There’s no denying that Venice is positively dripping in history. Not only is it a hotbed for creative talent, but the architecture, the magnificent murals and even the actual history of the community itself, is fascinating.
Legendary science fiction author Ray Bradbury lived here, The Doors originated from Venice as do Jane’s Addiction. Venice played a pivotal role in the development of both surfing and skateboarding and has long held a bohemian vibe that many folk seek out and make a pilgrimage to. Well known landmarks have appeared in countless movies including, Colors, LA Story, White Men Can’t Jump, Point of No Return and The Big Lebowski. Plus, well known residents of the area include Margot Robbie, Emilia Clarke, Paul Hogan, Jay Adams, Owen Wilson and Ian McShane.
And now, finally, all of that history has a permanent home, the Venice Heritage Museum at 228 Main Street. But it’s been quite a long time in coming.
“Sure, this is an exhibition opening, but the big umbrella is that this is the opening of the Museum’s first actual physical space,” said Anthony Carfello, Museum Manager, adding, “The Museum has existed as an idea for about 15 years and has been part of events and exhibitions, working in partnership with local businesses.”
During that time, the concept was constantly being refined and attempts were made to raise funding. When the Daily Press went to visit the site, preparations were still underway at a frantic pace, but Carfello — despite clearly being exhausted — was 100% confident that everything would be ready in time.
Carfello rather wonderfully compares the Venice Heritage Museum to a hermit crab, “Up till now, we’ve been in different shells at different moments, but this is our home now.”
While not as gigantic as say The Getty or as colossal as the California Science Center, this diminutive dedication to the history of arguably one of the most well known neighborhoods on the West Coast, represents an important step in not only ensuring that knowledge is preserved, but also in making it accessible.
Credit: Venice Heritage Museum Elayne Alexander Collection / Kinney Family
The ground floor has been divided into a series of subsections that Carfello explains will change in theme depending on what is being exhibited. There’s a quaint reception area that doubles as the gift shop and then upstairs is where all the precious archives are located, safely storing every newspaper, photograph, painting in addition to a whole host of other weird and wonderful memorabilia.
According to Carfello, the building, which also houses the curiously-named Crap Eyewear along with the Main Street Design Center, was originally built as a Ford garage and dealership. “The other day, somebody sent us a scan of a receipt of the Ford her mom bought here in 1928 and cost, like 800 bucks or something,” he beams.
The site also offers the Museum a respectable amount of outdoor opportunity in the form of a parklet-style space directly outside, that Carfello says will be utilized very soon. Moreover, for the grand opening on Saturday, the entire parking lot will be used, incorporating food trucks, seating, vendors and merch stalls plus a DJ.
“What people will see in the show is things from different eras of Venice, but it's not necessarily a chronological walkthrough of Venice … It's more of a look at different moments in history where people are viewing Venice as a place that you can make into what you want it to,” Carfello says.
“Every tourist has some assumptions of what Venice's history is, so we want visitors to be able to learn something … we don't want somebody to come here once and then come back four years later and see the same thing. And as they keep coming back, we intend to make it exciting for them to see something new.”
The Venice Heritage Museum opens the doors of its new, permanent site on Main St this Saturday and its regular opening hours will be Thursday–Sunday, 11am–5pm. Entry is free. Check out the website at veniceheritagemuseum.org for more info.
scott.snowden@smdp.com
