December 9, 2008

Last weekend the [Skid Row Photography Club](http://skidrowphotoclub.com/) sold a dozen prints during the [Old Bank Block Party's Holiday Art Bazaar](http://blogdowntown.com/2008/11/3836-126-old-bank-district-block-party-to-let). The turnout was amazing. Hundreds of people took time to look at our club member's amazing photos. Everyone was enthralled by the quality of the work and excited to learn about the concept behind the club. I felt like a carnival barker luring marks to the table, but it was for a cause more noble than a ring-toss. My hard-sell helped to bring people to the table who otherwise would have just passed by. This in turn helped to sell a dozen prints. The deal we have worked out with the club members is that half of any print sales goes to the club and the other half goes to that member. Yesterday at our meeting I handed out envelopes to all of our members who have given me photos. It was great for them to see a monetary response to their work. [Bert Green](http://www.bgfa.us/) kindly sponsored our entry fee for the Bazaar and made sure our paperwork was pushed through. The table was a great idea and I really enjoyed talking to so many people about the project. We also earned enough money to buy another camera! The next step is to update the website so that each member has their own blog, bio and gallery. Their galleries will also allow people to purchase prints online. I am going to try and have this done by year's end. I am looking forward to seeing more amazing work from our participants. Our next show coming up will open during the January Downtown Art Walk at [Raw Materials](http://rawmaterialsla.com/). Come down and see the work if you get a chance! [](https://eecue.com/p/30630/Skid-Row-Photo-Club-Table---Old-Bank-Block-Party-Holiday-Art-Bazaar.html) *A folding table is covered with prints for sale from members of the Skid Row Photography Club.* See also: > > * [Skid Row Photo Club on BoingBoing TV](http://eecue.com/log_archive/eecue-log-1010-Skid_Row_Photo_Club_on_BoingBoing_TV.html) > * [Skid Row Photo Club's First Show: The Beauty of the Street](http://eecue.com/log_archive/eecue-log-1006-Skid_Row_Photo_Club_s_First_Show__The_Beauty_of_the_Street.html) > * [Police Shoot Homeless Man, Inadvertently Prevent Skid Row Photo Club Meeting](http://eecue.com/log_archive/eecue-log-1002-Police_Shoot_Homeless_Man__Inadvertently_Prevent_Skid_Row_Photo_Club_Meeting.html) > * [Skid Row Photography Club](http://eecue.com/log_archive/eecue-log-976-Skid_Row_Photography_Club.html) > > >

My lovely wife [Penelope](http://peneloper.com/) and our neighbor who wishes to be known as *Quietearth* have created a beautiful [Guerilla Garden in Downtown Los Angeles](http://laguerrillagardening.org/quietearth/). What once was an empty cylinder filled with dirt and trash is now a thriving garden filled with drought-resitant, sustainable plants. In their quest to bring more greenery to our mostly paved neighborhood, they go to the garden every few days to water. Every few weeks they plant new seedlings, cacti and succulents. The Skid Row residents who live in SROs nearby thank Quietearth and my wife every time they see them. I think the garden really cheers up both the local residents and the guerilla gardeners. I've watered the plants a few times, but my wife and Quietearth have done all the hard work. It's really inspiring to see the green, sustainable plants when I drive or walk by their garden. A few weeks I tagged along with them when they went to dig in the dirt and install some plants. Here are a few of the photos I shot: [](https://eecue.com/p/30332/Penelope-in-the-Guerilla-Garden.html) *Penelope bends over to plant a succulent in the planter.* [](https://eecue.com/p/30328/Tending-the-Guerilla-Garden.html) *Nearby SRO residents stand around the planter while Queitearth packs dirt around a freshly planted shrub.* [](https://eecue.com/p/30334/Penelope-in-the-Guerilla-Garden.html) *Penelope scoops dirt around a plant she just placed in the planter.* [](https://eecue.com/p/30336/The-Guerilla-Gardeners.html) *The Downtown Guerilla Gardeners stand proudly on the rim of their planter.* [Click here to see more photos from my Downtown Guerilla Gardening gallery](http://eecue.com/images_archive/eecue-album-1543-1-Downtown_LA_Guerilla_Gardening.html).