Central Los Angeles : Art and Billboards Meet to Tout Artists

On a Downtown billboard, above the grit and grime, is the image of a woman, standing with outstretched arms, holding flowers before the Los Angeles skyline. But unlike other beautiful images used to sell products, this poster is selling the idea that there are lots of artists in the area trying to make a living.

The poster’s creators--and the creators of three other artworks on Downtown billboards--would also like you to know about an upcoming $35 tour of those artists’ studios.

“We are trying to educate Los Angeles about the fact that the biggest concentration of artists on the West Coast lives in Downtown Los Angeles, and this is a tremendous undiscovered resource for the city,” said Jon Petersen, president of the nonprofit Downtown Artists Development Assn., or DADA.

On billboard space donated by Gannett Outdoor, the artists are promoting DADA’s first-ever tour of Downtown galleries, museums and artists studios from Oct. 14 and 15. For information, (213) 625-3232.