Los Angeles City officials have decided Downtown LA has an arts district, and named it as such, but they are also fining the owner of the Down and Out Bar for a mural painted on the windows of his business because he and the artist Emmeric James Konrad did not go through the appropriate approval and permitting process. According to Konrad a mother walking by was offended by the painting, feeling it encouraged drinking. She complained. And the Down and Out now faces a fine for each day the mural stays up.

WTF? This is on private property, and while it is visible to the public, it’s art. In a city-sanctioned arts district. Artists have a plan though. Check out the link above…

And on Saturday March 6th, Bill Shire Fine Arts in Culver City closes its doors. BSFA was Shire’s five-year foray into the Westside, but the economy, the economy, the economy…

Avatar of lowbrow popculture and patron of the arts–and creative thinkers in general–Billy Shire opened Soap Plant/Wacko/La Luz de Jesus on Melrose Avenue selling cool kitschy gifts, and astounding selection of books, toys, jewelry, collectibles, and clothing, along with beautiful sequined Vodou flags and heaps of folk art, and just about everything underground, cool and amazing–along with Soap Plant’s own brand of soaps, scented oils, and make-up. Their red lipstick is fabulous!

The store also provided employment for hordes of underground señors and sceneristas whose attitudes and tattoos kept them out of mainstream straight jobs.

The underground river of alternative culture had found a Delphic spring, and Billy’s vision, the artists and styles he championed and the people he hired have created geysers of creativity that resonate around the world.

His gallery, La Luz de Jesus, above the Soap Plant showed up-and-coming artists who have since become art world names: Robert Williams, Coop, Kozik, Shag, Aaron Smith, Anthony Ausgang, Stacey Lande and many, many, more.

When Melrose Avenue rents skyrocketed in the late 90s, Billy moved his underground culture emporium to a larger space on Hollywood Blvd, east of Vermont. Then in 2005 as Culver City was developing an arts district, opened Billy Shire Fine Arts. BSFA had a successful run for half a decade showcasing a wide range of artists including Kozik, Shag, Gary Panter, Elizabeth McGrath, Miriam Wosk, and a group show curated by Aaron Smith.

On March 6th, BSFA will close at this location and move to the East Hollywood gallery space Shire is building onto Soap Plant/La Luz. The final BSFA exhibits, Dave McKean’s “New Works Inspired by Early Cinema” and “Nitrate and Kinogeists: Rare Silent Film Posters” illuminate and reflect the importance of Hollywood, the dream factory and its cinematic sister, Culver City. Fitting too, because Billy Shire has shaped and manifested the dreams of the City of Angels.