Horst Schmidt-Brümmer Venice, California: An Urban Fantasy, Grossman Publishers: NY, (English trans., Feelie Lee) 1973 (Original German Text Verlag Ernst Wasmuth: Tubingen, 1972), 108 pp., 1971
"The idea for this book was precipitated by a chance visit to Venice while I was teaching at U.C.L.A. From this initial encounter grew my interest in and fascination for the Venice community and, as a result, I spent the first half of 1971 taking pictures."
" . . .
"This has become an official fact. On June 15, 1971, the City Council voted in favor of the costly renewal. It is only a question of time as to when the city's second eyesore (the first is the Watts ghetto) will be removed, when the life of a community will be replaced by the life-style of a luxury resort.
"To a large degree Venice belongs in the hands of absentee landowners. By the time of the final City Hall hearings, many small homeowners had already sold their property because of the exorbitant assessments. Those who finally opposed the Master Plan were overwhelmingly renters, who represent approximately 70% of the Venice inhabitants. They came not to defend property rights but to claim their rights to remain a people, a community."
" . . .
Venice as Visual Text
" . . . The visible fact that the people respond to their environment by their particular, personalized, and original additions and changes creates an environment which, in turn, stimulates further responses; this fact illustrates the dynamic interaction that exists between the environment and its people. This sense of participation, of the possiblitity of writing on the evironmental text, becomes more visually evident by contrast to the determined, noninvitational, and restrictive character of the new Venice.
" . . . "
[Norm's Shoe Repairing Sign at Main between Bay and Pico, p. 33, 1971]
[Arthur Mortimer Portrait at Hart & Neilson, p. 36, 1971]
[Ocean Park Blvd. & Barnard Way, p. 40]
[Bob Dylan? p. 41]
[Portrait p. 44]
[photo of Cottages on Marine between Second and Third, p. 58]
[photo the Shearon Hotel Daily Weekl Month Challenge Fresh Milk Val's Rexall Drugs 1600 Pacific Ave., Ex.2-3937 Property Bay Area Joey Baker Real Estate Rentals-Property Management 1100? Washington Blv. Ex 9-7781]
[Santa Monica Tower, p. 104]
[Venice Fine Arts Squad, (Terry Schoonhaven) Venice Beach Under Snow, Ocean Front Market, p. 37, p. 67]
[Brooks Av., Wash Fluff Dry, Brooks and Pacific, Cover, p. 61, 99]