Saturday, December 13, 2008

Pink Saturday - Venus in Venice

Pink Saturday - Beverly at the blog How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday. Let the color pink inspire you.

In 1989, Venice, California artist Rip Cronk painted this mural on the side of an old building on Windward Avenue and Speedway. "Venice Reconstituted" is based on Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus." It depicts Venus as a bare-midriffed, leg-warmer-wearing maiden, wearing a pink tank top.

Primavera, or Spring, swathed in a pink gossamer wrap, strews roses around the roller-skating maiden.

Venus wears old-fashioned four-wheel skates. In her day, the invention of new polyurethane skate wheels started a roller-skating craze, bringing flocks of tourists to the beach. If she wants, Venus could trade in her old skates for roller blades, or perhaps a fat-tired pink bicycle, from one of the many rental vendors that sprang up on Ocean Front Walk in the wake of the fad.

Or she could venture out into the surf, with this hot pink surf board, also for rent.

Venus gets her fortune told by Luann, the pink-haired seer awaiting beneath her flowered umbrella. Luann and other artists, performers, pan-handlers and vendors are granted permits by the City of LA for their space on the beach side of the walkway. Luann tells Venus to keep an eye out for a tall, dark stranger.

As Venus rolls down the sidewalk, she passes a classical pianist, playing an upright piano on wheels, and stops to watch an ensemble of break-dancers. She put a dollar bill in the jar in front of a silver-painted human statue, and watches him come to life and dance.

The murals of Venice are among Los Angeles' art treasures, and Venus likes to skate by them and see her fellow mural-characters. On Westminster, along the little food court, a dark red wall features one by the artist known as Chase. Venus has always liked this cute little pink-faced toddler.

Further north, this 1990 mural, called "Endangered Species" is by Emily Winters.

Venus skates deftly through the throngs of people. Trick bicycle riders. Skateboarders. Hare Krishnas. On Saturdays, there's a body-builder who poses for photos. People promenade with their exotic pets - parrots, iguanas, Italian mastiff dogs. Kids hustle their rap CDs on the boardwalk.

A long-time resident of Venice Beach, Venus knows all the regulars. But there's one person she's looking for. He's tall and good-looking. A bad boy, but irresistible. She wonders what he's doing tonight. As the afternoon wanes, she skates back down towards Windward - and there he is.

"Morning Shot," painted by Rip Cronk in 1991.

Hawt.

Venus skates. She holds her head high like a statue in the sky. Her arms are wicked and her legs are long. When she moves, she hears him sing this song - "Hello, I love you. Won't you tell me your name?"

The sidewalk crouches at her feet. Jim Morrison is the guy that makes Venus sigh, as dusk falls on Venice Beach.

36 comments:

Nihal said...

Venus, a beautiful, good-natured lady, was the goddess of love... and we all women are from Venus:)
I'm curious where are computers from, lol:)
What a lovely theme from you Glennis, I like it. Did you notice that my small icon also a Venus of Botticelli's?
~Have a Happy Pink Saturday&Sunday.

sweetmemorymakingmom said...

Very Creative. I love the story of Venus on Venise Beach. I can tell you really put a lot of time into this post. I love the pink bikes!!! I wouldn't mind having one! Thank you. I have a twin sister and brother who both live in California. I use to live there to...so I enjoyed seeing photos from Cali. Happy Pink Saturday. hugs, Ellen

Marina Capano said...

wow! just beautiful murals! I love them! nice pikness post!

I hope you in my pink giveaway!

xoxo
Marina

My name is Riet said...

What a lovely story and I love those Murals. And indeed women are from Venus. LOL

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the sweet comment. Your post was great. I love your blog and how you came about the name.

shrink on the couch said...

And inspired you were! Quite perfectly. Nice post!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Happy Pink Saturday, what an incredible story..Venus was a beautiful gal wasn't she? Thanks for swinging by. I'm glad you enjoyed the Christmas Angel.. I hope to see you again. Have a super Saturday. hugs ~lynne~

SmilingSally said...

How interesting; I feel as if I've vacationed in CA today. Happy Pink Saturday!

Jenny said...

How fun! I love all these pictures!!!

Ed said...

Amazing pink post - I l;oved reading through it. Thank you for sharing such beautiful art with us ..........

Donna @ Party Wishes said...

Venice is such an interesting place, isn't it?
Did you go to the flower mart on Monday? We will be there again this Monday to pick up a few last minute gifts!

said...

Interesting murals. :o)

Nerissa Alford said...

I gasped when I saw that first mural. I can't even imagine working on that scale. Thanks for sharing all the mural pictures. So inspiring!
Nerissa

Anonymous said...

Wow, Glennis. I am in love with this post. Absolutely awesome. And, I so enjoyed my skate with Venus in Venice.

Happy Pink Saturday.

Sherrie said...

Hi!
Those are some awesome works of art!! Thanks for sharing. Thanks for stopping by my place.

Sherrie

Anonymous said...

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,YOU ARE THE QUEEN OF PINK SATURDAY.YOU WIN HANDS DOWN.WOWOWOW.THIS IS FABULOUS.WHAT HISTORY,WHAT PINK...ANN

Anonymous said...

reminds me that I miss Venice. heck, it's blowing snow today; I even miss Los Angeles.

LvPoohBr2 said...

I've always wanted a pink bike! The murals are amazing! Happy Pink Saturday.

Kim's Cottage said...

Beautiful pinks and I enjoyed the story you wove to match the pictures.

Happy Pink Saturday!


K-

alicesg said...

Lots of pink there. Very lovely. Happy a Happy Pink Saturday.

Unknown said...

I love mural's. Philadelphia is doing a huge revitalization thing with murals and they are popping up all over. We don't have any cool venus mural's though.

Anonymous said...

wow!!! wonderful photos!!1 beautiful places to visit :-)
Happy Pink Saturday

Anonymous said...

Oh so beautiful and nice and warm in CA. today. Very creative and such beautiful murals wow
Happy PS
Claudie from Canada

Chloe Patricia said...

Lovely murals, The Birth of Venus in pink, no less. Thank you for sharing it with us and happy Pink Saturday. Chloe Patricia

P. said...

Such nice murals.

Alfazema

Sondra Behne' said...

Wow..those were some great photos and I mean great pink photos. Again and again I say how much I learn from you bloggers and thank you.

Sondra

Anonymous said...

I'm running late on my Pink Saturday rounds. Sorry! The murals are awesome! Thank you for sharing. D~~~~

Stephanie said...

Wow! I feel like I just WENT somewhere!! Thanks for the tour of Venice. Wish I could see it in person. It reminded me of that movie Xanadu...remember that?

Happy Pink Saturday!

Stephanie

. said...

Happy pink day. Thanks for the comment on my blog. Denise

Anonymous said...

G
Great story and beautiful girl,Venus. Thank for sharing...great pink post. thank for stopping by...I agree that the glasses were silly....that why we were modeling...especaill y the pink one for the PinkSaturday...We did had a great time. Sometime we act silly and have a great girls time...and sometimes we are conservant and serious about life. LOL Life is too short. Thanks again for stopping by and sweet comments.

Fifi Flowers said...

GREAT PINK post! Love your circus Sunday post too... GREAT PHOTOS in both!

Kathleen said...

I loved Venus and the murals. Thank you for stopping by my blog yesterday. I have truly enjoyed your Pink Saturday post. Kathleen

Ashley said...

This was an amazing post, it was like having a tour guide and going on vacation. And anytime I get a surprise visit with Jim is a good time:) What great murals!I am neaq Philly so it's fun to see them from somewhere else...

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
shaybert said...

I concur with Cheri, this almost makes me miss L.A. I grew up in Santa Monica, off Marine Street.I'm enjoying the nostalgia. Blessings, Shay

Anonymous said...

I am the kind of hombre who passions to taste revolutionary things. Right now I am fabricating my hold photovoltaic panels. I'm managing it all alone without the aid of my staff. I'm using the internet as the only path to acheive this. I came across a truly amazing website which explains how to build solar panels and wind generators. The website explains all the steps needed for solar panel building.

I'm not exactly sure bout how correct the info given there is. If some guys over here who had xp with these things can have a look and give your feedback in the page it would be great and I'd really treasure it, because I truly would love to try solar panel construction.

Thanks for reading this. You people rock.