Coming up from the Pershing Square Metro station yesterday I could hear carolers, but didn’t recognize the song. Outside in the little plaza around the station I discovered why. The carolers from the Iglesia La Luz del Mundo (Church of the Light of the World) were singing Mexican Christmas songs. And unlike most Christmas singing groups they were not in traditional red and green, but rather wearing black suits with turquoise color lace mantillas for the women and turquoise ties for the men.
Winter Holiday in Pershing Square
Across the street in Pershing Square the annual Winter Holiday Festival was underway. Kids and their parents were ice skating. Only children, however, were sledding on the man-made snow. And, of course, Santa was sitting in a big chair listening to children’s wishes for Christmas. Interestingly enough, photos of the children were being taken by parents, not a professional photographer trying to sell them the pictures.
Changing Pershing Square
Recently, the City Parks Dept. added a playground for children in the square because there are so many people moving into downtown so it appears Pershing Square is adapting to changing times. I confess to ‘Liking’ a group on Facebook that advocates returning Pershing Square to its original park-like state. My son, an artist, argues for keeping the purple tower, pink walls, and other 1980 additions. I agree with him.
On one purple wall I noticed there were several large artworks that I hadn’t seen before. Another change with the times? Or something I simply hadn’t paid attention to before? In the far corner of the Square, Chalk artists led by political activist (Of Occupy Oakland fame) and photographer Naomi Pitcairn had begun a huge chalk artwork in support of the climate change conference in Paris. Art, in one way or the other, is all over the Square.
After this visit to Pershing Square in December, 2015 I decided to go on to Staples Center and L.A. Live where I understood there was another ice skating rink open to the public. I will write about that in my next post.
