Papier maché skulls on Venice Beach

Today in my ongoing series of photos from my travels over the years: rows and rows of beautiful decorated papier maché skulls on sale on Venice Beach in Los Angeles. Link

[#1 posted by zarquon , January 25, 2008 12:13 AM]

I like the lack of scale. I'm imagining them 20 feet tall

[#2 posted by El Zilcho , January 25, 2008 12:54 AM]

It looks like someone skinned all of the bending units

[#3 posted by Santos , January 25, 2008 1:05 AM]

Was this during a "day of the dead" week?

[#4 posted by SarahFenix , January 25, 2008 1:13 AM]

I love these folks!
Everytime I go to Venice, I want to buy absolutely ALL of them!

[#5 posted by A New Challenger , January 25, 2008 1:34 AM]

"But there's a shop on the corner that's selling papier mache
Making bullet-proof faces, Charlie Manson, Cassius Clay"

Also, if you haven't played LucasArts'/Tim Schafer's classic adventure Grim Fandango, I highly suggest you do.

[#6 posted by Jonn , January 25, 2008 1:49 AM]

I love the way they all look like they're staring at the camera. It's like those pictures where the eyes "follow you around the room".

[#7 posted by radicalk , January 25, 2008 4:09 AM]

I actually bought one of those when I visited Venice Beach last year: http://kevin.devstyle.net/VS/index.php?photo=104

It's $10 well spent.

@A New Challenger: Grim Fandango is a must play!

[#8 posted by Rob Long , January 25, 2008 4:21 AM]

Y'r dng lttl bttr nw, Cry. Y cld wrk n yr pht tchnq bt (r t lst mk s f Pht's nhnc ftr), bt ths s nch cltrl slc ct bv yr pl f mshrms, bnk mrl, r Brtsh Msm hd.

[#9 posted by Cory Doctorow , January 25, 2008 6:51 AM]

Rob, you're less objectionable (and more convincing) in your "I'm bored and you suck" pose than you are in your "I will patronize you now" pose. If you have to choose one, I'd go with the former.

Meanwhile, you just go on publicly declaring what you'd do with your opportunities should you suddenly find yourself in a position to address millions and go around the world -- I think the rest of us understand exactly why that opportunity has never arisen for you.

[#10 posted by sebastian6 , January 25, 2008 7:11 AM]

I love these. I took this picture in August:

[#11 posted by License Farm , January 25, 2008 7:24 AM]

Cory: HIGH FIVE!

They really do look like Bender's skull, though. And they're staring into my SOOOUULLLL...

@#5 A New Challenger: I've never played Grim Fandango, and yet I have the soundtrack, which is nicely jazzy.

[#12 posted by Halloween Jack , January 25, 2008 7:30 AM]

#5: I think that you'll be able to guess why I love that quote. ;)

[#13 posted by nicheplayer , January 25, 2008 7:36 AM]

Reminds me of the streetside shops on my recent trip to Isla Mujeres.

http://tinyurl.com/2vrg43

[#14 posted by davy_k , January 25, 2008 9:00 AM]

This artists sells his wares one block from my apartment. Every time I walk buy, I'm tempted to buy one, but so far I've held myself to just the one.

Not too far from him is my favorite Venice denizen, the Piano Man - an immensely broad-shouldered, ham-fisted bloke who looks more like a country blacksmith than a pianist - but who wheels out a thoroughly disreputable looking standup every day and plays the most beautiful, elegant extemporaneous improvisations.

[#15 posted by Santa's Knee , January 25, 2008 10:17 AM]

@#8 Bobby Long: Tedious and predicable as ever.

[#16 posted by favolaus , January 25, 2008 10:18 AM]

My daughter and I buy 2 of these every time we go to the boardwalk. They are $10. We can't help ourselves they are so awesome.

[#17 posted by Santa's Knee , January 25, 2008 10:32 AM]

Pull the string and they say:

"I am Bender, please insert liquor."