Mystery Medicine Cabinet Art Popping Up Downtown
Ed Fuentes
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — When I first saw the wood, hand-painted white box with a red cross installed on a 2nd and Santa Fe light pole over in the Arts District, I thought it was a prop First-Aid kit for a film shoot a few feet away. But then I saw another, this time in Little Tokyo.
It's public art that takes a familiar symbol and alters its meaning, but what exactly are these boxes trying to say?
Those curious enough to open the door will find the unlocked boxes do not carry bandages, but toys instead. The Arts District box contains a locomotive, while Little Tokyo's offers a large plastic toy solider.
The project's purpose is not as clear as Ari Kletzky’s signs marking "Islands of LA", nor is it as political as Richard McDowell's past Downtown installations, including this from 2005.
Without an obvious message, viewers are left to make one up. That's something you all do pretty well, so let's hear it: What's your take on the message of the mystery medicine boxes?
William on August 30, 2008, at 06:42PM – #1
HAHA I thought the same thing when I saw one of those on Flower between Olympic and 9th...I opened it thinking it might be a first aid kit for some movie shoot or something, and inside was a bunch of play money! HAHA If only they were real..haha
William on August 30, 2008, at 06:44PM – #2
I shouldve added this on my previous post: Maybe i'ts trying to tell us that its easy to set up a basic first aid kit for emergencies, as easy as taking the toy thats inside the box..i dont know? thats what i think
Benjamin Pezzillo on August 30, 2008, at 07:56PM – #3
Maybe it's that the first aid for society includes more toys and random humor.
Juanito on August 30, 2008, at 08:05PM – #4
Perhing Square. Could it become an emergency kit for Downtown? For all of L.A.?
Dave Bullock (@eecue) on August 31, 2008, at 03:12PM – #5
Penelope and I saw it and she guessed that perhaps it would be a box full of clean needles.
historic flipinouttown on September 03, 2008, at 09:00AM – #6
Perhaps it is my own arrogance, but when to me the message seems fairly clear. If medicine boxes are usually filled with things to make us feel better and healthier, then a toy inside a medicine box is perhaps encouraging us to have more fun to be healthier/happier?
lisapie on November 04, 2008, at 12:03AM – #7
The one I saw in Chinatown near the corner of Spring Street and Ord had chicken feet in it. It's possible that it used to be a more complete toy but perhaps someone took off the rest of it? I took a photo of it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hilisapie/3002292520/