New ordinance castrates the art scene.
The good news: There seems to be a prioritization in place that favors artists over commercial (buy/sell) type products and items not authored by the seller.
The really bad news: Every 5th square (1 square = 2 1/2') between the "free speech" spaces, and every 2 squares in front of garbage bins have been put off limits for artists and performers, effectively eliminating almost 25% of the boardwalk. Any artist with a painting or an easel higher than 4' or taking more than 10' of space, is subject to a citation.
I understand the necessity of removing functional items, commercial items, or items with questionable expressive value. There is an obvious conflict of interest and our artists were competing for space with people who had no business on our boardwalk.
Sadly, the new ordinance has put restrictions on the very people it claimed to protect. Took a walk down yesterday with a couple of my girlfriends and saw an artist whom I'd dearly missed for more than a year now. The artist said he refused to get the "free speech permit" or to participate in the lottery system, and has only exhibited on the boardwalk a dozen or so times since the initiation of the permit.
While the artist (I don't want him to get in trouble) had to wait until noon to set up in any available spot—permit holders selling rocks, hair dye tattoos, mirrors, and painted South American bobble heads, were able to take their designated lottery spaces at 9am.
What the people behind the ordinance have done—I heard the owner of the sidewalk cafe is in part responsible—is to scare off many of Venice Beaches finest artists. The 10' space size and the 4' height will shut down the boldest artists and leave the cheesier flower name, spray paint, bobble head painters and henna (hair dye)franchises.
Picked up one of his gorgeous new orchid paintings and wondered if I'd ever see him again. Wondered too if Venice would be turned into another soulless strip mall.