By Mike Sonksen
FROM: Angels Flight • Literary West

Author, educator and poet Mike Sonksen reflects on the solace provided by public art, books and the creative community in L.A. during a dark time in our world.

It’s hard to find words after the recent, devastating mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, amid the ongoing malaise of the pandemic. I have been turning to public art, books, poetry and our creative community in Los Angeles for some light. There is comfort here for all of us, if we look for it.

“The Light at the End of the Tunnel – Heart of Los Angeles” installation by neon artist and native Angeleno Tory Dipietro reminds us to go forward through the darkness. Located at the west end exit of the 3rd Street Tunnel before Flower Street in Downtown Los Angeles, Dipietro’s huge, red neon heart is 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide, bisected with “Los Angeles” in script, against white plate steel. Neon glass tubes of purple, blue, green and yellow glow a welcoming and bright rainbow of color. 

Dipietro dreamed up this concept early in the pandemic and it took two years to become a reality, in March 2022, with the help of former Department of Cultural Affairs director and neon advocate Al Nodal. Dipietro told me that she loves using neon as a medium because it is not only beautiful but gives light. Her hope was to create a piece to offer light to her city in this challenging time.  In fact, just as of yesterday, she announced an invitation to the Los Angeles community to join at the Candle Light Vigil for Recent Victims of Gun Violence & Silent Protest Against Gun Violence at the installation, this Saturday night, June 4.

As I shared with KCET in September 2021, we can find inspiration in public art, along with books, poetry, and our creative and literary communities–these are the light at the end of the tunnel. We are. Let’s resolve to keep pushing. Together. Read Rest of Article Here