Witnesses of LA

Documenting Past Witnesses Who Loved L.A.

By Ed Fuentes — February 14, 2008 — 5 Comments

Ed Fuentes

Mariann Gatto is one of two curators for the El Pueblo Historical Monument. Her office on the third floor of the Biscailuz Building is crammed with personal and professional photos, including a number of her son, an image of the David Alfaro Siqueiros' "Tropical America", and photocopies of photographs dating back to early days of Los Angeles.

In the last three years, Gatto has taken her experience as an educator to enhance programs that present El Pueblo as a living historical document, a staple for children's field trips. It was her personal experience of walking within history as a child that cemented how much impact that can have. Raised in Silver Lake, the Italian-American was embedded in Mexican-American culture sharing those experiences of extended family that included trips to places like Broadway and Westlake.

She recalls walking down Broadway as an eleven-year-old and looking at the buildings, wishing she could just take a toothbrush to them and clean off the grime. — Continued Inside...

On a Day for Remembering, Some Recollections from Downtown

By Ed Fuentes — November 02, 2007

At 6th and Spring on an early Friday afternoon, Sally Pasillas was with her daughter talking about her late husband, Jamie. Sally had just returned from a personal, private Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) ceremony. Earlier that morning she laid a mixed bouquet of daffodils and lilies at a new memorial for Jamie, located at the MTA Transit Plaza. The memorial...

Going Straight to a Source

By Ed Fuentes — September 19, 2007
5 Comments

Controversial cross testimony between a homeless activist group and a developer has been a big topic of talk around the Historic Core, with the conversation including accusations of verbal intimidation by those who consider themselves the torch bearers of professional advocacy. The easy angle here is to find a slumlord and support the storyline. Yet in this...

The Wanderer

By Ed Fuentes — August 29, 2007

The alley known as St. Vincent Court, located off 7th St between Broadway and Hill, has tables hosting conversations that can change in mood and inflection with every sip of espresso. The alley has a Parisian motif that gives some a smirk, but what keeps it from being a manufactured European simulation is people like Baruch Gueron, 64, a master in the craft...

Downtown's Identity is Growing Up

By Ed Fuentes — July 10, 2007

The Los Angeles experience can be felt in the wisdom of a former Central Ave jazzman, or seen in the detailed recall of a veteran photojournalist. Even someone with a youthful timeline can understand how a city is a series of small cultural moments to be documented for others to share and interpret. 21 year old Helen Ly has early experience in the idea of finding...

Reflections of a Photojournalist

By Ed Fuentes — June 18, 2007
1 Comment

A recent Downtown concert saw photographers in the media pool shooting at a furious clip, some cramming the front like groupies. From the side of the stage, another photographer walked with a relaxed stride, eyes focused on the crowd. He glanced at the others shooting as he kicked in his strobes. He lifted his camera and took a shot. One adjustment was made...

Notes from a Former Downtown Jazz Man

By Ed Fuentes — June 07, 2007
4 Comments

With the help of a cane, Downtown resident Arch Belvia slowly headed for cool shade under the trees that line Pershing Square. He was taking a break from working a booth at last Sunday's "Meet your Neighbors" and at 86, he's someone who has seen an urban life that we are hoping for. He now lives at Angelus Plaza, the retirement complex on Bunker Hill. In the...