Downtown of the Corn

Evan of the Corn: Blogger Baby examines one of the stalks

Now's the perfect time to visit the Not A Cornfield massive art project downtown. Most of the stalks tower from 10 to 12 feet; the corn is ready to be harvested; and most importantly, the entire exhibit itself won't be around much longer.

After years of planning, L.A. artist Lauren Bon finally got her wish this year, and transformed 32 acres of an empty industrial brownfield (slated to eventually become a park) into a cornfield for one agricultural cycle. From the official website:

At the harvest, the corn will be moved to another site where it will be dried out and then displayed and eventually used for the production of biodegradable containers. This temporary project is located just North of Chinatown and South of Lincoln Heights on a large stretch of land well known as “The Cornfield."

Maria, Evan and I checked it out on Saturday. It was overcast -- which unfortunately meant downtown's skyscrapers were almost invisible, preventing us from experiencing that odd contrast of a cornfield in an urban setting. But fortunately, the deep haze gave us an entirely different experience -- in a way, we were transferred back in time, before L.A. had a skyline, and back when corn was actually grown on this land.

Some shots:


South entrance


The cornfield's central pathway


The grasses adjacent to the cornfield has become a popular spot for artists; at least four people were painting the fields on Saturday


A fire pit serves as the cornfield's gathering place


Hay bales doubling as seats; I assume for the various lectures and events held here


View south from the fire pit; you can vaguely make out the city skyline in the haze

Back to the "Not a Cornfield" website. Artist Bon explains her motivation:

The corn itself, a powerful icon for millennia over large parts of Central America and beyond, can serve as a potent metaphor for those of us living in this unique megalopolis. This work follows a rich legacy of radical art during the 20th century on a grand scale. I intend this to be an event that aims at giving focus for reflection and action in a city unclear about where it's energetic and historical center is.

With this project I have undertaken to clean 32 acres of brownfield and bring in more than 1,500 truck loads of earth from elsewhere in order to prepare this rocky and mixed terrain for the planting of a million seeds. This art piece redeems a lost fertile ground, transforming what was left from the industrial era into a renewed space for the public.

Several events regularly take place at the field. Next weekend, a four-day-long special event celebrates the beginning of the Not A Cornfield corn harvest, as well as the holidays of Halloween (October 31), and The Day of The Dead (November 1-2). Kids are invited to the Halloween event (5 to 9 p.m.), which includes electronica music by The Aliens.