Landmark #939-2 | Los Angeles County | Visited: October 23, 2011 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
What is it? | The sculpture work of John Ehn is still preserved today on the Pierce College campus! |
What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Old Trapper’s Lodge is one of California’s remarkable Twentieth Century Folk Art 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.”
OTHER TIDBITS: John Ehn was a former tracker who opened a Western themed motel in Burbank in 1941. When business just wasn’t cutting it, legend has it he approached Claude Bell, who later constructed the Cabazon Dinosaurs, figured after three days of observation that anyone could create art, and decided to make his own sculptures without any training! After the motel land was sold, the sculptures were spirited away to Pierce College and touched up by mysterious volunteers! |
How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
|
Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Los Angeles Pierce College Cleveland Park 6201 Winnetka Ave Woodland Hills, CA 91367 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~25mi (41km) — 0.5hrs |
When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |