A sign marking Glassell Park as “Glassellland,” a homage to the Hollywood sign and its origin as Hollywoodland, could be making a return this spring.

The original version of the 8-foot-tall sign caused a stir nearly a year ago when it first appeared on a Glassell Park hillside. It was moved and then taken down in fall.

The new version promises to be bigger and better, and we found out why:
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Justin, the artist behind the sign, started an indiegogo campaign to bring back an even larger, possibly permanent version, he tells the Weekly. (The 32-year-old grad school student only wants his first name used. It maintains the guerilla-art mystery, that's for sure).

The campaign had a goal of raising $500 when it started Feb. 6. It already has raised $2,105. The campaign ends March 23.



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The sign is part contextual art – Justin has been doing public projects like this since 2006 – and part signpost. It points to the neighborhood with pride.

“Most people know where Eagle Rock is,” he said. “I'm just trying to let people know where Glassell Park is.”

Justin made a cheeky video about the Glassellland sign.


Last year's sign was made of OSB (oriented strand board), which is cheaper and less resilient than wood. Justin, who has lived the area for three years, says he'll use the cash to buy “plywood and make it more resistant.”

He said he would “primer it, make it more weather tolerant.”

The ultimate goal for the Glassellland sign is even bigger than decent building materials, though. Justin dreams of buying or at least securing a decent piece of land where his sign could live in perpetuity. Justin:

I've been working with people to try to find a place I could buy. That would be the ultimate if I could get enough funds to buy the land. I wouldn't have to take the sign down again. I don't know if I'll make that much money. But eventually I'd like to secure enough money to do that.

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