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Aluminum Riders
By Edwin Vasquez

A sudden thunder rolls through Weller Court
not from the sky, but from the ground
where the quiet steel of the monument stands,
anchored while the city moves around it.

The brick pavers amplify the roar,
a mechanical rumble echoing off the glass,
yet in the center of the rushing tide
everything feels calm.

They glide past my camera lens,
completely relaxed, completely respectful,
throwing up hand gestures of approval
as they blur into the Los Angeles afternoon,
leaving only the fading hum of wheels
and the quiet steel of the shuttle behind.

Had a wild, cinematic moment in Little Tokyo on May 23rd.

I stopped to photograph the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Shuttle monument at Weller Court. Just as I was framing the shot, a deep, rolling thunder filled the plaza. It honestly sounded like a shuttle was preparing for liftoff.

I turned around to find a massive group of over 50 people, both male and female, riding foot powered scooters. They were moving fast in the direction of City Hall, and the sound was amplified like crazy because of the brick pavers in the plaza.

I was right in the middle of it all and managed to photograph some of the riders. Even though they were flying by, everyone was completely relaxed and respectful. Some even threw up hand gestures of approval as they passed. Talk about perfect timing.

#LittleTokyo #WellerCourt #LosAngeles #StreetPhotography #ChallengerMemorial #UrbanMoments

Had a wild, cinematic moment in Little Tokyo on May 23rd.

I stopped to photograph the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Shuttle monument at Weller Court. Just as I was framing the shot, a deep, rolling thunder filled the plaza. It honestly sounded like a shuttle was preparing for liftoff.

I turned around to find a massive group of over 50 people, both male and female, riding foot powered scooters. They were moving fast in the direction of City Hall, and the sound was amplified like crazy because of the brick pavers in the plaza.

I was right in the middle of it all and managed to photograph some of the riders. Even though they were flying by, everyone was completely relaxed and respectful. Some even threw up hand gestures of approval as they passed. Talk about perfect timing.

#LittleTokyo #WellerCourt #LosAngeles #StreetPhotography #ChallengerMemorial #UrbanMoments

Had a wild, cinematic moment in Little Tokyo on May 23rd.

I stopped to photograph the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Shuttle monument at Weller Court. Just as I was framing the shot, a deep, rolling thunder filled the plaza. It honestly sounded like a shuttle was preparing for liftoff.

I turned around to find a massive group of over 50 people, both male and female, riding foot powered scooters. They were moving fast in the direction of City Hall, and the sound was amplified like crazy because of the brick pavers in the plaza.

I was right in the middle of it all and managed to photograph some of the riders. Even though they were flying by, everyone was completely relaxed and respectful. Some even threw up hand gestures of approval as they passed. Talk about perfect timing.

#LittleTokyo #WellerCourt #LosAngeles #StreetPhotography #ChallengerMemorial #UrbanMoments

Had a wild, cinematic moment in Little Tokyo on May 23rd.

I stopped to photograph the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Shuttle monument at Weller Court. Just as I was framing the shot, a deep, rolling thunder filled the plaza. It honestly sounded like a shuttle was preparing for liftoff.

I turned around to find a massive group of over 50 people, both male and female, riding foot powered scooters. They were moving fast in the direction of City Hall, and the sound was amplified like crazy because of the brick pavers in the plaza.

I was right in the middle of it all and managed to photograph some of the riders. Even though they were flying by, everyone was completely relaxed and respectful. Some even threw up hand gestures of approval as they passed. Talk about perfect timing.

#LittleTokyo #WellerCourt #LosAngeles #StreetPhotography #ChallengerMemorial #UrbanMoments

Had a wild, cinematic moment in Little Tokyo on May 23rd.

I stopped to photograph the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Shuttle monument at Weller Court. Just as I was framing the shot, a deep, rolling thunder filled the plaza. It honestly sounded like a shuttle was preparing for liftoff.

I turned around to find a massive group of over 50 people, both male and female, riding foot powered scooters. They were moving fast in the direction of City Hall, and the sound was amplified like crazy because of the brick pavers in the plaza.

I was right in the middle of it all and managed to photograph some of the riders. Even though they were flying by, everyone was completely relaxed and respectful. Some even threw up hand gestures of approval as they passed. Talk about perfect timing.

#LittleTokyo #WellerCourt #LosAngeles #StreetPhotography #ChallengerMemorial #UrbanMoments

Had a wild, cinematic moment in Little Tokyo on May 23rd.

I stopped to photograph the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Shuttle monument at Weller Court. Just as I was framing the shot, a deep, rolling thunder filled the plaza. It honestly sounded like a shuttle was preparing for liftoff.

I turned around to find a massive group of over 50 people, both male and female, riding foot powered scooters. They were moving fast in the direction of City Hall, and the sound was amplified like crazy because of the brick pavers in the plaza.

I was right in the middle of it all and managed to photograph some of the riders. Even though they were flying by, everyone was completely relaxed and respectful. Some even threw up hand gestures of approval as they passed. Talk about perfect timing.

#LittleTokyo #WellerCourt #LosAngeles #StreetPhotography #ChallengerMemorial #UrbanMoments

Nothing makes me happier than seeing my girls smiling. #LosDodgers #dodgers

Nothing makes me happier than seeing my girls smiling. #LosDodgers #dodgers

My wife and I surprised our daughter Caroline with baseball tickets for her birthday and graduation gift. She loves Los Dodgers. Game starts at 6:10pm.

Captured this split-second moment at the opening reception of the We’re Very Well-Read exhibit. I initially had my camera set to black and white, but the raw, unfiltered colors at the entrance were just too perfect to strip away. There is a deep, quiet rhythm to how the light cuts across the entrance, framing a poignant, fleeting glimpse into the creative soul of the artist standing quietly. If you happen to recognize the artist standing here, please tag him in the comments.

Exhibition: We’re Very Well Read
Location: Mural Conservancy of Los Angele
Curated by: Mat Gleason

#StreetPhotography #MuralConservancyLA #WereVeryWellRead #PerfectMoment #StorytellingThroughLens LAArtists UrbanRhythm matgleason @followers

Happy Birthday to my daughter Caroline. So proud of this young lady.

With my fellow artists at the opening of We’re All Well Read withKelly Berg and Alex Couwenberg whose work has inspired me for so long makes me happy.

Thank youMat Gleason for curating with conviction and vision. Grateful beyond words.

#WereAllWellRead #ContemporaryArt #LAArtScene #GratefulArtist #ArtOpening #KellyBerg #AlexCouwenberg #MatGleason

Celebrating our daughter Caroline’s pre-birthday.

Celebrating our daughter Caroline’s pre-birthday.

Celebrating our daughter Caroline’s pre-birthday.

Huge thank you to Michigan writer and friendJeanette Huffmanfor bringing “Between The Lines”podcast to my home studio. Co-host Rich Kopacz couldn't make it this time, but we still had an incredible conversation about my art practice, process, and the stories behind these walls.

This was the first time Jeanette has recorded Between The Lines in a home studio setting, honored that it happened here surrounded by the work.

So grateful for the connection and the deep dive into creativity.

#BetweenTheLinesPodcast #JeanetteHuffman #RichKopacz #StudioVisit #ArtPractice #MichiganAuthor #multidisciplinaryartist

From my ongoing series: American Flags.

Some days I carry a camera. Some days I only have my phone. The flag does not wait for either.

All images in the series are black and white. Photographed around the US.

My understanding has always been that the flag should be respected and displayed honorably.

This work documents how that idea lives on the street.

#AmericanFlagsSeries #BlackAndWhitePhotography #StreetPhotography #DocumentaryPhotography #ShotOnCamera #ShotOnIphone #AmericanFlag #EverydayAmerica #EdwinVasquez

To decompress I am starting making a new mixed media robot. No name yet or what it’s function will be int the realm of my bot collection. This is a great way for me to relax while ideas patiently wait for their turn.

To decompress I am starting making a new mixed media robot. No name yet or what it’s function will be int the realm of my bot collection. This is a great way for me to relax while ideas patiently wait for their turn.

To decompress I am starting making a new mixed media robot. No name yet or what it’s function will be int the realm of my bot collection. This is a great way for me to relax while ideas patiently wait for their turn.

A few days after the opening of The Starborn Fragments (Fragmentos Nacidos de las Estrellas), I can finally think clearly!

Opening day was an absolute dream. I was so nervous and tired that I forgot to eat breakfast and lunch! I deeply apologize to any friends, artists, and collectors I missed thanking personally. I am so grateful for the photos taken by family and friends.

Seeing so many local artists there was a beautiful surprise. Many of you asked about my digital piece, Blessing. It took over a year to create on my iPad using Procreate. The glyphs are my own creative design, deeply inspired by the culture of my native Guatemala.

A true highlight was speaking with Dr. Bruce Love, an eminence in archaeology and the Mayan Civilization. He gently noticed one of my pieces was placed the wrong way and showed me how to turn it. His approval of the installation was the cherry on top!

This project would not exist without this amazing community:

• Robert Benitez for the portfolio review and advice
• Heber R Mayen for his tireless help and spot on advice
• Artist Marthe Aponte for gifting the central canvas
• Maestro Warren Scherich and Artist Karen N Mellor for the clay and firing the masks at
At their studio in Quartz Hill, California
• Jo and the amazing Lancaster Museum MOAH team for their wonderful support

Thank you all for celebrating this milestone with me and my fellow artists at this wonderful museum Lancaster Museum of Art and History - MOAH

#TheStarbornFragments #FragmentosNacidosDeLasEstrellas #EdwinVasquezArt #MOAH #LancasterMuseum #GuatemalanArt #DigitalArt #ProcreateArt #MayanInspiration #CommunityOfArtists #ArtOpening #ClaySculpture #SupportLocalArtists #ContemporaryArt #Summer2026exhibitionseason