By Jinjue Pak
Daily Bruin Contributor
This weekend the community of Venice will come together at the
22nd annual Venice Art Walk, in a united effort to raise money for
the Venice Family Clinic.
The free family clinic was established in 1970 and has now
evolved into the nation’s largest free clinic, with over 250
staff members and 2,000 volunteers. The clinic is hosting the
Venice Art Walk with the hopes of bringing in enough proceeds to
keep its mission alive, providing free health care and medications
to low-income families.
The three-day event, beginning today and ending Sunday, will
have docent tours on Saturday, in which viewers will be guided
though studios and homes of the featured artists, followed by an
auction preview. In Sunday’s “Venice Art Walk
Day,” viewers can tour studios on their own.
“We have other projects and events, but the art walk is
our signature,” said Alison Dockray, associate development
director of the Venice Family Clinic. “It’s unique in
that we will be opening real studios of the artists in Venice for
people to see.”
Dockray has been a part of the clinic since 1990 and this will
be her 11th Art Walk. This year, she has gathered over 500
participant artists, including the world-renown sculptor Mark di
Suvero from New York.
Di Suvero installed his 60-foot tall sculpture,
“Declaration,” at the Venice Beach Plaza on May 10. He
is this year’s featured artist.
What began as a small art walk that enjoyed only a quiet
endorsement and a rather small number of participating artists and
viewers, has now evolved into an anticipated annual event, inviting
artists from across the United States.
“I’ve seen it grow … to this event that now
engages the whole community. It’s now taking a more national
approach, with international artists as well, which I think is a
great thing,” said painter and sculptor John Laddie Dill who
has participated in the Venice Art Walk since it began 22 years
ago.
Dill taught at UCLA in the art department from 1974 to 1988, but
resigned in order to travel and engage in a series of art shows.
Dill is strongly devoted to the purpose behind the walk.
“It’s a free clinic and there are people here that
need it,” he said. “The art walk totally affects the
community in a positive way. It is the one single event that
engages the entire community.”
Painter Harrison Houle, a four-year participant in the event,
also testified to the positive aspect of Art Walk as a community
effort. She actually moved to Venice to become a part of Art
Walk.
“I think it’s wonderful that so many civic and
caring people will put the effort and time to help the community.
They make the world a better place,” Houle said.
“There are so many artists and there’s a real sense
of edge and energy in Venice that you can’t find anywhere
else in Southern California.”
Aside from winning the support of residential and national
artists, the clinic has been able to bring in other community
members including both private and public sponsors. Many
restaurants have been especially active supporters of Art Walk,
donating a percentage of their total earnings during the three-day
event, to the clinic.
Joe Miller, owner of Joe’s restaurant, which was named one
of the top 10 restaurants in Southern California by the Zagat
survey, has devoted time and money to the Art Walk project for 10
years.
“I think that the family clinic has an excellent
cause,” Miller said. “The gathering of all the artists
and people who participate is great ““ getting together time
for us as a community.
“All the artists opening their arts and crafts to the
public is something that I always want to participate in,”
Mill said. “It’s something that I look forward to and
put on my calendar."
EVENT: The Venice Art Walk begins today with
events continuing through Sunday. For more information or tickets
call (310) 392-9255 or visit www.venicefamilyclinic.org.