Saturday early afternoon I filled my tank at Magic Gas, the independent gas station at the cross road of Morton and Echo Park Avenue. While the pump was running I noticed that outdoor the tables had been moved to the outer sidewalk next to the street on Delta. Next to the brick wall was a guy spray painting the wall. No one was trying to stop him. In fact, he appeared to have at least one assistant. At the tables, Chango patrons were business as usual, having coffee, dogs laying at their feet. I surmised that the graffiti art had something to do with the planned opening for Saturday evening for the two-person artist collective or duo of Vague Robot. A press release that had been forwarded to me promised a dejay and snacks. It was planned for 7pm to 10pm, just early enough that I could go to the opening with my two-year-old daughter and three other friends, one of whom is one year old.

We were among the first people there. In time to get a look at the art, which was a mixture of installation and paintings hung on the wall. Paintings of robots and other creatures, other-worldly, influenced by comic book art, a little weird, a little beautiful. I learned that Vague and Robot were two different people. Vague is an Echo Park resident, while Robot lives in San Diego. I had a brief conversation with Robot, who looked like he was probably Latino. He said that he had spray-painted the mural on the side of the building that day.