[Update: May 6, 2016: A popup press release at lacma.org now reports that only half of Urban Light will be closed for repairs.]

Urban Light by Chris Burden is scheduled to go dark May 1st for two month restoration. As I found out last night, the site is very popular with photographers. Pros were working on portraits of models and couples. One high school group was working on a video. The regular tourists were taking selfies.

Of course, I took many black and white images with my Hipstamatic app.

Here is my flickr album from last night: 2016 Urban Light.

Five years ago I posted this flickr album: 2011 Urban Light.

The big difference was the crowds. When I visited five years ago, only a few visitors were present - and taking photos.

I talked to a couple security guards. They confirmed the activity last night was normal. Urban Light has definitely become a classic tourist attraction.

The 202 restored cast-iron streetlamps were installed in 2008.

Saturday, I stopped by the Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard, for their VW car show. Of course I got sidetracked by their 1924 Chevrolet Housecar.

I started taking black and white images with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone - and couldn't stop.

The housecar is a 1920s version of a motor home built on a Chevrolet chassis with a four-cylinder engine.

The museum web site reports:

"The body is constructed of wood with sheet metal for roofing and reinforcement at certain places. The interior has the bare essentials; a bed or sleeping platform, kitchen washbasin and storage. Since the vehicles did not travel fast because of engine size and road conditions, it was not uncommon to see accessories hanging from the sides as the vehicle traveled along."

The Murphy Auto Museum housecar is in its original condition with no upgrades. It has remained untouched since its 1920s conversion.

Images were taken with Hipstamatic Jane Lens and BlacKeys Supergrain film. The overall image, above, was taken with wide angle lens on an SLR camera, but converted with Hipstamatic. 

When done, I will have about 20 images in this flickr gallery: Chevrolet Housecar.

In downtown Riverside sits a folk art garden filling up an entire city block. It also happens to be a Mexican Restaurant - Tio’s Tacos.

Owner Martin Sanchez created junk art sculptures, towering giants, a bottle church and gardens full of recycled materials.

For over 20 years, Sanchez has interwoven everything that came his way. I don’t think Sanchez has ever thrown away anything.

I spent several hours wondering – and getting dinner – at this land of recycled fantasy.

I've put many more photos on a flickr album: 2016 Tio's Tacos.

Art work for former Old Trapper's Lodge in Burbank now kept at Piece College in Woodland Hills. Images taken with Hipstamatic app using Jane lens, BlacKeys Supergrain film and Triple Crown flash.

From 1941 until the mid 1980s,  Old Trapper’s Lodge was located at Arvilla Ave., and San Fernando Road in Burbank. Owner and self-taught artist John Ehn filled the site with his folk-art creations.

In the 1980s, the lodge was torn down, but Ehn’s creations were relocated to Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

From a plaque at Pierce College:

Old Trapper’s Lodge is one of California’s remarkable twentieth century fold environments. It represents the life work of John Ehn (1897-1981). A self-taught artist who wished to pass on a sense of the old west, derived from personal experiences, myths, and tall tales. From 1951 to 1981, using his family as models, and incorporating memorabilia, the “Old Trapper” followed his dreams and visions to create the lodge and its “Boot Hill.”

California Registered Historical Landmarks No. 939.

More photos are are in my flickr album: 2016 Old Trapper's Lodge.