News
Villaraigosa Honors Swami X; Blows Off Officially Running for Gov
Updated June 23. See below
June 22, 2009. Venice-- We should have known yesterday, when Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa presented Boardwalk legend Swami X with a city proclamation honoring the sidewalk poet, that something was changing in the career of Los Angeles' most avid serial campaigner.
Since his second campaign for mayor, the one that landed him in office, Villaraigosa has stayed so far away from the counter culture you'd think the far left had herpes. And yet, there he was in its bastion, in an event thrown by Venice's collectively run newspaper--the Beachhead--at a building set aside for poets!
And today comes the news, via his announcement on CNN that he won't run for the governator position. Evidently, according to LA Observed (www.laobserved.com), he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer "I can't leave this city in the middle of a crisis."
Many congratulations to the Beachhead for luring Antonio west of Lincoln. The bad news? Now we could be stuck with him.
Given that the Mayor chose to make his announcement on national versus local television, it's pretty clear where Villaraigosa's loyalties lie. That, and, he might have received some tough questioning about the city's current crisis--like why did he not gestate any economy for the city other than real estate and development. Thus leaving the City of LA with little when the real estate market tanked.
UPDATE-June 23, 2009 At least two people attending the event told us that Villaraigosa said his involvement was initiated by memories that he had of Swami X back in the days the mayor attended UCLA and saw Swami X on the boardwalk.
'His presence appeared to be genuine' was the supposition of both of our friends. But you look at that compared to announcing you won't run for gov because your city is in crisis but bypassing local media to make a national appearance about it, and it's hard not to remain overwhelmingly cynical of the man.
Crime Alert
Heads-up on Con Artist Trying to Gain Home-Entry in North Venice
Saturday, June 13. Venice-- A reader sent us a note that a con-artist/possible-intruder had attempted to gain entry to their home on Friday, Tuesday, June 12 at approximately 2:00PM.
The man had said they were a college student studying communications who wanted to do a survey. When informed that the resident did not want to participate they asked to come in anyway or if they could return. The individual was said to be burly, about 300 pounds.
We're posting this at 6:30 a.m. in the morning, and we have NOT confirmed the incident with LAPD, but with this type of information, where physical harm as well as financial could be the result, we try and get the info out as rapidly as possible. Per the reader's e-mail, the con was being worked in the Rose/Rennie area. So keep an extra heads up for your neighbors and yourselves.
Ironically, or not so ironically, the alleged con is happening at the same time as banks and executives of bailed out companies simply steal our money in one of the largest wealth transfers from poor to rich in this country ever. And it's all being done legally. We're not against using government funds to put Americans back to work, but executive salaries and corporate profit levels are way out of control. And it's not a free-market economy, when taxpayers pay for it.
But we digress--be careful out there.
News
Coastal Commission Turns Down Parking Permits
June 11, 2009. 12:51PM---Longtime Venice-business owner Pat Hamilton tells us that the California Coastal Commission just turned down the City of Los Angeles' application that would have allowed permit parking districts in Venice. The vote was 9 - 1 with one abstention.
According to Hamilton, who watched all of this mornings proceedings via the webcast posted on the Commission's site, the Commission originally discussed delaying a decision--the sentiment being that they were being asked to adjudicate a social issue rather than a beach access issue. But evidently time limits on the application were at hand, preventing a continuance.
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News
Senator Rosendahl, WTF?
Thursday, June 4-- The
LA Weekly broke a story about the political aspirations of Bill Rosendahl, Venice's City Councilperson this a.m.:
"Residents of Bill Rosendahl's 11th City Council District who lamented that their Los Angeles City Councilman's
cojones vanished after he won office can rest assured--they've been found.
Rosendahl tells
LA Weekly that a really weird City Hall rumor that he's considering a run for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein's seat, should she step down in 2012, is in fact true."
You can find the rest of the story at:
http://www.laweekly.com/news
More than Just A Pretty Face
Venice Locals React to Court Ruling Upholding Prop 8
May 28, 2009. Venice, CA--Did FaceBook come of age the day the California Supreme Court ruled that Proposition 8, the California-passed initiative that halted marriage between individuals of the same sex, was legal was announced? Maybe that's hyperbole, but it was definitely the place to be, with Californians and a large contingent of Venetians weighing in from their pages on both the ruling and actions to take.
We thought that longtime local
Bunny Lua's posting was definitely worth repeating out here a little closer to the beach.
What's next ....
Fat people not allowed at any restaurants,
Skinny people forced to eat fast food,
We have to go to church every Sunday and give 10 % of our salary to god
People are forced to be with to stay together even if they have a child together even if they hate each other ...
Divorce is illegal.
Just a Thought
AK Parking Anyone?
If you drove down to Abbot Kinney Boulevard on Friday, May, 22, you know
exactly how helpful all those new parking spots on the back of Electric were. Parking was easier in Manhattan.
'Sip
This is Why We Miss Stephen Yagman
May 21, 2009 When a colleague of ours at the
LA Weekly questioned LAPD crime statistics, Los Angeles Police Chief tore a page from Karl Rove, and, to be honest, more than a few city councilmembers who don't like to be questioned. Instead of responding to the facts, he slimed the writer--telling Patt Morrison of KPCC that the
Weekly's reporter and the reporter's cohorts were "smoking a little weed when they wrote the article." It's not the first time city hall has gotten personal rather than addressing the issues.
We'd say that such talk makes us nostalgic for the return of longtime Venice resident, the brilliant but notorious and impossible civil rights attorney Stephen Yagman, who would undoubtedly have a tremendously colorful quote regarding city hall and enforcement running amuck. Yagman was hated by police because he refused to kowtow to them in anyway. But, regretfully, Yagman is imprisoned on a tax related conviction--a lesson to the less wise-- and being journalists, we're too wacked out of our brains to see the keyboard let alone post a blog.
LAist at
http://www.laist.com has been covering the saga (that's their frame grab) as well as FishbowlLA.
In Venice
Party Like It’s the 1970s—Equator Books’ New Show
May 19, 2009. Venice, CA--Gawkers might be stimulated by the photograph of the topless woman flaunting it at a pool party in Brad Elterman's show "Like It Was Yesterday." It says everything that could be said about the vapid '70s, and the lure a paparazzo might lie down—party-house, darling.
But the stand-out in this collection of Elterman's images is the least voyeuristic. A subtle frame of Bob Dylan caught in profile as he drives off, neither toying with nor ignoring the camera, simply being mysterious-Bob.
We also feel compelled to point out a photograph of a certain 16-year-old, Matt Dillon, that-- admits Equator co-owner Michael Deyermond--“makes me certain I am a little soft in my slippers,” a quote that's a pretty sweet lure itself.
At Equator Books through June 30. 1103 Abbot Kinney Blvd. 399.5544. or
www.equatorbooks.com Hours: Tues.-Thurs., 11 AM to 10 PM; Fri.-Sat., 11 AM to 11 PM; Sun., 11 AM to 5 PM.
'Sip
A Look Back at Jack Weiss
A prescient image from Jack Weiss' visit to Venice during Mayor Villaraigosa's 2005 election day swing through Venice. A sitting city councilmember Weiss lost his campaign to become city attorney on Tuesday, May 19.
What's the story behind the photo? At this stop at Stroh's Deli, Weiss stood in the background as huge plates of food were brought to the about-to-be elected mayor. Long after Villaraigosa's former wife and Antonio himself began to eat, Villaraigosa told his stomping partner--It's okay, Jack,
have lunch.
Weiss was called Villaraigosa's lap dog for years, but that meal said it all.
'Sip
Ed Moses, Mutator
Saturday, May 9. Venice, CA.--A couple of hours after the mob scene at Bergamot Station that was painter Ed Moses' 'Mutator' opening.
So much word had been out on the Venice street. Friends calling each other all day--"you going?" Outside of Abbot's Pizza, the photographer Kwaku Alston--"you'll be at Ed's, right?" E-mails, from all over town,--"we'll see you at Ed's." That much buzz and faith in the work running throughout the city that later, the next day, someone who hadn't attended receives an astounded "where were you!?!"
The rich show poured out between Frank Lloyd and Greenfield Sacks galleries, painting after painting featuring mellifluous layers of the almost recognizable, 'is that wallpaper?', so soft focus it looks real, warm, touchable ('no, don't'), interjected with patterns, non-patterns of disembodied heads that leave behind disjointedness and alienation. Painting after painting after painting--that's Ed.
And yet, a few hours after the mob scene and two galleries overflowing with his work, Moses still has two studios full of pieces, the astounding orphans left behind after the big kids got sent to Bergamot. It's a lot quieter in here. There's no wine. No luminaries moving through the room, well there's Ed, himself, doing what he does when he's alone with the work in the evening or on his way out to dinner and walks through the studio first.
He's throwing the paintings around. Switching out the diptychs. Tossing pieces from one wall to another, as if they were casual, as if he was 43 not 83. There's no crowd here, no hype, but the paintings rivet.--
Isabel T
'Sip
The New Yorker Scores Renegade Educator Steve Barr, VenicePaper Looks at the Venice Years
Venice, CA. May 10, 2009-- Interested in renegade Venetians? What about ones that found and run maverick school systems? If you are, check out the May 11 issue of
The New Yorker magazine which profiles Steve Barr, the former Venice resident who founded Green Dot Public Schools.
Ultimately, Green Dot is dedicated to renovating society through education, starting with some of the poorest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. And, not incidentally, they've also conducted a hostile takeover of an LAUSD high school. Really.
One of their high schools is located in Venice and Barr walked throughout Oakwood, literally hammering on doors, to introduce himself to area families and drum up attendance.
As exhaustive as
The New Yorker profile is, and it's as lengthy as it is compelling, it misses one essentiality of Barr's Venice life. The respected educator who was summoned to a meeting in Washington by no less than President Barack Obama's Secretary of Education, tells us that he was evicted from almost
every domicile he lived in throughout Venice but not because he was a bad tenant.
"They all saw dollar signs and found a way to evict me," Barr told VenicePaper, of the times he lived in--a neighborhood rapidly gentrifying--and citing greed for the initiation of papers. The one exception he says proudly, was local Brad Neal. We'll let a thread from our social networking page, take the story from there.
Brad Neal at 8:34pm May 5
In one day back in 1992 I rented apartments in the same building to Steve Barr (who at the time was spear heading Rock the Vote), Liz Merry (President of the Sierra Club) and Jon Rubin (who was running the west coast funding of the Clinton campaign). Talk about young heavy weights. [….]
Brad Neal at 11:46pm May 5
I have got dozens of these. Like the one where I did my first short sale in 1991 where I was the Seller and Arnold Schwarzenegger was the Buyer. We had a 2 year feud that even involved a challenge by me to settle our disagreement on price with a basketball one on one game, football throw for distance and accuracy and chess match. He never took me up on the challenge but it was lots of fun.
Daryl Barnett at 7:45am May 6
Before Steve started Green Dot, he frequented the Venice Dog Park with Jerry Brown, his chocolate lab... [….]
Steve Barr at 3:56pm May 6
Brad, I think you were the only landlord I had in Venice who didn't evict me for more money!
And they say there are no happy endings. High rents did eventually push Barr from the area. Today he's a resident of Venice East.
Blogging Venice
AK Street Fair Org Announces Community Grant Program
The Los Angeles City Council is cutting back on funding everything but their salaries. But in Venice the Abbot Kinney Festival Association just announced a new grants program for local organizations that serve youth and families.
Here's the info, a straight cut and paste from the organization's press release:
Abbot Kinney Festival Association
Community Grants Program – New Guidelines
The Abbot Kinney Festival Association is a nonprofit that produces local events, including an annual Street Festival that welcomes people from all area codes to a celebration of community, beauty, and goodwill. Proceeds from our activities support Venice-based organizations and efforts to improve the environs and quality of life for people from all walks, with an emphasis on support of youth and the Arts.
Our commitment is to annually distribute a minimum of 50% of Abbot Kinney Festival net income via grants to Venice based community service organizations and projects with an emphasis on youth, cultural enrichment and beautification. Historically, total annual contributions have been $5,000-$30,000.
Grant Request Criterion and Amounts
Venice Based Nonprofits serving youth and families residing in Venice and nearby neighborhoods
Annual Budget under $1,000,000
We will accept requests up to $5,000 with a required 50% match (i.e., we give $1,000, you identify a $500 match)
Requested funds should be for use as follows: 75% or more for direct project/program expenses. No more than 25% for administrative costs.
Grant Application Format
1-page cover letter
Up to 3-page Narrative, including:
Org History
Community Need description
Project History & description
List of Key Personnel, with short bios
2-page Budget max, including:
Org Annual Budget
Project Budget
ID Match sources/amounts, with contact info
Up to 3 Attachments, including:
Letters of support, studies, press, promo literature, etc.
Application/Review Cycles/Notification/Awards
July 1 application deadline
Cmte review in June/July
Notify winners in August
Announce along with AKFest media alerts
Present checks at AK Fest in September
For more information, please visit
www.abbotkinney.org website or email after April 1, 2009:
info@abbotkinney.org
Local Motion
New Images from Kenny Morrison
February 27, 2009. Venice. For several years, when we had the print version running, we got to watch Venice local, photographer Kenny Morrison on shoots. He'd be low key and really quiet but incredibly curious. He'd just move through whoever's space he was shooting in, gently, listening to them--then he'd finally, at the end, he'd just pick up his camera and get an incredibly insightful shot. Here's Evidence off Morrison's new website:
www.kennymorrisonphoto.com
Venice Goodbyes
Marvin Rand, Architectural Photographer. 1924 - 2009.
“In this room, the one we’re sitting in now, there’ll be a point of perfection. I don’t know whether it’s this moment or the next moment or a moment in the past. But, there is a time when the room looks most beautiful and everything is working. I visualize what those moments could be and then I shoot.”—Marvin Rand
“He worked behind the scenes but was well known amongst those who understand architecture—but can't see it all in person. He was the Yoda/Zen Master of photographing ‘outer space.’”—Jack V. Hoffmann
February 25, 2009. Venice.--In these pages we have, from time to time, described neighbors and friends as Venice Patriots. Photographer Marvin Rand, who died on Saturday, February 14, at the age of 84 was a patriot of a different sort—his blood ran through with architecture.
He admired greatness in it, demanded such from his friends who practiced it, and recorded it in his clients’ work.
Imagine this run of twentieth century architectural greats: Charles and Ray Eames, Louis Kahn—for whom he photographed the Salk Institute—Welton Beckett, Craig Ellwood, Caesar Pelli, John Lautner, Ray Kappe, Frank Gehry, Thom Mayne. For his photographs of their work, his monumental study of Watts Towers, and his books documenting Irving Gill and Greene & Greene, Rand was awarded an Honorary AIA title by the American Institute of Architects.
He was extraordinarily proud of the designation. Of course, it was not enough. He was onto the next thing, new architects whom he saw greatness in: Michele Saee, Greg Lynn, Lawrence Scarpa. He was well into his seventies, then early eighties, and had battled heart problems for two decades, and he worked alone. But Rand was small and ferocious, his recording of architecture continued.
For twenty years Marvin photographed Scarpa’s work. But Scarpa used to tell us that Marvin invariably arrived at a shoot having left a key piece of equipment back at the shop. The photographer was the only person we know that could ever make Scarpa stress. (To be honest, at one point Scarpa confided to us that he skipped a couple of shoots simply because he couldn't take that moment when it was revealed--just what Marvin had left behind.) And yet Marvin’s images of Scarpa’s work landed in some of the field’s most vaunted publications.
Rand was many things—for instance, women characterized him as ‘adorable.’ Yep, it's true. Ask them. He was also a Venetian. His studio was on Abbot Kinney, his wife, Mary Ann Danin who owned the building had her own space in back of his and an architectural firm leased the front. So you would see him around, he’d be on the street or at Hal’s, or, maybe, down a few doors at his fellow photographer’s Kwaku Alston.
“He often visited the studio,” Alston said. “And my team would engage him in wonderful conversations about architecture, photography, and life.”
In his thirties and launched in a career that already had seen his portraits on the cover of the
New York Times magazine and
Time, Alston said of Rand “He was a personal hero to me for the beautiful images he made and for his dedication to his work.”
And so it was that those from our community, Marvin’s professional community, and Mary Ann and Marvin’s personal world gathered last weekend at the studio the couple had shared to remember him and his work.
The space was packed with a beautiful, humbling mix of architects, artists and accolades. The guys from Marvin’s temple, Venice-lifer Simon Maltby, artist Doug Edge, architect Jennifer Siegal, Tom, Gwynne—the stories of the man as diverse as the group.
Ahde Lahti who designed Rand’s essential tome on Irving Gill remembered a photo shoot about six months ago on a busy Los Angeles street that had no parking. Though Rand’s always-present van was full of camera equipment, and heart problems slowed him, Rand had no inclination to leverage the “handicap” notice in his windshield.
“He was devoted to his craft like no other photographer I have ever met,” said architect and Venice local Jennifer Siegal. “We spent one afternoon at my house together setting up to take one shot. It took us four hours to prepare… I learned more about architectural photography that day then any other.”
“Marvin was the quiet genius,” said Jack Hoffmann told us as he advocated that Marvin be honored in these pages. “He spent hours in our office just getting to know it… Intimacy was at the heart of his work. He adjusted lighting up and down to perfect the pose of the design but his eyes always shone bright. He savored his moments and was intimate with his subject. He used architecture like the allure of a naked woman posing it to catch all the subtle nuance necessary to have anyone able to feel it is theirs, within reach, personal and extended it to the spiritual. He was an artist. Shining his light into the cavities of the world, he introduced emerging space to the world like birth.”
We will admit we had not know that Maltby and Marvin knew each other. “What are you talking about!?!,” demanded Maltby, “He photographed everything I ever did.”
That was Marvin, though he, like the rest of us had an ego, fundamentally what he cared about was documenting the craft of architecture, not whether or not the architect or designer was famous but that they had talent. He shot the work of as many unknowns as knowns. He was magnificent that way.
“He should have been dead years ago,” Maltby marveled of a man whose determination to continue the work had fought back critical health challenges for decades. Architecture kept him going as did his wife Mary Ann, who often, quietly, cleared his path.
Marvin did not suffer fools gladly. He would wipe the floor with even established or successful architects if he believed their work was lackluster or did not uphold what the art was worthy of. But it was never personal to Marvin, it was always about his dedication to architecture.
Thanks to an introduction from Scarpa, I first visited Marvin’s studio. I spent more time than I deserved there. “Now, Tibby,” he would say as a prelude to telling me I had something way way wrong. You wouldn't think you'd miss being trashed by someone so much. I'll miss it.
Interviewing him for a feature Scarpa commissioned for the Pugh + Scarpa website I asked Marvin: Does a photographer make an architect or do you just have a good eye for talent?
"You get lucky," Marvin said. It was the only time we heard him equivocate. He knew it would be read, and that clients would see it. In Marvin's absence we feel safe to take the equivocation away: Marvin Rand was a great. He forced us to be greater in knowing him.
Said Hoffmann gently, “He was only small in size.”
