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THE VENICE CORNER BALL PARKS PROJECT aka "The Pala's" NOW EXPANDING TO STREET CORNERS THROUGHOUT VENICE |
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| Following a century’s old Venetian tradition, the project will create visual markers for each neighborhood of Venice as we transform underutilized or blighted street corners into unique, beautiful, landscaped parks with sculptural seating. The Palas
- that’s Italian for “balls” - are both sculptural
seating AND neighborhood markers. They are two foot diameter concrete
spheres encased in a mosaic of black and white marble - solid, yet soft
to the touch - climbable and sit-able. Each neighborhood of Venice will
have its own logo for its Pala. The Parks
- Sites for these Neighborhood Ball Parks are being identified by their
immediate neighbors. From small to larger, we’ll create beautiful
neighborhood gathering places throughout Venice. The landscaping
for each park will be a unique design suited to the site, such as: an
in-ground maze, a reflexology path, an herb garden, earthworks, a poetry
corner, a sundial, hop scotch, or a dance lesson. Native, drought tolerant
plants, maintenance plans, irrigation requirements, safety issues, and
city permit requirements are all factored into the designs. |
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| SIMULATED
VIEW AFTER LANDSCAPING, MAZE AND MOSAIC BALLS SCULPTURAL SEATING - our
first site |
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| Cultural
Festivities - The Palas are permanent visual markers of, and located
within, the various neighborhoods of Venice to artistically focus identity,
create camaraderie, engender pride and enable participation from each
neighborhood in cultural festivities throughout the year and throughout
Venice as a whole. Over time, banners and costumes with colors and additional
unique identifying features will be developed for each neighborhood.
A full set of all The Palas could encircle the Windward traffic circle
or span the medians of Venice Boulevard in Venice. Each Neighborhood
Ball Park will make Venice more green, more walk-able, more interesting,
unique and beautiful…and enable neighbors to enjoy their neighborhoods.
They celebrate the eclectic variety of Venice and our unity as a community. Creators – This project is the out growth of a Los Angeles Community Beautification Grant awarded to The Venice Public Art Forum. Community participation is integral to its success. The lead artist is Robin Murez. ALL VENETIANS
ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE: from site selection, to design, construction,
fabrication, fundraising, landscaping and maintenance. WE NEED YOU!
Neighborhood
support includes: The Venice Neighborhood Council, The Venice Chamber
of Commerce, The Venice Heritage Foundation, The Venice Action Committee,
The Venice Public Art Forum. Call or email today - HELP CREATE YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD BALL PARK – now!
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The initial CORNER BALL PARK site South Venice Boulevard at Ocean Way (between the Library and Kim's Market) |
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VIEWS BEFORE OUR PROJECT
BEGAN |
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It has taken a few years, and now, the previously enclosed site (above) is open to the public. Once all permits are issued, we will remove concrete, landscape with native grass and decomposed granite to form an in-ground maze and install five Pala's as sculptural seating. Pala's under construction may be seen at: Robin's Studio Garden, 1632 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA |
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L.A. Beautification Grant Lead Artist & Project Manager: Robin Murez, Organization Head: Suzan Olson Davis, Board Members: Phoebe Zimmerman, Patty Jones, Adam Davis. Landscape services: The Venice Action Committee and Venice 2000. Volunteer support: Venice Community Housing Corporation and pledged participation of 300 Venetians. |
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| Contact: Info @ Venice Public Art . Com |
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