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Arts & Entertainment

Venice Beach Poet's Monument Music, Art and Poetry Benefit

The Venice Arts Council presents the Venice Beach Poet's Monument Music, Poetry and Art Benefit featuring music and poetry from Exene Cervenka, Michelle Shocked, Peter Case, Linda Albertano, Wanda Coleman, Ellyn Maybe Band, Frank Rios, Philomene Long’s poetry read by Pegarty Long,  Francisco Letelier, Mike Bonin, Sherman Pearl, Rick Noguchi and Bob Flanagan’s poetry read by Gloria Vando. Proceeds benefit the Venice Arts Council’s Endangered Art Fund Venice Beach Poet’s Monument Restoration Project.

WHEN: Thursday, May 31, 7:00pm  - Admission: $20

Pre-show “Meet and Greet the Artists” Reception 6:00pm                   Admission $100 RSVP (310) 570-5419

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WHERE:  585 BOARDRIDERS, Quiksilver's new concept store,                       585 N. Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291

The event includes a Silent Auction with items or services from: James Beach, Canal Club, Danny’s, Piccolo, Linus Bike, Amoeba Music, Erwin Hotel, Altered Space Gallery, Quiksilver brands, Shout!Factory, “The Doors” script autographed by Oliver Stone, Whole Foods Market, the artists and poets. BOARDRIDERS will donate 30% of proceeds on merchandise purchased the
night of the event. Some restrictions apply.

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Event Co- sponsors include: Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, Quiksilver, Altered Space Gallery, Shout!Factory,  Venice Boardwalk Association, Voice of the Canals, Venice Beach Suites & Hotel, General Real Estate Management, Hotel Erwin, Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow  Harris Hoffman & Harrison LLP, Venice Community Housing Corporation, Venice Cucina, and Amoeba Music. Reception co-sponsors include: James Beach, Canal Club, Danny’s, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Whole Foods Market Venice, and Venice Paparazzi. Media Sponsors include:  90.7FM KPFK, The Argonaut, and the LA WEEKLY.                                                                                     Page 1 of 2

VENICE ARTS COUNCIL:

Founded in 2005, the Venice Arts Council (VAC) serves as a forum for community input on public art, promotes projects that include resident artists and their work, and gives collaborative support to local arts organizations.   The Endangered Art Fund was established in 2006 by the Venice Arts Council, to restore and protect two icon murals in Venice. http://www.veniceartscouncil.org/drupal/node/11

VAC’s fiscal sponsor, the Venice Community Housing Corporation, www.vchcorp.org is a California 501c non-profit organization.  

THE MONUMENT:

The Venice Beach Poet’s Monument (formerly known as the Venice Beach Poetry Walls) was curated in 2000 when the City of Los Angeles renovated the Ocean Front Walk at Venice Beach. The Walls were curated by Fred Dewey,  former Executive Director of Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center located in Venice, with support from Mike Bonin, current Chief of Staff to LA City Councilman 11th District (Venice), Bill Rosendahl. The words of Jim Morrison of the Doors, Exene Cervenka of the Punk Rock band X, actor Viggo Mortensen, and others are engraved in the concrete walls of the LAPD substation and three public restrooms exterior shower walls.  

A list of the poet's featured on the Venice Beach Poet’s Monument can be found at: http://venicebeachpoetsmonument.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/21/
The restoration project includes cleaning the walls, re-etching some of the lettering, applying a protective anti-graffiti coating and maintenance program. Photos of the monument which includes the main wall located on Venice Beach's Recreation and Parks and LAPD substation building and three public restroom exterior shower walls can be found at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/venicevandal/sets/72057594139745013/ .


The total cost to restore the main wall and restroom walls is approximately $40,000.  We have received $10,000 from Councilman Rosendahl and a grant of $1,500 from the Abbot Kinney Festival Association towards the restoration project. The Social Public Art Resource Center, (SPARC) www.sparcmurals.org located in Venice, will begin restoration of the main wall at a cost of approximately $7,000. Therefore, an additional $28,500 needs to be raised for the restoration of three public restroom exterior walls to complete the entire restoration project. Contributions are payable to VCHC/VAC note in memo section: EAF - poetry walls May 31. All contributions of $5,000 or more will be acknowledged on the monument.  For more information visit www.veniceartscouncil.org or call 310-570-5419.

Interviews and photos available upon request.

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