This November we celebrate 50 years of Beyond Baroque with a Bohemian Bacchanal of art, music, poetry, wine, and revelry. Join us in honoring our dear friend Viggo Mortensen for his selfless support of Beyond Baroque, and our visionary poet-in-residence Will Alexander for his profound achievements in expanding the artistic possibilities of language. We’ll also recognize our founder, George Drury Smith.

The Beyond Gala begins with a cocktail reception in the Poet’s Garden at Beyond Baroque, followed by a live and silent auction in our theater. The auction includes rare literary material from our archive; art from some of the world’s most notable artists, including Ed Ruscha, Gronk, Raymond Pettibon, Shepherd Fairey, Francisco Toledo, George Herms, and many others; and a wide array of items donated by the Venice business community.

Following the cocktail reception and art auction, join us for dinner and entertainment outdoors under a lavish tent. An incredible array of musical and literary talent will pay tribute to Beyond Baroque’s literary community.

Many of Los Angeles’ seminal writers and artists have found crucial support from Beyond Baroque, often at the earliest stages of their careers. Join several of these alumni – including Viggo Mortensen, Will Alexander; John Doe and Exene Cervenka – who met at our Wednesday Night Poetry Series – in celebrating fifty years of literary and artistic life in Venice, California.