VENICE BEACH POET’S MONUMENT RESTORATION
SPARC was contracted by the Venice Arts Council (VAC), as part of their Endangered Art Fund, chaired by Suzanne Thompson to restore the Venice Beach Poets Monument, one of the most notable public art works on the Venice Boardwalk. The monument was created as part of the City of Los Angeles 2000 renovation of the Ocean Front Walk at Venice Beach. Curated by Fred Dewey, Director (1996-2010) of Beyond Baroque Literary / Arts Center, based in Venice, and built by the City under the leadership of Councilmember Ruth Galanter’s Chief of Staff at the time, Mike Bonin (now CD 11 Councilman). The monument features the poetry fragments by historic Venice Beat Poets: Frank T. Rios, Tony Scibella and Charles Bukowski, as well as Jim Morrison of the “Doors”, Exene Cervenka of the punk-rock band “X”, and actor Viggo Mortensen. The words from 18 poets is located on four Venice Beach locations: Windward Plaza – Recreation and Parks/LAPD Substation building, 17th Street, Horizon Avenue and Brooks Avenue public restrooms along the Ocean Front Walk.
