(Pics) The 90021 Project Captures The Spirit of L.A. Art District

The impetus for William Anthony‘s 90021 project was prompted by his move to the Los Angeles Arts District. Equipped with a camera and the curiosity to explore what made one of Los Angeles’ most creative and under-appreciated neighborhoods shine was the entry point. The 90021 project captures the everyday spirit of a community pulsing with creativity, artists, urban developers, city workers, and street art all providing a backdrop for which many familiar television shows are shot. Anthony’s photographs are a walking journey under bridges, encounters with smiling security guards, fast cars, and a perspective of downtown Los Angeles taken from the Arts District. Anthony describes exactly how the 90021 project found him:

The 90021 Project was a project that I didn’t seek out, it found me. Ask just about anyone, 2009 was a bad year for business, so during the downtime, I chose to take my newfound spare time and explore my then-new neighborhood, the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles. Lemonade from lemons right? What originally started as a casual, personal exploration of the unique architecture surrounding me soon turned into an all-encompassing cross-section of the curious residents, business owners, structures, culture and history of one of the most prolific, but unrecognized neighborhoods in Los Angeles.Portraits, landscapes and documentary photographic opportunities presented themselves to me and I snapped away with abandon. Quickly, I began to realize what a unique perspective I was afforded. Many residents of this area were unaware of some of their amazing neighbors.  I quickly received positive feedback from many around me. And they asked for more stories. Nearly two years on, I now have a wonderful catalog of those stories.

90021 Project