Sanctuary!

I thought the unlocked church was a thing of the past, but when exploring La Iglesia Catolica Hispana de San Judas Tadeo Apostol, the gate of the compound was left open and the grounds unattended for me to wander through and take photographs.  Initially attracted by the front bell-altar to San Judas Tadeo, upon entering I found smaller quasi-altars and iconography.

San Judas Tadeo, Saint Jude, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. In the Roman Catholic Church, he is the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes. His attribute is a club, and he is often shown with a flame around his head representing his presence at Pentecost, where the apostles received the Holy Spirit. San Judas is also often depicted holding an image of Jesus.

Fake Out!

Riding the bus from Little Armenia to Echo Park, I glimpsed a telephone pole sprouting flowers in varying stages of decay.  Returning later to examine what I thought was an impromptu memorial (not uncommon in Los Angeles) I found the flowers to be lashed to the pole with teal and purple yarn.  There were no photos, notes, or memorabilia attached, and so I began to ask passersby if they knew what the flowers were for, or rather, "Did something happen here?"  The flower pole was outside of the Ronin Gallery, and one woman who worked a few shops down suggested that it was probably the galleristas who were responsible.  A man who came outside a neighboring business, apparently a soap manufacturer, confirmed that the gallery was responsible for the yarn and the soap shop added the flowers.  Though "tricked" by the inspired decorations of artists and soapmakers, I still figure the fake-out should be included  in my efforts to document altars and altar-like memorials in the city.

Jankster and the "Fake Out"

Cucumber Pod!