CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR OCTOBER 17, 2016 SUBJECT: GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1960'S ON THE SUNSET STRIP INITIATED BY: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT --~ (Maribel Louie, Director of Economic Development~~ (Mike Che, Ec~mic Development and Cultural Affairs Coordinator) ~ STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: The City Council will receive and file an update on activities planned in celebration of the Golden Anniversary of the 1960's on the Sunset Strip. This series of exhibitions and events will take place beginning in October 2016 and continue into 2018. RECOMMENDATIONS: Receive and file. BACKGROUND I ANALYSIS: At its May 18, 2015, meeting, the City Council directed the then Arts and Economic Development Division (now Economic Development Department) to develop a series of programs to celebrate the 1960s on the Sunset Strip. In July 2015, a meeting of stakeholders was convened to discuss programming ideas. The meeting included, (in alphabetical order): Mike Che, Economic Development and Cultural Affairs Coordinator, City of West Hollywood John J. Duran, Councilmember, City of West Hollywood Robert Landau, author of 'Rock N' Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip Maribel Louie, Director of Economic Development, City of West Hollywood Alison Martino, Vintage LA (Facebook group and presenting organization) Chris Morrison, Traveling Exhibitions Manager, Grammy Museum Merry Norris, Public Art Consultant Over the next year a program was developed, and $10,000 was budgeted for the program in the 2016-18 City Budget and Workplan. The program is titled 'There's Something Happening Here...,' after a line from Buffalo Springfield's famous song 'For What It's Worth' which was written about the Sunset Strip curfew demonstration of November 12, 1966. The curfew riot took place just across the border from West Page 1 of 5 AGENDA ITEM 2.M.
Hollywood at the intersection of Crescent Heights and Santa Monica Boulevard, and the song went on to become an anthem of the 1960s/70s protest era. The printed brochure for the program is loosely inspired by Ed Ruscha's 'Every Buildin~ on the Sunset Strip', one of the best known art-books which also celebrates its sot anniversary of publication this year. The original book features an iconic accordion fold, and documented photographically every building on the Sunset Strip as it existed in 1966. An associated webpage for the program will host additional informational resources including a bibliography of selected books, songs and movies available from the West Hollywood Library. Businesses on the Sunset Strip are encouraged to submit their related events which will be promoted through this webpage. Following is a list of events and exhibits being presented as part of this program. All events and exhibits listed below will be free to attend. Exhibits: There's Something Happening Here... This exhibit of photographs by Henry Diltz features many of the mus1c1ans and performers that were integral to the music scene of the Sunset Strip in the late 60s and 70s. The exhibit will be on view at the West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., during regular operating hours from October 19, 2016 through May 3, 2017. Rock n' Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip An outdoor exhibition of historic Rock n' Roll billboards as captured by photographer Robert Landau will provide a glimpse of the imagery one might have seen on the Sunset Strip from 1969 to 1979. The exhibit will be on display at 8775 Sunset Boulevard beginning in late February 2017 for at least one year. Left to Right: The Beatles/Abbey Road billboard, 1969; Tower Records, 1979. Photos by Robert Landau from Rock n' Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip. Page 2 of 5
Events: Friday, October 28, 2016, 6:30 pm - 9 pm There's Something Happening Here... City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Join photographer Henry Diltz for a slideshow and talk in the City Council Chambers from 6:30pm - 7:45pm, followed by a reception for the related exhibit in the Library. Henry Diltz is a found ing member of the band Modern Folk Quartet. While playing for the band, he became interested in photography and photographed many of the musicians who played the Sunset Strip and lived in Laurel Canyon in the 1960s. His photography is featured on the album covers of The Lovin' Spoonfuls, The Doors, and James Taylor including others. He was also an official photographer for the Monterrey Pop Festival and Woodstock. His talk will recall personal anecdotes about the subjects of his photographs. Left to Right: Joni Mitchell, Laurel Canyon, CA, 1970; Buffalo Springfield; Rolling Stones, Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, CA. Photos by Henry Diltz, courtesy of the Morrison Hotel Gallery. Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 7 pm The Rise of Counterculture in West Hollywood: Art, Music, and Poetry City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. This talk covers that specific moment between1965 and 1966 when West Hollywood absorbed, then advanced the folk music movement that had previously been harbored in Greenwich Village. One year after The Beatles broke Pop beyond its previous limitations, Bob Dylan came to Ciro's on the Sunset Strip to help launch The Byrds, which in turn, opened it up for Frank Zappa, Buffalo Springfield, Love, The Doors and others to break from the local scene. From that moment on, social consciousness would become the modus operandi internationally, an important and previouslyoverlooked part of how the 1960s truly changed the world. Presented by Domenic Priore, author of Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock 'n' Ro/l's Last Stand in Hollywood (2015 Jawbone Press, London). Page 3 of S
Thursday, April 6, 2017, 7 pm As Far as You Can See... Sunset Strip through the Eyes of Poets West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. In celebration of the Sunset Strip folk era as well as the 50th anniversary of the Sunset Strip curfew riots, join a variety of wonderful poets for a unique and memorable trip up the Sunset Strip. "There's something happening here... "then and now! Join us for a reading of both original work and work by poets who captured a time we hold dear. Celebrate National Poetry Month and experience a rainbow of colors, emotions, and memories, through words that are certain to evoke your own electric visions! Organized by Kim Dower, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate. CONFORMANCE WITH VISION 2020 AND THE GOALS OF THE WEST HOLLYWOOD GENERAL PLAN: This item is consistent with the Primary Strategic Goal(s) (PSG) and/or Ongoing Strategic Program(s) (OSP) of: OSP-8: Enhance the Cultural and Creative Life of the Community. OSP-3: Promote Economic Development while Maintaining Business Vitality & Diversity. In addition, this item is compliant with the following goal(s) of the West Hollywood General Plan: LU-15: Maintain Sunset Boulevard as a regional, national, and international destination for entertainment, and the primary economic engine of the City. HP-4: Increase the public's awareness of the City's history and cultural resources. EVALUATION PROCESSES: Evaluation will include audience counts and an assessment of the events by the producers and City/Library Staff. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HEAL TH: There have been several studies on the correlation between actively attending arts programs and health benefits, including a Norwegian study published in 2011 which found that people who attend concerts, theatre or film are significantly healthier, have lower anxiety and are less susceptible to depression. Another paper which analyzed public data from a 1998 U.S. social survey showed a significant association between cultural activities and self-reported health benefits. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Arts Division Staff will promote the events through the WeHo Arts Briefs e-newsletter, Page 4 of S
and @WeHoArts and City of West Hollywood social media and communications channels to make the public aware of the events and exhibits. There will be a question and answer portion to both the October 28, 2016 and February 8, 2017 talk. Staff will conduct outreach to businesses on the Sunset Strip to encourage their participation either through promotional collaborations or to encourage them to coordinate their own events based on the golden anniversary theme. OFFICE OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT I ARTS DIVISION FISCAL IMPACT: The total cost of this project is $14,000, which is already budgeted. The cost of the design and printing of the informational brochure, speaker fee for the Domenic Priore talk, and printing and installation costs for the 'Rock n' Roll Billboards on the Sunset Strip' public art exhibit in the total amount of $10,000 is already budgeted in Account 100-1-01-10-531001 (Special Council Programs) (Project Code 'sunstrip- 22'). The cost of the National Poetry Month event not to exceed $500, is already budgeted in Account 100-1-10-12-531001 (Special Council Programs) for National Poetry Month (Project Code 'poetry-22'). The cost of the artwork loan and installation of the library exhibit 'There's Something Happening Here...' featuring photography by Henry Diltz in an amount not to exceed $3,500 is already budgeted in Account 100-1 -10-12-535013 (Special Events Programming) for Library Exhibitions (Project Code 'libexhbt-22'). AMOUNT DESCRIPTION $14,000 Funding for this item is already budgeted. ATTACHMENTS: None. Page 5 of 5