Join Venice Institute of Contemporary Art and Venice Heritage Museum for “A History of Venice”, a People/Place/Art/Word/Sound Exhibition opening September 3 at Beyond Baroque in Venice, CA, and continuing through September 30.
The lobby and mezzanine galleries will showcase installations that highlight the diverse and influential histories of Venice through the lens of its inhabitants — from the indigenous Tongva population, to the historic Oakwood neighborhood, the Japanese-American community that was forcibly removed from Venice during WWII, Discoteca Batalla where newly-arrived Central Americans and norteamericanos found a second home, the second generation of Dogtown set against the strife and the glory of the 1980s, and the boundary-pushing artists and activists who have made their home in Venice and their mark over generations.
The displays, interpreted by a diverse array of guest curators, honor a sampling of the many groups that have contributed to the cultural depth of this immensely influential beachside community. In particular, the exhibition seeks to center the Venetians whose influence may be known to insiders but whose legacies are at risk of being forgotten during this time of rapid cultural change.
Featured curators and contributors in order of era include:
– Mike Bravo + the Tongva Springs Foundation
– Stephen Pouliot, Sarah Schacht + the Venice Heritage Museum board
– Jataun Valentine + the Oakwood community
– Phyllis Hayashibara, Arnold Maeda + the Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument (VJAMM) Committee
– Bob Branaman + the Beats
– Bob Zaugh + Peace Press
– Carol Wells + Center for the Study of Political Graphics
– Rol Murrow + the Fox Theater
– Perla Batalla + Discoteca Batalla
– Josh “Bagel” Klassman + 2nd generation Dogtown
– Sandy Bleifer + the Venice Walk Streets
– Stash Maleski + ICU Art & The Venice Art Walls
– William Attaway + Venice art
