LA’s proliferating and often illegal billboards are a source of great frustration to many – now prompting a crack down by City prosecutors. Kimberli Meyer, director of the MAK Center at the Schindler House, chose the strategy of, “if you can’t beat ‘em, replace ‘em,” with non-commercial messages by conceptual artists. The result is Art In Stead, 21 images spread thoughout West Hollywood and Hollywood (works by Yvonne Rainer, top, and Kenneth Anger). On last month’s DnA, Kimberli and I had a lively discussion about this project, and the nature of art in a time when advertizing appropriates many of the strategies of conceptual art (which in turn has often subverted commercial messaging). And DnA associate producer/Fast Company Design editor Alissa Walker took a tour of all the billboards. Here’s her take.
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