Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs
Artist Richard Ankrom kept getting mixed up when driving a certain section of the L.A. freeways, so he took it on himself to fix the problem -- and make it a performance art project at the same time. It succeeded exactly as he had hoped: everyone, including the California Department of Transportation, thought it was a "legit" change in the sign. From the 12 May 2002 issue:
Free Weird Newsletter
Give Me a Sign!
Richard Ankrom, 46, an artist in Los Angeles, Calif., planned his latest masterpiece, a combination paint and performance work, for two years: he altered a major road sign on the Harbor Freeway in downtown. He put up his work in broad daylight, but was unnoticed because he was dressed as a road worker. The audience: 150,000 motorists per day. The payoff: no one noticed, not even state transportation engineers. The plan was to announce the project a year later, but a friend tipped off the press after 9 months. The modification, done to exact Federal Highway Administration specifications, helps motorists navigate a complicated transition ahead. "The experts are saying that Mr. Ankrom did a fantastic job," said a Caltrans spokeswoman. "They thought it was an internal job." The agency plans to leave the modification in place, since it is in fact helpful to motorists. Ankrom says helping out motorists "was the whole point." (Los Angeles Times) ...If You Want Something Done Right, Do it Yourself -- Industrial Division.
![[Fighting 'city hall' can be most rewarding.]](http://www.thisistrue.com/images/freeway.jpg) Photo composite of Richard Ankrom modifying a Los Angeles freeway sign -- in broad daylight. To help motorists navigate a complicated multi-freeway junction, Ankrom added the word "NORTH" and the Interstate 5 shield to the far left portion of the sign so people going that way knew what lane to get in. Yet no one "official" realized it wasn't a real change until one of Ankrom's friends spilled the beans. All six people shown in the photo are Ankrom at different times during the installation. (© Richard Ankrom, composited from photos by Jim Payne, reprinted with permission.) |
Most Recent Comments
Posted by Mike from Dallas on November 27, 2008:
Probably the weirdest part of this story is that they decided to keep the improvement. Bureaucracy has never been noted for intelligent decisions, especially when the Rules are much more important than the intent or purpose of the rules, as evidenced in your #748 issue containing The Tomb of Stifled Patriotism.
Posted by Ian, Selangor, Malaysia on December 30, 2008:
Mike from Dallas: that was my thought as well when I read this story again today. But I'm glad that Caltrans has some sensible people in responsible positions.... guess more so than your Federal Government! :-)
Posted by Calvin, Singapore on June 13, 2009:
Well, someone forgot to replace their brains with a rulebook. :D