August 2011

Brian Pendleton and Chad Goldman Announce $100,000 Challenge Grant

At the Sunset Marquis Hotel on July 11, 2011, Brian Pendleton and Chad Goldman announced their $100,000 challenge grant to over 50 gathered guests.

The host committee for the event included Brian Pendleton, Chad Goldman, Brickson Diamond, Bill Resnick and WHLF board member Christopher Rice, with additional support from Councilmember John Heilman and Blake Byrne. Among those in attendance at the event were: West Hollywood Councilmembers John D'Amico, Abbe Land and John Heilman, as well as Mayor Pro Tempore Jeff Prang.

During the event, WHLF board member Chris Rice explained the important roles that libraries play in today's community and discussed the value and impact that the LGBT collection will have on the community. Brian Pendleton, shared his story of growing up in a conservative community and needing a place like the new West Hollywood Library to find affirmation of his identity as a gay youth. Brian then invited his husband Chad Goldman to join him in announcing their $100,000 challenge grant. For every dollar donated to the library, they will match the gift up to $100,000.

In total, over $18,000 in donations were raised at the event including a $5,000 donation from CAA (Creative Artists Agency) whose clients Chris Rice and Will Ferrell are contributors to the library. Additional gifts and commitments were received from Alan Bernstein, Alan Uphold, Brian Stevens and others.

The West Hollywood Library Fund thanks Chris Cope and Rod Gruendyke of the Sunset Marquis Hotel for their donation of the food and drinks for the evening, and Brian Pendleton and Chad Goldman for helping to make our new library a place like no other.

Members of the host committee pictured: Brickson Diamond, Bill Resnick, WHLF board member Chris Rice, Brian Pendleton and Chad Goldman

 

Save the Date - West Hollywood Library Opening Event September 24, 2011  

With construction of the new West Hollywood Library nearly complete, planning is well underway for the opening event, which takes place on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  This exclusive, ticketed event will be an unveiling like no other, with private library tours, entertainment, special guest appearances, food and drink, live and silent auctions and more!

Tickets for this event start at $150 and will be available soon. For more information, please visit our website at http://weholibraryfund.org/opening.

 

MOCA Street Art Comes to the 5-story Parking Garage

While artists Shepard Fairey and David Wiseman prepare to install their artwork inside the new library, outside the library, several artists participating in the “Art in the Streets” MOCA exhibit happening in the greater Los Angeles area installed murals on the new 5-story parking garage.  The city of West Hollywood has invited three artists to participate.

On the wall of the parking garage that faces Melrose Avenue, the artist Retna created a blue-themed mural depicting a grand display of styled text. Retna, a Los Angeles native, has been creating murals and street art since the early 1990s and has participated in several street art exhibits across the country.

From West Hollywood park you can see artist Kenny Scharf's playful collection of colorful cartoon-like characters. Scharf, who is based in New York, has been a fixture in the art community since the early 1980s and has collaborated with artists such as David Hockney and Keith Haring.

On the wall as you enter the parking garage, artist Shepard Fairey produced a large-scale mural. The mural depicts a peace dove next to an elephant and is over 75 feet tall.

The exhibition was funded by MOCA and the artists themselves, as a part of the MOCA exhibition, and the city of West Hollywood will protect the murals with anti-graffiti coating so that they can remain on display and enjoyed for the next year.

 

Pictured Top Left: Retna in front of his mural, photo credit
Pictured Right: Artist Kenny Scharf
Pictured Bottom Left: Shepard Fairey's mural in process 

Photo Credits: Joshua Barash

Event Report - Cocktail Reception at SLS Hotel

On June 22, 2011, over 100 guests gathered in the Garden Terrace of the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills for a ticketed cocktail reception to learn more about the West Hollywood Library and the resources it will provide to the community.

The hosts for the event were Sam Nazarian and Shula Nazarian, as well as WHLF board members Nic Adler and Jason Illoulian, Leila Kashani, Arash Khorsandi, David Manshoory, Jennifer Nourafshan, Ronie Ravan, Ruby Stewart, Danielle Zilberg and Jason Ziven.

The SLS hotel graciously donated all food, drinks and services for the event, offering guests a wonderful array of exotic hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, including a specialty cocktail prepared with liquid nitrogen.

During the evening, WHLF board member Jason Illoulian thanked Sam Nazarian and the SLS Hotel, as well as David Cooley, for hosting the event. He then introduced Shula Nazarian, who welcomed guests to the SLS Hotel on behalf of her brother Sam. She spoke of how impressed and amazed she was with the new library when she went on a hardhat tour and how inspirational the library project is.  She implored the guests to get involved with the project.

WHLF board member Nic Adler discussed the creative energy of the city of West Hollywood and how the library is there to help make the city grow and foster creativity. He then introduced artist David Wiseman, one of the two artists selected to produce the artwork for the library and announced Shepard Fairey as the other selected artist.

Host David Manshoory encouraged guests to help ensure free access to education for all by purchasing a bookshelf for an additional $150 donation. He then announced that he and Jason Illoulian would match all bookshelf donations made at the event.

In total, 17 bookshelves were sold.  Combined with ticket purchases and other donations, the event raised $15,000 for the library.

A video recap of the event can be viewed on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/WeHoLibraryPark.

The West Hollywood Library Fund thanks the SLS Hotel, Sam Nazarian and all the co-hosts and guests for helping to make our new library a place like no other.

Pictured Left: Co-host David Manshoory, WHLF board member Jason Illoulian, Campaign Manager LouAnne Greenwald, West Hollywood Councilmember Abbe Land and WHLF board chairman Chris Bonbright.

Pictured Right: Event host Shula Nazarian describing the new West Hollywood Library to the guests.
 

Upcoming Events

Friends of the West Hollywood Library Open House - Saturday, August 20, 2011 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - Stop by the West Hollywood Park Auditorium to join the Friends of the West Hollywood Library and become a library volunteer. West Hollywood Park Auditorium - 649 San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA.

Library Opening Event - Saturday, September 24, 2011 - 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - West Hollywood Library - 625 San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA. More details, tickets and info announced soon at http://weholibraryfund.org/opening.

Ribbon cutting and dedication of the new West Hollywood Library - Saturday, October 1, 2011 - - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - West Hollywood Library - 625 San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA. More details will be announced soon.

10th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair - Sunday, October 2, 2011 - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm - West Hollywood Library and Park. Books, panels, readings, stages and more! For details visit:  http://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org/.

Join Us

Stay up-to-date on the latest library news and be part of the conversation as our campaign progresses.

For more information about the campaign and how you can help, please contact Campaign Manager LouAnne Greenwald via email at lgreenwald@weholibraryfund.org.