The Last Bookstore

A visitor walks through a tunnel of books in the Labyrinth on the second floor of the Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles. The Labyrinth features a massive, chaotic, maze-like space housing more than 100,000 used books, all at $1 each. It features doors that lead nowhere, time-travel portholes looking into an artist’s rendition of outer space, and “secret passage ways” leading into hidden book rooms. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Feb. 28, 2013 4:59 PM PT

The new upstairs space at Downtown’s the Last Bookstore -- called the Labyrinth -- is a porthole into an alternate universe.

A bookcase featuring flying books created by artist David Lovejoy and titled “Diagnosis” is in the Labyrinth. The floating typewriter and paper flowing from it were created by artist Jena Priebe. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

A working light switch can be found in a book in on the second floor of the Last Bookstore. The piece was created by artist Jena Priebe. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

A couple spend time in the science fiction room. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

All books on the second floor are available for $1 in the Last Bookstore. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

A magnifying glass, hanging from the ceiling, brings books into a sharper focus. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

A visitor walks past the “color installation.” Brady Westwater, a volunteer at the Last Bookstore, created the installation by placing books containing red, yellow and green book jacket covers together. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

A visitor is framed by a portal surrounded by books. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Artist Nick Lord created the comic book wallpaper. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Hanging magnifying glasses, one of which features a pair of eyes, can be found hovering over books. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

A pair of books are dramatically lighted. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Brady Westwater, a volunteer at the Last Bookstore, stands next to the tunnel of books. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

A customer walks down a set of stairs next to a piece of art by David Lovejoy titled “Nuestra Senora la Reina de la Libreria Ultima de Los Angeles.” (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

A collaborative piece of art by David Lovejoy and Jena Priebe features portals on a wood panel that give viewers a glimpse of outer space in the science fiction room. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Artist David Lovejoy stands near the Dove Biscuit Studio in a hallway dedicated to artist galleries. Lovejoy’s gallery, LoveJoyArt Studio Store, can also be found along this hallway. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

The breakroom for employees can be found in an old bank vault on the first floor. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

A woman shares a story during a presentation called “Grown Folks Stories.” Members of the public were invited to tell a single story on any subject for a five-minute presentation. Grown Folk Stories was brought to Los Angeles and hosted by Chicago resident Cara Brigandi. The Last Bookstore hosts three to four public events a week that range from open mike to poetry readings. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Visitors make their way through the Last Bookstore, which features a piece of art made of paperback books, background. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)