‘Death of the Golden Child’: WeHo’s newest public artwork

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The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division has installed a new temporary public artwork, Travion Payne’s Heteronormative: Death of the Golden Child, on the ground floor of the West Hollywood Park Five-Story Parking Structure, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. This 9-foot by 9-foot temporary vinyl mural was installed on Monday, February 7, 2022 and is anticipated to be on display through September 2023. 

The “golden child” in the title of this artwork refers to a popular, noteworthy person, whose admiration stems from outside admirers’ infatuation with the “golden child’s” talent, looks, or other attributes. It’s easy for others to only perceive one’s external traits, and so much more difficult and rare to truly understand the internal landscape of an individual. While a person may appear strong on the outside, internally, they may be more vulnerable, more anguished, more troubled. Through this painting, Payne hopes to bring attention to the fact that Black and LGBTQ individuals face an increased risk of suicide due to societal factors and other complications. In this painting, the “golden child” is a reflection of a reality that so many face today.

Artist Travion Payne is an African American artist from Houston, Texas. While he holds a recently acquired degree in psychology, his passion for creating art has never left him. In fact, he likes to utilize his psychology background to create thought-provoking paintings with a goal to emotionally influence the viewers of his work. He enjoys painting portraits using a variety of vibrant colors and textures to add depth to the meaning behind each painting. His art sheds light on controversial topics that will give insight into the issues that Black men face, such as mental illness in correlation with religion, colorism, homophobia, and fragile masculinity within the Black community. Although the paintings feature predominantly Black men, the themes can apply to various groups of people. The paintings also include hidden symbolism, which intertwines with the numerous meanings behind each painting. Lastly, his paintings fuse apparent contradictions, seeking to heighten the experience of the spectator by creating immersive portraiture. His work explores an array of human emotions that are associated with different facial expressions. He has learned through his experiences, both positive and negative, that there is power and beauty within emotion.

 Previous artworks installed at this location include Mei Xian Qui’s Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom; Yuri Boyko’s The Persona, and Rajab Sayed’s Partition

The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division delivers a broad array of arts programs including Art on the Outside (temporary public art), City Poet Laureate, Drag Queen Story Hour, Free Theatre in the Parks, Grants, Holiday Programming, Human Rights Speaker Series, Library Exhibits, National Poetry Month, One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, Summer Sounds + Winter Sounds, Urban Art (permanent public art), and WeHo Reads. For more information about City of West Hollywood arts programming, please visit www.weho.org/arts

For more information about this artwork, please contact Mike Che, Arts Coordinator, City of West Hollywood at (323) 848-6377 or mche@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496. 

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[…] artwork, please contact Mike Che, Arts Coordinator, City of West Hollywood at (323) 848-6377 or [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) […]

WEHO Independent
WEHO Independent
2 years ago

I’m not ashamed for being white. I’m ashamed to tell anybody I live in this city, with these tasteless self serving political hacks running it aka the SHE! I can’t wait to the glorious day when they’re all put out of office

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
2 years ago

Why don’t you move then? What is keeping you here? The rent control i’m guessing…

WEHO Independent
WEHO Independent
2 years ago
Reply to  greeneyedguy

Oh, green-eyed Erickson, or is it Horvath, or both, since you are joined at the hip, you are partially correct. I do have a rent control piedàterre in a chic area of WEHO, so convenient, when I’m in town and not at my other home, 26 Miles Across The Sea if that rings a bell since you are both from the mid-West. I’m not moving, but streetwalker and her boy toy may have to during the coming year when their political careers dump and they retreat to Oshkosh and East Cleveland. 

Last edited 2 years ago by WEHO Independent
greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
2 years ago

Yup just as I thought. Rent control.

WEHO Independent
WEHO Independent
2 years ago
Reply to  greeneyedguy

Yes, but not in Avalon. My tenants aren’t subject to rent control. Fortunately, we all are 26 miles across the sea, where we can retreat from common little schmucks like you and the dreadful SHE.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
2 years ago

Please stay there. You sound like quite the old miserable man. All this anger has to be giving you more wrinkles, Michael!

Michael
Michael
2 years ago
Reply to  greeneyedguy

How can I be angry at you, purple John. After all, you made that great suggestion! A new
Snoopy musical. More royalties! SnoopyPeanuts with a bitchy edge: “Linus Feeds *#GreenEyedGuy to the Great Pumpkin!”

Joe Bologna
Joe Bologna
2 years ago

Totally agree. Thank you for the smart response. I bet green-eyed gal will spout off in five…four…three…

WEHO Independent
WEHO Independent
2 years ago
Reply to  Joe Bologna

Joe, thanks, the green thing is Erickson joined at the hip with street walker Horvath. Probably 2 of the most hated politicians in the history of West Hollywood, with Shyne coming in a close third.

JF1
JF1
2 years ago

The day they are voted out can’t come soon enough. Since they’ve been in control this city has gone down hill. Crime up, homelessness up, division amongst the community up, dictating to police not enforce certain laws, wasteful spending of tax payer money ($80,000+ to paint asphalt)…the list goes on and on. There are five people on the council but they all act with total authority and consider no other opinions but their own. VOTE. THEM.OUT.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
2 years ago
Reply to  JF1

Crime and homelessness were trending up before Erickson or Shyne came on to the council though. You can’t act like it’s because of their presence. Not to mention crime and homelessness is up throughout LA County, California, and the entire country…

Did you feel this strongly when the 2 Johns were there?

WehoFan
WehoFan
2 years ago
Reply to  greeneyedguy

Your friend John Erickson is a narcissist only interested in self promotion.

Last edited 2 years ago by WehoFan
Val
Val
2 years ago

The George Floyd Effect still in place I see. How much longer do we have to feel ashamed about being white for? Forever? Bad enough we have covid to deal with, now this too. Good times!

Steve Martin
Steve Martin
2 years ago
Reply to  Val

It seems to me that it would not be unusal for a Black artist to use all Black models/characters in his work. What I don’t get why that should somehow limit the work’s power to call upon our common human experience without reference to race. I am drawn to the sense of overwhelming pathos on the face of the man in the foreground. His powerful presence makes all the other figures appear as after thoughts who don’t seem emotionally connected to the scene. While I get that the City wants to challenge us through art, I generally agree with Val… Read more »

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
2 years ago
Reply to  Val

How does a piece of art make you feel ashamed to be white?

What are you talking about?

Joshua88
Joshua88
2 years ago
Reply to  greeneyedguy

Good question, GeG.

Val
Val
2 years ago
Reply to  greeneyedguy

not to observant with subtext and/ or unspoken narratives, I see. Oh well.

JF1
JF1
2 years ago
Reply to  Val

It’s the new en vogue racisim and our own city council is leading the charge.