Valentina's poetry

Vintage footage of the "Hollywoodland" sign, built in 1923 to advertise a real estate development in the Hollywood Hills and illuminated at night so it could be seen from miles away. The illumination was turned off in 1933 and the sign was shortened to "Hollywood" in 1949 when it fell into disrepair and underwent restoration. It was again restored in 1978 and has earned the distinction of being a historic and internationally recognized Los Angeles landmark over the past 102 years, an iconic symbol of the film industry and L.A. in general. With the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area in early-January 2025 and a new fire springing up in Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills the night that I'm posting this (January 8th), the Hollywood sign, the Hollywood Bowl, and other nearby landmarks were (thankfully briefly) under threat, as were (and indeed ~far~ more importantly) the lives and homes of thousands of people, as well as the lives of their beloved pets and local wildlife in the area. With many fires still burning, strong Santa Ana winds in the forecast, and toxic smoke blanketing the skies, Los Angeles remains under threat. I send my most emphatically hopeful thoughts and good wishes to everyone in the L.A. area. Stay safe, evacuate if you're required to, and know that many, many people who live hundreds (if not thousands) of miles away are thinking about you, paying close attention to what's going on, and care a great deal about the safety and well-being of you and your loved ones.❤️

Catherynne M. Valente, from her book titled "Deathless," originally published in March 2011

Kate Moss @ Blumarine 1993