Everything She Touches Turns to Gold
During the Middle Ages (the 5th to the 15th century) and the Renaissance (the 14th and 17th centuries) in Europe, sudo-scientists called alchemists claimed to be able to turn base metals, such as lead, into gold. These so-called scientists were in-fact meshing together elements of philosophy, science, occultism, and theology. Fast forward to 2018, and Downtown Los Angeles is in the midst of its own renaissance with a new breed of alchemy at the forefront.
Enter S.C. Mero, a downtown LA artist who has proudly taken up the mantle of a DTLA alchemist. Born in Minnesota, S.C. Mero first came to Los Angeles to study at USC. After graduating, she immediately knew she wanted to stay in Downtown LA. She was attracted to the city’s state of “transition” and its “energy.” Wanting to get into art, Mero was drawn to the street rather than the easel. Here she adopted the title of an alchemist.
Her form of alchemy is less science and more art. She prides herself on being able to take forgotten Downtown LA places and items and turn them into something of value. This is reflected by her favorite medium, the common penny.
The penny reflects Mero’s belief that anything can make a turnaround and deserves a second chance. For her art, each penny is taken down to its core through a process of scraping. She then breathes new life into them through coloring, polish
ing, and arranging. The pennies, once worn and looked-over, are transformed into something fresh and exciting. But S.C. Mero does not limit this philosophy to pennies. Looking right outside her Skid Row studio, Mero believes that anything can be valuable if given the means to change.
Mero practices what she preaches through her street art. Out and around
Downtown LA, Mero has taken the mundane, like an abandoned signpost, and turned it into something that will make you stop and take a look, like a Barbie stripper pole. She prides herself on being a part of the community and thanks her friends and neighbors for helping her along the way.
While S.C. Mero may not be creating literal gold, her work has certainly drawn the looks and attention of the community to places once ignored. To that end, she has certainly succeeded in giving these places a second chance.
See S.C. Mero’s work on her Instagram: @s.c.mero
