, an artist with desperate thoughts was walking down Broadway between 5th & 6th Streets when he glimpsed her through a dirty window of a business that was shuttering it’s doors. As their eyes met, the man saw visions of artists of past history working in the salons of Paris and Vienna and the mannequins they used as their subjects and often a source of inspiration. Immediately, the darkness that weighed heavy on his heart and mind lifted as he recognized the pure intention of the frozen figure. He saw through her eyes the decades she spent staring out at the sea of humanity, their dreams, their desires, and the inevitable tsunami of change that was to crash on the shores of Broadway and wash away those same hopes and dreams. The artist witnessed impossible tears emerge from her eyes and flow down her fiberglass cheeks as he felt her heart breaking. The sign in the window read “EVERYTHING MUST GO!” and the artist wondered if she would have to go as well. At that moment, in his mind, she had become a Saint. She was, is, and will always be Our Lady Of Gentrification.

More photos:

Our_Lady_Of_Gentrification-3
Our_Lady_Of_Gentrification-4
Our_Lady_Of_Gentrification-5
Our_Lady_Of_Gentrification-6
Our_Lady_Of_Gentrification-8
Our_Lady_Of_Gentrification-2

Our Lady of Gentrification, 2015
Mixed media
Wild Life

Photos by Stephen Zeigler.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Twelve Essential Safety Tips While Traveling in Mexico From Tijuana’s Most Famous Security Expert (and Former Cop) 

Ed Calderón—known as 'Ed's Manifesto'—has survived attempted 'hits' on him, witnessed kidnappings, the torture techniques of criminals, the execution of snitches, and even rescued a woman who was held captive by pirates for ten years. Still, he says Tijuana is safe to visit—it's just a matter of doing your research and having common sense. 

June 6, 2023

An Egyptian Immigrant Takes on Birria and Border Culture Outside Playa de Tijuana’s Centro Islamico 

At Birria de Borrego Playas, Mohammed Gamal reinvents flavors of home for those at the border with Egyptian-spiced lamb birria tacos he describes as “Tijuana-style.”

June 6, 2023

Letter From the Editor: Welcome to TIJUANA WEEK!

TIJUANA WEEK is our attempt at fortifying the taco-laced bridge between Los Ángeles (the best in the country) and Tijuana (the best in Mexico). All of this week’s following stories were written by USC Annenberg’s students while in Tijuana.

June 6, 2023

Headlines: LAPD Looking Into String Of Robberies At Food Trucks

At least five food trucks were robbed within a weeks span, according to Los Angeles police. During one robbery, a food truck employee was allegedly pistol whipped. Police say that the alleged robberies might be connected.

June 6, 2023

History for Guanajuato as LAFC Falls to León in the 2023 SCCL Final

LAFC came close to winning it in 2020. A victory would have made them just the fourth Major League Soccer team to win the title, an honor shared by DC United (1998), LA Galaxy (2000), and Seattle Sounders (2022). LAFC fans were left wondering if the third time would be the charm…

June 5, 2023
See all posts