Jim Harris signing the SM Pier Book at our opening!

During our opening Friday night, Jim Harris, Pier Historian for the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation, will be signing his new book, SANTA MONICA PIER: A CENTURY OF THE LAST GREAT PLEASURE PIER.

Did you know that Popeye was born on the Pier? Get the book and talk to Jim about Joan Baez, Robert Redford (who wrote the introduction) and many fascinating historical facts about this Southern California landmark.

Getting Ready for the Exhibit!!!

Installation today at the Pier. Two of the co-curators, Martin Cox and Cindy Bendat (photo Deborah Arlook), discussing placement for yes, it really IS inside the Carousel Hippodrome! Fabian Lewkowicz grabbed a shot of our other curator, Sara Jane Boyers.
(www.fabianlewkowicz.com)


We are getting calendared in the various event blogs and newspapers and hopefully more after the opening. We look forward to seeing all our LALOP photographers and friends and others this coming Friday night at the Pier.

Love this blog note from Pix Feed, the Hollywood sales and rental shop where we're called "[Los Angeles'] ... own superhero photography group."
L.A. City Beat which hand picks events, on 19 March features LALOP AT THE PIER (with Larry's great invite photo) and says," LALOP at the Pier "The Los Angeles League of Photographers celebrating the centennial of the Santa Monica Pier opens its “LALOP at the Pier” exhibit this Saturday night at the Carousel Hippodrome. The jutting hunk of old wood and whimsy is one of California’s great treasures, and the League has been busy since February snapping and developing studies certain to enchant fans of the taken image. Carousel Hippodrome, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, (310) 458-8786; ... Exhibit opens Fri., March 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free carousel rides at opening! Through April 18. (Ron Garmon)."

LALOP AT THE PIER on Facebook

There is a Facebook Page now for LALOP AT THE PIER where some of the LALOP pier photographers have displayed their work.

Focus on LALOP pier photographer CINDY BENDAT

Cindy Bendat is co-curating and participating in the LALOP at the Pier exhibit. Some of her photographs of the Santa Monica Pier are also included in the recently published book Santa Monica Pier—A Century On The Last Great Pleasure Pier written by James Harris.

Commenting about the Pier:
I live in the city of Santa Monica, and the Santa Monica Pier is its most important symbol. While the Pier has gone through many changes through its 100 years of existence, it remains as originally intended: a place for people to enjoy the ocean, to revel in the views, and to have fun. In conjunction with the book project, I found myself photographing the Pier from many unique and wonderful vantage points, including from a Cessna airplane, a Harbor Patrol boat, the Pacific Park Ferris wheel, and even from a moving roller coaster. I was able to spend time on the Pier, enjoying the sunlight and the ocean, as its builders envisioned.

Focus on LALOP pier photographer MATHIEU GRANDJEAN

Mathieu Grandjean, one of our LALOP photographers, has been photographing the Pier for years now as part of his project documenting the Arlington West Memorial, set up every Sunday by the stairs leading down to the beach and parking lot. His vimeo of the pier is at Arlington West Memorial.

LALOP AT THE PIER on March 20!

The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation & the Los Angeles League of Photographers (LALOP) invite you to LALOP AT THE PIER, A Santa Monica Pier Centennial Exhibition, featuring the photographic vision of the Los Angeles League of Photographers

opening reception:
FRIDAY, March 20 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the historic Carousel
exhibit continues through Sunday, April 18 during Carousel operating hours which are Monday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

LALOP photographers:
Deborah Arlook, Cindy Bendat, Devadatta Best, Sara Jane Boyers, Larry Brownstein, Martin Cox, Margery Epstein, Helen K. Garber, Barbara Gluck, Mathieu Grandjean, Ken Haber, Mark Indig, Bianca le Mouël, Douglas McCulloh, Ann Mitchell, Don Schwartz, Aline Smithson & Angela Spieles. Helen K. Garber joins us as a LALOP guest for this exhibit.

contact: Anne Railsback: anne@santamonicapier.org or Sara Jane Boyers: lalopblog@gmail.com

check out:
www.lalopblog.blogspot.com
www.santamonicapier.org

Check Out the March 2009 Rangefinder!

Martin Elkort, one of the founding members of LALOP and a regular contributor to Rangefinder Magazine, has a terrific story in the March 2009 issue entitled "Visual Recorders of Time" and illustrated by LALOP members Deborah Arlook, Sara Jane Boyers, Mark Indig and Angela Spieles.

You can view the article and pics at Rangerfinder Magazine.