On April 28, 'Phase 1' of Los Angeles' Metro Expo line was inaugurated. This new line travels from downtown L.A. out to La Cienega. When I saw news of the line's opening and watched an interview with the artist who's work is displayed at the 'Expo/La Brea' station, I knew I wanted to see the artwork for myself, since he was inspired by a very popular Mexican game, La Loteria.
L.A. Metro gave free rides during the weekend to celebrate the opening. On Saturday, there were over 40,000 riders! Luckily, Fred and I went on Sunday morning when there were fewer people.
To explain, La Loteria is a form of Bingo with a deck of cards, each with a unique picture. When I was studying Spanish in San Miguel de Allende, my maestra (teacher) used the cards to help improve our vocabulary. Within Mexico, the illustrations on the cards are well-known and are featured (usually comically) in Mexican art. I wanted to see how this artist, Jose Lozano, had incorporated the classic images of the game cards into his depiction of Metro riders.
We began our ride at Expo Park/USC and rode past four stations to the fifth, Expo/La Brea. Here are some photos of the trip.
These maps are at each station
We began our trip at the Expo Park/USC Station
Here comes the Metro train
In this video, Jose Lozano talks about the opening of the new Los Angeles Metro Station
La Brea/ Expo with his artwork inspired from the Mexican game, La Loteria. Jose took photos of people riding the Metro system and drew
44 cards that were integrated into panels
with different colors and with his distinctive artist's style background
of faces - all printed on tiles.
La Loteria - This is the Mexican game that inspired the artist's cards
In this game, each player has a card like the one above, similar to Bingo
A few examples of playing cards
When we arrived at the station stop, I was delighted with the artwork. Mr. Lozano made his 'La Loteria' cards come alive with his images of daily train riders. The tiles are mounted in overhead panels, making them easy to see above the heads of crowds--but a little difficult to photograph. I should have brought a ladder!
Here's some close-ups of the 44 cards/riders.
La Artista
El Luggage
Los Boletos (traveler buying tickets)
La Conversaton
La Prisa (hurrying)
The original artwork has been transferred to tile panels with distinctive colorful backgrounds.These are only a few of the panels on display.
One of the many volunteers on hand to help direct riders
Fred being a good sport while I photograph
Each station along the Expo line has its own art theme to view and enjoy. For those in So Cal, I highly recommend an outing and a ride on this new line. In three years' time, 'Phase 2' is scheduled to open and will run all the way to Santa Monica.
One of the many compelling reasons to visit San Miguel de Allende is to explore its churches. There are over 42 churches within its city limits, many of them centuries old. They each have their unique history and architecture. San Miguel's oldest church, dating from 1542, lies a about a mile outside the city, where the first community of indigenous people settled. When a good source of water was discovered further up the hill a few years later, everyone moved to the area that has since become the city's current location. Today, San Miguel's most famous structure and the symbol of the city is its parish church, La Parroquia. A Gothic design of pink granite (almost Disneyesque) dating from 1880, it's plaza, El Jardin, is the center of activity in the colonial old town where in the evening mariachis play, young people flirt, and tourists snap photos. The city's many churches are a photographer's delight. While I was there, I never tired of trying to get just the 'right shot' of these colorful architectural structures. Reading about them and learning their rich history made them even more compelling for me. Here's some of my favorite photos:
That's Max in front of San Miguel's oldest church, which dates from 1542 and lies a few miles outside the city.
A detail of the carving above the door shows two angels hovering over a (parishoner's?) face. The church was built by the Spanish to help in converting the indigenous Chichimeca Indians.
The original ofrenda (altar for offerings) used by the first parishioners now sits alone in a field with San Miguel in the distance.
Templo de Inmaculada Concepción de las Monjas
Templo de Inmaculada Concepción de las Monjas
This old church is no longer open, but its four bells, graduated in size from small to large, must have made an imposing sound at one time.
Nuestra Señora de la Salud
Iglesia. In front of this church is the Plaza Allende (see below)
where there's always activity--children playing, music, vendors selling
snacks.
The Plaza Allende, in front of the Salud Church (above), is a central plaza in the old town. A block away stands the Templo de San Francisco.
Oratorio of San Filipe Neri
San Miguel created its Oratorio in 1712 when it invited a famous preacher from the town of Patzcuaro to deliver a series of Lenten sermons. Don Juan Antonio Perez de Espinoza did such a good job that the Miguelinos invited him to stay and built this church.
Max and I enjoying my friend, Marlene's, roof garden. Behind us are just a few of the church spires we could view--and hear! Each morning there would be a concert of bells.
Night view of San Miguel's most famous landmark - its parish church, La Parroquia.
La Parroquia at twilight. The church fronts on El Jardin, a central park and meeting place for San Miguel residents and tourists alike.
There were torrential rains on the night of Corpus Christi, which fell on June 23 in 2011. The streets emptied out, leaving La Parroquia standing solitary and beautiful with its lights and banners.
