Lost Gay Hollywood Deserves a Sculpture – Advocate.com

Many of West Hollywood’s Gay Institutions were forced out of business, this ripped the heart out of our community. Lost Hollywood  will be a multi-media public art sculpture combining Sound and Neon  immortalizing the iconic bars and institutions that closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only affecting the business but also their staff,  family and the local gay community. Drawing inspiration from two of my other neon art works ‘Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places’ and ‘My Heart Is Open’ currently on display at the Maddox Gallery in West Hollywood, LA.

“I walk past the shuttered bars and restaurants and all I see are chairs and tables stacked up in the window. It has become a place I no longer recognize; it is like a ghost town. It makes me feel so helpless, but I know there is something I can do to memorialize these iconic places.  I have started a kickstarter campaign to raise funds to  realize this ambitious neon and sound  public art for our community . The names of the iconic gay places we lost will be created in glowing neon lights seemingly falling from the sky from white neon clouds. Their spirit and memory will live on.” Hopgood said.

The Neon Sculpture Lost Hollywood will literally give voice to the LGBTQ+ visitors and residents of West Hollywood who had experiences at the shuttered places. Recorded soundbites of their stories will be amplified from speakers below the installation. These were the places where we came out, made friends, went on dates, celebrated life and laughed in the face of adversity. Lost Hollywood will be a memorial to the LGBTQ+ community. A clear message about preserving the legacy of these gay institutions and keep their spirit alive for future generations.

The location of the work will be at the legendary Circus Of Books in West Hollywood above Chi Chi LaRue’s Circus. The location  is opposite The Gold Coast, sadly one of the first gay institutions  to close. The work will be on display for 6 months. After which time the work will be donated to the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center where it will be on permanent display.

To support this Kickstarter Campaign please click on the link to find out more information and to donate.

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