Like a blushing bride on her wedding day, the Pacific Sunset hotel is wearing all white.
Not an exaggeration in the slightest, this run down and neglected hotel turned reluctant art piece has been painted all white by French artist Vincent Lamouroux. But why stop at the hotel itself when the palm trees, billboards, sidewalk and surrounding fence can all get in on the action?
The final outcome is a giant blob of radiant white that feels more like you're stuck in a dream than staring at a an old school motel.
Located at a busy intersection near Sunset Junction, it shines and illuminates from blocks away, confusing passing motorists and walkers. In fact, most seem a bit scared by the whole thing at first, but that's the point of art, eh?
The hotel— affectionately named the 'Bates Motel' due to its close proximity to Bates street— was once one LA's seediest, and it's a vibe you pick up pretty quickly. Check it out before the makeover
Upon close inspection, you can literally see the ghosts of the hookers, pimps and drug addicts who once occupied the area. It's really got that "shady coke deal gone bad" feeling at every corner, but the shiny white paint helps curb those feelings a bit.
This is supposedly here for a limited time only, so go check it out.
HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?
Silver lake, an area getting more known for its big time development plans than its art nowadays, is becoming a realators dream. The ol Bates Motel, located across from Sunset Junction, was purchased by developers Frost/Chaddock in 2009, with plans to demolish it and turn it into a condo building with ample parking. Classic 2015 silver lake move.
Enter French artist Vincent Lamouroux, who's dream was to cover the hotel in ecologically safe white powder for one last artistic go round. Lamouroux had done something similar in 2010, covering some trees to look like Christmas in an outdoor art space in France, so he clearly knew what he was doing here.
The plan was endorsed by the Silver Lake Neighborhood council, a sort of "goodbye" to the iconic hotel, and approved by the mayor. Even Frost/Chaddock got into the mix, allowing Lamouroux to move forward with his goal at hand (now named 'projection') for over a year before opening in 2015.
The fate of the all white hotel relies on when development on the condos will move forward, so stop by and enjoy!
