THE COIN TOSS

a persistence of vision thaumatrope sculpture

Once Upon A Time, about a hundred years ago, Mr. Abbot Kinney, and a partner, owned all of the land from Ocean Park, Santa Monica to Marina del Rey. They began building a city in Ocean Park, including roads, homes, hotels and an amusement pier. Ocean Park was good, stable, land. South of Ocean Park the land was a “swamp.”

When Kinney’s partner was replaced, the new partner didn’t share Kinney’s vision. To sever the partnership and split the parcel they agreed to Toss a Coin.

Kinney won the Coin Toss, and chose the “swamp.” His partner said: “See, I told you he was crazy!”

But Abbot Kinney had a grander vision for creating an unique community by the sea: he dredged the swamp to create canals, built Venetian architecture, a salt water plunge, a dance hall, piers, wild amusement rides, and much more. It was VENICE OF AMERICA, Kinney’s mash-up of Venice, Italy and Coney Island.

8" x 8" x 2" soldered copper Coin, with steel frame, sign & post                  robin murez  2014

Site:  1337 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA                     Sponsor:  Alternative Apparel

Click here to read Blogtown's review of The Coin Toss