By IRENE MANAHAN Special to the Daily Press
VENICE “Fools Fest,” a five-day celebration of all things creative, kicks off tonight with a free event aimed at promoting local artists, musicians, poets, comedians and filmmakers.
“It’s a celebration of all art — poetry, music, art and comedy. It’s not exclusive,” said Gerry Fialka, a collage artist who is coproducing the festival. “We’re open to everyone and we anticipate that new things will happen.
“People will see new ideas with new eyes because we have such a vibrant group of visionaries.”
The first annual Fools Fest — a tribute to April Fool’s Day — is being staged over six days at The Sponto Gallery on Dudley Avenue. The gallery regularly sponsors particular forms of art, but this marks the first time it will honor different types of art all at once.
“It really boils down to what Poet William Blake said: ‘If the fool persists in his folly, it tend turn into wisdom.’”
At tonight’s opening, an art show including works from Venice-based photographer Ned Sloane will be featured.
“I’m happy to be showing off my work. I really do want to have my work better known,”Sloane said.“As an art student, I was always a lover of architecture and wanted to show the most attractive features of Venice.”
On Saturday, live musical performances will take center stage, including funk bands and a unique number by Unpopable, which plays music with twisted rubber balloons.
Sunday will mark the first of Sponto’s comedy series, stressing subversive, political comedy from numerous jokesters.
Tuesday is poetry night. In efforts to encourage audience participation, one lucky wordsmith will net $50.
Sponto seems an ideal staging ground for the Fest, especially on poetry night, according to Fialka, after serving as a poetry cafe during the infamous Beats movement until 1966, where several famous poets came to read their latest works.
“We’re keeping up the tradition of the Beats movement, which is important in the history of poetry,” said Fialka. “We encourage everyone to come read their work.”
Finally, on Wednesday, Sponto will present rare documentaries about cutting-edge artists.
“We’re trying to push the envelope and say there is an otherness to art, music, poetry, and even comedy,” said Fialka.“We’re just trying to carry on the tradition of other artists in the past.”
Fine art will be on display and sold throughout the week at Sponto Gallery, 7 Dudley Avenue. For more information, call (310) 306-7330.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 20, 2007. Read the original PDF.