Guerrilla '5 North' sign replaced

Caltrans has quietly installed new directional signs over the northbound 110 freeway out of Downtown, in the process taking down one of Los Angeles' all-time great guerilla art installations. In 2001, in broad daylight, artist Richard Ankrom (wearing Caltrans garb) installed a marker on the overhead freeway sign that for the first time alerted northbound drivers to the upcoming turnoff to Interstate 5.

Nobody complained or even officially noticed for nine months, until the Downtown News broke the story. Caltrans left Ankrom's marker in place, but with the new sign going up this week its whereabouts are now unclear. Michael Schneider tells the whole story at Franklin Avenue, and here's Ankrom's web page about the original installation, which he called "guerrilla public service."

Photo by Gary Leonard