If you’re ever in the Hollywood area of SoCal, do yourself a favor and visit Wacko: Purveyor of Post-Pop Culture! Or simply known as Wacko. I’ve had the pleasure of coming to this wonderful store twice – the first time was 3 years ago, and the second time was this past spring break. When I first stepped into the store, I was greeted by a burst of colorful oddities strewn around the store in a strategic pseudo-disheveled manner that is rather reminiscent of the “messiness” of artists’ studios. If you’ve been in artists’ studios, you know that their “clutter” is actually a sometimes intentional arrangement that prompts a flow of creative energy to entice outsiders to explore and absorb all the eye candy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s so much to take in as one walks through Wacko’s. There are shelves after shelves of books dedicated to pop surrealism, alternative fashion, fairy tale picture books, fetishes, gothic and steampunk subcultures, tattoo art, and endless categories of more topics. But, the store does not only contain books. There are also all sorts of jewelry, toys, and home decor items. They mostly cater to eccentric tastes: I have seen a real vampire bat preserved inside a glass paperweight, chopsticks disguised as nun-chucks, locket necklaces emblazoned with eyes, hourglasses adorned with bats and grim reapers, tarot card-themed dishes, and salt and pepper shakers that look like rare pieces of lamp chop. So much eye candy to browse, so little time!

 

If all the knick-knacks for sale aren’t enough to drool over, there is even an art gallery in the back-right corner of the store, known as the La Luz de Jesus Gallery. The art displayed here is like nothing I’ve seen in the art museums in the Bay Area. The works here have strong sensibilities for alternative subcultures. There are steampunk sculptures made of clockwork gears, gothic and punk individuals painted with classical academic painting techniques, imaginative worlds depicted through drawings, and immersions in pop surrealism. Many of these works have sold for high prices. Given the quirkiness infused with much quality, there’s no wonder that they are such coveted masterpieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful oddities are endless here! Treat yourself out to Wacko if you’re ever around in the Hollywood part of Los Angeles, even if it’s just for a fun time to look around and appreciate the kitschy kookiness. You never know what treasures you’ll find here.

Soap Plant / Wacko / La Luz de Jesus Gallery

4633 Hollywood Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90027

323-663-0122

Open 7 Days a Week

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