To the editor: I liked Patt Morrison’s piece on customized California license plates (“From stamped metal to digital, the strange history of our GLDN ST8 PL8S,” Sept. 29). I’m a local Angeleno and have been residing in Malibu for the previous 20 years. I’ve at all times marveled at what number of Malibuites give a shoutout to their hometown with “BU”-themed plates — “BU BORN,” “BU MAMA,” “BU SURF,” and many others. I began taking photographs of them, and once in a while would put up a half dozen on a gaggle I created on Nextdoor.
After doing that for some time, I had amassed fairly the gathering, and determined to assemble a photograph montage as an artwork piece, which was on show on the native Tracy Park Gallery this summer time. The piece, titled “Bu Plate Particular,” has 122 plates organized thematically (beginning with “BU,” ending with “BU,” “PCH,” “Zuma,” “Pt. Dume,” and many others.). I’ve collected one other 20 because the piece was accomplished, but I’m positive it’s nonetheless a small fraction of all of the plates on the market.
Michael Kory, Malibu
