Street artist Jay Shells marks L.A. return
Street artist Jason Shelowitz (a.k.a. Jay Shells) installs a sign at Watts Towers featuring rap lyrics by Crooked I: “Got street power from the Watts Towers to Howard Hughes. How would you become me I don’t Do what you cowards do.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Artist Jason Shelowitz (Jay Shells) cruises in his rental car near the ARCO gas station at Del Amo Boulevard and S. Central Avenue in Carson, where he’ll install a street sign featuring rap lyrics that mention the spot. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Jay Shells posts a sign featuring lyrics by rapper Ras Kass on Crenshaw Boulevard in L.A. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Hip-hop fan Robert Mullalley emailed Jay Shells with dozens of L.A.-centric rap lyrics for his sign project and accompanied the artist on some of his stops on a recent Sunday. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
With a dog on the lookout, Jay Shells is set to post a sign near the intersection of 99th Street and McKinley Avenue in L.A. According to city ordinance, it’s illegal to hang signs on public property without the appropriate permit. “In a lot of what I do, it’s the nature of the work -- you can’t ask permission for everything,” Shells says. “I try to put them on parking signs where there’s really no arguable safety issue.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Jason Shelowitz hangs his sign near Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. The lyric from rapper Evidence reads, “Straight out L.A. -- never lied born in the same hospital Biggie Smalls died.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
A Jay Shells sign on Olympic Boulevard features a lyric by rapper Rakaa Iriscience: “In L.A. the writer’s bench was Fairfax & Olympic at Carl’s on the block that Ethiopians kick it.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Jay Shells places a sign with a lyric by rapper Drake in front of Nobu restaurant in Malibu. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
A sign at the intersection of Imperial Highway and Western Avenue features rapper WC: “Where you at? Western & Imperial. It’s the pure west coast coming out of your stereo.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Jay Shells photographs one of his signs, this one showcasing Ice Cube’s lyrics, near the intersection of Imperial Highway and S. Van Ness in Inglewood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
