LAs Good Life

Located in San Pedro, with an expansive view that goes on forever, is the Korean Bell of Friendship. The Korean Bell of Friendship is a massive, 17 ton bell that was donated by the Republic of Korea the Los Angeles in 1976 to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States, to honor American veterans of the Korean War, and to symbolize the friendship between the Korea and the United States.

The Korean Bell of Friendship is 12 feet tall, with a diameter of 7 1/2.  It’s made of copper and tin, with other metals added for tonal quality.  A large wooden log is used to ring the bell, only five times a year:

• New Year’s Eve
• January 13 – Korean American Day
• Fourth of July
• August 15 – Korean Liberation Day
• Every September in celebration of Constitution Week

Also, the bell was rung on September 11, 2002, commemorating the first anniversary of 911.

Housed in a pagoda-like stone structure with intricate decorations, the Bell Pavilion has unbelievable views of the Southern California coastline, including Catalina Island.  You have to visit to see for yourself, but it’s hard to find a better view anywhere!

There’s a large park, with a huge grassy area, a basketball court, and public restrooms.  It’s a great place to bring children, fly a kite, have a picnic or just sit and enjoy the view.  And the best part of all is it’s free!  It can get windy, which is great for flying kites, but I’d recommend bringing  a coat with you.

The Korean Bell of Friendship, or the Korean Friendship Bell as it’s sometimes called, is located at:

Korean Bell of Friendship and Bell Pavilion
Angels Gate Park
3601 S Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548-7705

Call ahead to confirm park hours.

50 years and one day after Wilfred Sarr began painting, he returned to Redondo Beach, California to display his lifetime of work at Cannery Row Studios.  The exhibit, entitled “Fifty + 1 (what was the question?),” runs from October 1, 2010 to October 10, 2010.  If you miss the exhibit, you can view some of his works, as well as contact information on his website.

Sarr arrived in Hermosa Beach, California in February of 1962.  Hermosa Beach at that time was considered by many to be the center of LA’s art scene, with a thriving community of artists and musicians.  In 2001, he moved to Santa Cruz, and has lived there since.

During his long career as an artist, Sarr has painted  over 5000 works of art.  His style varies wildly, and his paintings have been compared to Picasso, Matisse, and most of all, Van Gogh.  His subjects range from portraits, to landscapes, to koi, to intricate patterns.

Below are some paintings from the opening night of the exhibit.  Cannery Row Studios provided beverages and hors d’oeuvres, music, and the wonderful paintings of Wilfred Sarr.

These pictures were taken at the exhibit, and they give you an idea of the range of subjects that Sarr paints, as well as his varied style of painting.  Many of his paintings are whimsical, some paintings of dancers are so fluid in appearance.  His style is truly unique, and the texture and colors jump right off the canvas.

If you’re in the area, it’s worth a visit to Cannery Row Studios to view this lifetime work!  And maybe one of Wilfred Sarr’s paintings will catch our eye and become a member of your personal collection.

Wilfred Sarr: www.wilfredsarr.com/

Cannery Row Studios:
604 N. Francisca Ave.
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
888-366-1988
Hours: Saturday, Sunday and Weekdays from 4:30pm – 9:00pm
www.canneryrowstudios.com

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