Pershing Square: What Was, What IS and what will never be. . .

Being a fan of cartography, typography, illustration and print, I was excited to take some time from my itinerary of fighting, drinking and satire to drink in the Central Library's latest exhibit, L.A. Unfolded: Maps from The Los Angeles Public Library. It is a decent exhibit (the garish lighting against the Plexiglass and protective glass coverings is rather annoying, to state the least) yet one that I highly recommend. The late 19th Century maps on display are small in number but certainly worth the trip; here are a few, after the jump. . .

My primary interest was Pershing Square. Formerly known as Central Park, (the overwhelming relief regarding the end of the Great War and the role of General Pershing in the renaming and later shaping of the former town square was obviously instrumental in the renaming of the space), it was eventually understood to be a threat to the emerging municipal government seated a few blocks away at what would later become the iconic Art Deco city hall building (1928) that more folk know from TV's "Dragnet" propaganda than anything else.

In 1984, Ricardo Legoretta indelibly corrupted the area. "The park has since been stripped of its grass and trees and is now dominated by a 120-foot high purple campanile (tower), a Legorreta favorite." That tower has since become a taxpayer-subsidised pigeon shower of reclaimed water that may as well have been inspired by Duchamp. 

Speaking of pee, here is another shot:

"Legoretta and equally celebrated landscape architect Laurie Olin have designed the square to be a vibrant gathering place and a signature public area for downtown Los Angeles."

Indeed.

Here is a video of the "vibrant gathering place" as seen last Sunday, 26 October 2008.

Thanks, Señor Legoretta.

-BusTard