News
Barnsdall Foundation Gives $25,000 in Facilities Grants
Great news! Barnsdall Art Park Foundation has approved $25,000 worth of grants towards important long-term purchases for Barnsdall facilities. We have offered $5000 to each of the 5 facilities at Barnsdall — the Art Center, the Junior Art Center, the Gallery Theatre, the Municipal Art Gallery, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House — and have worked closely with the city staff and other support organizations to identify the most needed items.
New Piano purchased through BAPF grants
To date, we have dispersed approximately $18,000 of the total funds. Purchased so far:
- A brand new piano for the music program at the Junior Art Center
- A Bonny Doon hydraulic press for the jewelry program
- State-of-the-art Sennheiser microphones for the Gallery Theatre
- Patio furniture for the Gallery for use during its openings and events
- New mahogany countertops that match the original kitchen countertops in Hollyhock House
Your generous tax-deductible donations and wine tasting tickets have made these important gifts possible. Please donate to help us keep Barnsdall as a vibrant and dynamic center of activity!
Barnsdall Park Sign Dedicated on December 8th
On December 8th, the eagerly awaited entrance sign to Barnsdall Park was dedicated at 9:30am. Officiating were Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti and City Councilmember Tom LaBonge.
- BAPF Members at the Sign Dedication
Also in attendance were Barnsdall Art Park Foundation co-Presidents Marshall Lewy and Jack Wiant, Department of Recreation and Parks’ Marc Mariscal, Manager of the Department of Cultural Affairs Olga Garay, and many members of the city staff of Barnsdall Art Park.
The completion of construction for the sign is the culmination of a project that the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation launched in September 2005, shortly after Barnsdall Park reopened after a significant renovation. “It’s been a long process and a major undertaking for a volunteer organization,” said Marshall Lewy, co-president of the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation. “The new sign has been our priority since the park reopened, “ he continued. “A key objective of the Foundation is to let the residents of Los Angeles know they have a major cultural landmark in their midst.”
Although the design for a landmark sign, by Sussman-Preja, one of Los Angeles’ premiere design firms, had been approved by the Cultural Heritage Commission at the time of the park renovation, funding was not available to complete it. The lack of a sign at the park became a major concern. Working with the city’s Departments of Recreation and Parks and Cultural Affairs, the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation launched the sign project in September 2005.
“Having the support of both Eric Garcetti and Tom LaBonge and the CRA/LA was essential,” continued Lewy. “Once we proved that the Foundation could raise the necessary funds, we were on our way.”
The Barnsdall Art Park Foundation raised the majority of the funds for the project, with additional support from the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles. The Hollywood Arts Council, a key partner in the project from the beginning, secured additional funding from AT&T, Edison International and Occidental Petroleum.
“The timing is perfect, since Hollyhock House has recently been added to the National Register of Historic Places and is currently up for designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site,“ said Lewy.
Former Foundation board member and architect Jim Heaton III was the project manager. Heaton shepherded planning, construction and installation, with assistance from former Foundation co-Presidents Cheryl Johnson and Nyla Arslanian. Vomar Products of Canoga Park fabricated and installed the landmark sign.
The Barnsdall Art Park Foundation is committed to nurturing Barnsdall Park’s legacy as a dynamic and vibrant cultural, artistic, and recreational center. In addition to completing the sign project, the Foundation funded kilns to help reinstate the art center’s ceramic’s program. Also, it recently provided $25,000 towards other needs, including new audio-visual equipment for the Gallery Theatre, a new piano for the Barnsdall Art Center’s music program, a 20-ton manual press for the Junior Art Center, and restoration of the Hollyhock House mahogany countertops. It brings thousands of new people to the park each year with its successful summer wine tasting events, and offers free Sunday art workshops for children.
Hollyhock House Restoration News
Beginning 30 May 2011 restoration of the porch in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Park will commence.
Hollyhock House, a National Historic Landmark operated by the Department of Cultural Affairs is the fortunate recipient of a California Cultural and Historical Endowment grant in the amount of $1,935,000 and a Save America’s Treasures Grant (administered by The National Parks Service) in the amount of $489,000. The grants were obtained by Project Restore, a public/private partnership, on behalf of the City of Los Angeles who provided the matching funds.
Hollyhock House, completed in 1921, was designed and built for oil heiress Aline Barnsdall who commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design the residence and a performing arts complex for Olive Hill. The project was halted after Hollyhock House and two guest residences were completed. She gave Hollyhock House and a guesthouse plus 12 acres to the City of Los Angeles in 1927. The first renovation of Hollyhock House occurred in 1944-46 with the architect’s son, Lloyd Wright in charge. In 1974-76 Lloyd Wright returned to Olive Hill to take charge of a comprehensive restoration. Hollyhock House has operated as a house museum since 1976. In 2001-2005 the house was closed to repair damage caused by the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
In addition to restoring the porch of Hollyhock House, the grant funds will also be used to restore the Hollyhock House Garage and Chauffeur’s Quarters. Once these two primary areas are restored any remaining funds will be used to facilitate restoration in other areas of Hollyhock House.
Hollyhock House will remain open for docent-led tours for the public during the restoration on an abbreviated tour schedule.
Friday thru Sunday
12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Due to the uncertain nature of the restoration process the above tour schedule may require additional intermittent disruption. Please call in advance to confirm tour availability (323.644.6269).
Your donations for the restoration of Hollyhock House are tax deductible and will support the preservation of this national treasure. Checks made payable to Hollyhock House may be sent to Jeffrey Herr, c/o Hollyhock House, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90026. 323.913.4030
Progress on the Barnsdall Park Sign
Exciting news on the construction of the Barnsdall Sign! After breaking ground in December, Vomar Products has successfully completed the fabrication of the Barnsdall Park sign in their shop. It is truly an iconic sign and will increase awareness of the Park for decades once it is erected.
All those who have supported the Foundation through donations and attendance at our events have a part in this sign. Thank you for your support. To donate towards the sign’s construction and other great programs, donate here.
Full Audio of January 25th City Council Committee Meeting
Click below to listen to the full audio of the January 25th Arts, Parks, Health, and Aging Committee meeting, chaired by Councilmember Tom LaBonge. The discussion of Barnsdall Art Center is Agenda Item 3. For the full city docket on this issue, sign up for alerts with the LA City Clerk here.
MP3 Full Audio Council Committee Meeting Jan 25 2011