Artists, Street Performers, Musicians
Rick The Juggler is a street performer and comedian who’s been entertaining crowds on The Venice Boardwalk for over four years.
He’s originally from Philadelphia and is a big A Clockwork Orange fan. Rick’s amazing with knives, so next time you’re on the beach “Come and get one in the yarbles–if you have any yarbles!”
Juan Lopez (left) and Wilan Carrillo (right) are oil, acrylic and watercolor painters who have been showing their work on Venice Beach for about four months. Their theme is California. Juan is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico and Wilan was born and raised in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. You can see more photos on Wilan’s MySpace page.
De Miranda is an oil painter who was born and raised in Los Angeles. He started painting, he explains, “to escape.” You may find him painting on a wooden easel near The Waterfront Cafe.
Dutch oil painter Rembrandt (1606-1669) is his greatest inspiration.
I’m not trying to make a profit; I’m trying to turn the people into prophets.
Tony B. Conscious is an art activist, rapper and modern-day hip-hop renaissance man who’s been creating original works of art on Venice Beach for over nine years. Born in Seattle, Tony uses spray paint and handmade stencils to create what he’s named “Fly Dye Art” on wood as well as fine-art canvases.
In Tony’s art you can see the influence of American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) , a resident of Venice in the 80s who was known for incorporating words into his art which is dense with surface writng, collage and imagery. Tony is a spoken word artist who improvises rap lyrics in real time as he promotes his art:
For you, Mama, no drama.
I know you ain’t got a budget, but you gonna love it.
It’s mind over matter…if you don’t use your mind, it really don’t matter.
So cruise on down to the edge of Amerikkka and check out some fly dye!
Peter Israel’s a singer-songwriter who’s originally from San Antonio, Texas. He’s been a street musician on Venice Beach for about a year and a half. He’s a classically-trained guitarist who’s always ready to jam on the Boardwalk.
Peter cites Reggae, Bruce Cockburn and Neil Young among his many influences. You’ll likely find him by The Sidewalk Cafe–ready to rock.
Peter Demian is a singer-songwriter who has entertained crowds on the Venice Boardwalk for over 31 years. He’s one of Venice Beach’s all-time favorites, with a soulful voice and classic blues-folk acoustic guitar style. He’s inspired by “the poetry of Venice” and he told me this story:
In 1978 I was new to LA and living out of my ’69 Valiant. One day, near Mulholland, a motorcycle cop confronted me. He asked me what I do and I said “I was a singer and guitar player.” He said “prove it,” so I got my guitar out and played. I’ll never forget what he said (and this was a motorcycle cop!). He said: “If you believe in what you do, there’s a place called Venice Beach.”
Peter followed the setting sun and drove down to the beach in his old rusting Valiant—and he’s still there, believing in what he does—in a place called Venice Beach.
En Plein Air is a French expression that means “in the open air.” Artist Daniel Regan has been inspired by the outdoors lifestyle in Venice since 1995. He likes being out in the clean air and, like most Plein Air artists, working with natural light and landscape themes.
Stop by and take a closer look at how Daniel “works the water.”
For the last six years, one of the best-loved street performers on Venice Beach has been Goldman! Standing as still as a statue, Goldman comes to life with high-pitched sound effects and hip hop-style dance moves when tourists place a bill into his “Turn Me On” basket.
I feel at peace when I’m Goldman. All things are possible with God.
Goldman says his goal is to inspire people. Next time you’re down on the beach and you see a glint of gold out of the corner of your eye, stop by and be inspired!
Damon Warren is an acrylic painter and actor originally from San Francisco. As a child he would paint on mediums as varied as scraps of wood, newspapers and even walls. (What would Stevie Wonder think!?) He specializes in landscapes and figures often with beach, Jazz and floral themes. He’s a self-described “old school” artist who’s been painting on the boardwalk since 1996.
His art sells all over the world and he can often be found near Windward Avenue—painting in the sun.
Davie’s a guitarist and singer who’s been making the street performer scene on the beach for about a year. His musical inspiration comes from the guitarists of the 60s and 70s.
If you’re passing the Sidewalk Cafe, you’ll likely find him rocking the crowd.
