Expressing Hollywoodland and it’s Gifts!
On Sunday, October 20th the Hollywoodland community held a 75th year celebration honoring the Sherman Company’s gift of 444 acres to the city of Los Angeles.
This acreage, the largest single donation (other than the Griffith land donation) was part of the original Hollywoodland tract 6450. It surrounds 3 sides of Hollywoodland residential, covering 85% of its perimeter, including the Main Communication tower at the top of Mt. Lee, the former Hollywoodland sign, the western border of the Lake Hollywood Reservoir and the eastern border of the Bronson Caves.
Our celebration invited Angelenos to share their inspirations and expressions associated with the Hollywoodland open-space. Submissions were categorized and judged by Peter Desberg, Hope Anderson and Susie Karasic. The three categories included: visual 2, 3 D (drawing painting, collage, sculpture), written words (poems, prose, essays story telling, historical artifacts and images) and/ or video, photography. Prizes were given in each category and attendees selected the Best Of Show.
Prizes for visual 2 and 3 D works were shared with Brian Burchfield, “Cactus on Durand” (oil painting) and Anne Mansour “The Hills of Hollywood” (oil painting). Written words, historical artifacts, storytelling award went to Soren Kerk for her poetry books and selections.The video, photography, audio, music category prize was shared by Sarajane Schwartz with her video titled: “Paradise Lost, The Next Paradise, a Plea for Help”and George Abbott Clark for his video “Hollywood Wild Life” a compilation of animal images filmed at his hillside residence between 2018-2019. He also won Best of Show.
The recreated Hollywoodland Orchestra, headed by Doug Tornquist played tunes from the 1940’s. Dinner was underwritten by Mike Fahim, the new owner of the Beachwood Cafe with a festive celebration cake provided by The Committee to Save the Hollywoodland Specific Plan. Other sponsors included, Beachwood Market, Beachwood Cleaners, Hollywoodland Realty and Compass.
