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Video by Zach Behrens/LAist
The 20th Anniversary for the falling of the Berlin Wall was a big deal here in Los Angeles, a sister city of Berlin's. Thanks to the Wende Museum of the Cold War, Wilshire Boulevard last night was bisected by the 60-foot L.A. Wall, donned with images by such artists as Shepard Fairey and Thierry Noir, who began painting the Berlin Wall in 1984.
About a thousand people gathered for the 11 p.m. ceremony, which featured videos, speakers and music, all in anticipation of midnight when a 6-foot portion of L.A.'s wall would come down. As that moment grew near, the crowd's insanity intensified. Finally, artists and officials tore down the wall, complete with concrete looking pieces of styrofoam. Then... celebratory chaos.
Leading up to the event, 10 segments of the original wall were installed on the grass at 5900 Wilshire, across from LACMA. Noir, along with L.A. muralist Kent Twitchell, Marie Astrid González and Farrah Karapetian, added their own works to it, which will remain on display until next Saturday.
Previously: Muralist Adding Image of Kennedy to Berlin Wall Display on Wilshire
