Skullphone Interview: Public Not Ready For Fake Hacks
Paper magazine goes to the man himself to discuss those digital billboards. For those catching up, last week Clear Channel's billboards carried Skullphone's artwork, leading many to believe the graffiti artist had hacked his way into the boards (in reality, the images were paid for). Some loved seeing the artist up there; others questioned why he'd make a deal with evil Clear Channel, a company that has a stranglehold on Los Angeles. What Mr. Phone tells Paper: "People thought Bob Dylan sold out when he went electric. I guess people weren't ready for it." "To me it's American art. The (now digital) billboard on the side of the highway." For us, the best quote comes when he talks about himself in the third person: "Skullphone has a right to be there."
· Skullphone Speaks! [Paper Magazine]
· Billboard Hack No Hack! Skull Phone Ads Paid For [Curbed LA]
Billboard Hack No Hack! Skullphone Ads Paid For

A source confirms what we already suspected: Someone paid Clear Channel an undisclosed sum for two-day Los Angeles-wide "ads." As previously noted, images of a neon skull were spotted on billboards all over the city last Thursday night, leading many to believe the street artist had hacked his way into Clear Channel's billboards. Street cred: Totally lost for Mr. Phone? Pretty much. UPDATE: Clarified. It's not entirely clear who paid for the ads, but it wasn't a hack. And headline amended. UPDATE: Tony Alwin, a spokesperson for Clear Channel tell us: "The ads were paid for. The party represented themselves as wanting to advertise ads for an art project." Alwin says the party purchased two days worth of advertising.
· CurbedWire: Digital Billboard Sabotage on La Brea? Westside Metro Meeting [Curbed LA]
CurbedWire: Digital Billboard Sabotage on La Brea? Westside Metro Meetings

MIRACLE MILE: Here's a mystery. These images were spotted last night. Writes a reader: "First digital billboard graffiti. Spotted on La Brea and 9th. Clear Channel digital billboard." Since the images appeared between the other crap, ie whatever is usually shown, it's unclear if it was a sponsored thing or actual sabotage. No, we're not advocating graffiti, but we are advocating anything that messes with billboard operator Clear Channel. Next time, how about just no image at all. UPDATE: The graffiti artist is "Skull Phone," a known artist who sells stuff at the Moca store, too. [Curbed Inbox]
WESTSIDE: Metro boosters, unite! Via the InBox: "Another round of “community workshops” on the EXPO phase 2 line will be taking place around the Westside at the end of the month. The meeting to attend, however, will be the third one at the Vista Del Mar Child Services Gym in lovely lovely Cheviot Hills..
More of the email about the meeting. Granola bars!>>