7.20.2008

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I've been riding my bike on the same street for almost a year and a half. During that time, I've become quite familiar with the friendly faces and signs along the way.

One of my absolute favorite is a large mural for Kim's Driving School. Los Angeles has tons of murals, and I think this is one of the rare ones that combines artistry with a very unique message.

If you look closely (go ahead, click on the picture) you notice a gentleman riding shotgun, who I can only assume is Kim.

Kim is giving one of his famous lessons... to a man in a red convertible. Upon closer inspection of the man driving... we notice that he is in a robe, and that there is something angelic, maybe even divine about this person?

I'm not trying to be irreverent, or sacrilegious... but I think that the mural is trying to depict Kim giving a driver's lesson to Jesus.

On one hand... it could be a proclamation of faith in a footprints sort of way. If so... then I think it is a nice message and good for Mr. Kim.

On the other hand... it could also be interpreted that "I'm so good at teaching driving lessons..." you fill in the rest. Am I reading too much into this mural. What do you guys think?

Do you guys see any funny things while you are out and about? If so, please share them.

11 comments:

Sharlie Kaltenbach said...

Hey Dave, I think Kim is teaching the Statue of Liberty how to drive... message may be something like, "even if you've lived in New York your whole life and don't know how to drive I am so good, I can teach you how! It's never too late to learn!" Just another perspective... We had so much fun with you guys last week. Love, shar

Lemonzest said...

Yes, David. Your friend is right. . .it's none other than the statue of liberty. Notice the flaming torch and the crown upon lady liberty's head. Obviously it's not as controversial as Jesus, but there's certainly a fair share of symbolism in that as well. :D

Dawn D. Lion said...

yep, definately lady liberty. and i imagine there are a lot of new york transplants in l.a., though i admit my initial interpretation was a slightly more rascist: "immmigrants can't drive." whoops.

that's ok, david. it reminds me of an ongoing argument jason and i have over whether or not this t-shirt he has has jesus on it. it has a tattoo-style, greenish jesus figure on it with the words "heaven sent tattoo" - some place in san diego. sounds like a no-brainer, but jason, not being the type to wear a shirt with jesus on it, insists its not jesus but an alien. yeah... the kind of alien sent from heaven. if you ever see him wearing it, ask why he has a jesus shirt on.

David said...

dang it. You guys are totally right. I've been looking at that sign forever and never even came close to that guess. Thanks for setting me straight.

Mia said...

The only murals we have are the Easter/Christmas murals on our local McDonald's. I don't things artful building painting is a highly sought after skill in the Tennessee country.

Sarah Heder said...

I gotta agree with everyone else, it's the statue of liberty . . . oh, I just saw your comment where you figured that out! So, this has become a pointless comment that is just taking up space. Oh well.

David said...

now its so obvious. I've been thinking it was a quasi-blasphemous mural for well over a year.

maybe i just wanted it to be Jesus.

in my defense... WHO said the statue of liberty has blond hair?

am i right or am right?

Maren said...

Who said Jesus has blond hair? :)

David said...

marek,funny you should mention that. There was a chapel in York, England (on my mission) that had a portrait of a blond Jesus hanging on the doorway as you entered. I'm no art critic... But that picture had me longing for the old del. Parsons standard.

MF said...

Notice, too, that KIM, not Liberty is holding the torch...

What is Kim doing with the torch? He seems to be holding it back behind her so as to be out of her view. Is Kim trying to "lift" the torch under the guise of being a driving instructor?

ToddS said...

David, have you seen this?http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/28/critical-mass-bicycl.html