Did you see the sky tonight at dusk? It made me think of David Lynch’s description of LA.
I arrived in L.A. at night, so it wasn’t until the next morning, when I stepped out of a small apartment on San Vicente Boulevard, that I saw this light. And it thrilled my soul. I feel lucky to live with that light. . . .
Even with smog, there’s something about that light that’s not harsh, but bright and smooth. It fills me with the feeling that all possibilities are available. I don’t know why. It’s different from the light in other places.
From Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity. You can buy it here
Lawrence Weschler has a great piece on the light in LA, and what makes it so unique (there’s scientific proof!) in the New Yorker. It’s in his collection “Vermeer in Bosnia,” I think. Unfortunately not online anywhere.
My first visit here was during an October heat wave with stage 1 alerts, I just remember how beautiful the warm glow made everything seem. Then my eyes and throat started burning.
Weird I just started reading Corey McWilliams “Southern California Country: An Island on the Land” and he talks about this very topic at the beginning of the book.
So yeah it’s the Ocean.
Thanks for the tip, Evan (& John). The Weschler book sounds great. I’ll try to remember to check it out.