Welcome to THE VENICE FLYING CAROUSEL & fantastic bike machines

About Us

Venice

Venice has a colorful history of fascinating people, wild amusements & wonderful carousels.

Join lead artist Robin Murez, whose Venice Public Art you see around town, Venice Chamber of Commerce, the City of L.A., Venice High School, and the community in bringing back a delightful part of Abbot Kinney's fantastic vision.

Flying

You'll soar through the air on Venice's next iconic amusement ride. Hop on the camel, the rocket ship or other carousel creatures and enjoy fascinating stories of Venice's people and places. Ingenious additional bike powered machines will serve up food, art, and who knows what. It's all powered by fun, bicycles, and the sun, for visitors of all ages.

One person pedals, as 15 adults and children ride the 'flying horse' style carousel.

Carousel

Your involvement and support makes it happen. The carousel is projected to open in 2021. It will cost $200,000. Donations are tax deductible. Adopting Carousel Creatures and In-kind sponsorships will cover that bill. Most of us are working pro-bono. Once built, all proceeds will benefit Venice charities... and will be a wildly fun attraction for all to enjoy! Similar carousels in other cities profit $60,000/year for their communities. Let's do it!

Donations & Sponsorships

BRASS RING SPONSORS

You are the foundation creating Venice's next, forever, iconic wonder! Brass Ring Sponsors will be prominently recognized on site, forever, and listed in all Carousel project media.

Adopt a Carousel Creature TODAY

$10,000

YOU choose the creature: Camel? Tongva Turtle? Grunion? Charlie Chaplin's movie camera? or maybe a Ray Bradbury Rocket Ship or The Doors Guitar? Our carousel creatures will bring out colorful stories of Venice.

YOU personalize it: have a pet? a hobby? We might carve your dog straddling the saddle and your camera around it's neck.

YOU name the creature: The name will be mounted on the carousel, above your creature's head, for all to enjoy. Be the LOVE!

YOU'll enjoy a free private party at the carousel each year AND

YOU'll ride your creature for free.

ADOPT TODAY - ONLY 4 CREATURES STILL AVAILABLE!

THIS IS A FUNDING TRADITION IN CAROUSEL BUILDING. WITH THESE FUNDS AND IN-KIND SPONSORSHIPS, WE'LL HIT OUR FUNDING GOAL.

ADOPTERS BRING THE CAROUSEL TO LIFE. AND, WHAT A LEGACY! VENETIANS WILL LOVE & FILM CREWS WILL CAPTURE THE MAGIC OF YOUR CREATURE FOR 100 YEARS TO COME!

Carousel Mechanism Sponsor

$35,000*

* Or in kind.

The great grandson of Venice's original carousel builder, Dentzel, designed our bike propelled carousel mechanism. Our SpaceX engineers are making ours. Your sponsorship will underwrite the costs of materials, fabrication and installation. We need YOU to make us fly!

Carousel Studio Sponsor

DONATED

Now located on the Venice Canals, across from the Duck Park. Stop by. Watch & join in carving, painting, for workshops or RIDE a finished carousel animal. Donated by Robin Murez. Our first studio was generously provided by Dan Abrams, Venice Place Project.

Carousel Fencing Sponsor

$10,000*

* Or in kind. Partially sold - $10,000 balance

Venice Metal Works will fabricate our steel enclosure at cost. THANK YOU Jon Grauman! Your sponsorship will underwrite the costs of materials, labor and installation. It will be a beautiful, steel enclosure that lets viewers admire the carousel 24/7, while protecting it from harm. Make us safe and beautiful!

FLYING HIGH SPONSORS

Can you hear the laughter? Imagine the thrills. High Flying Sponsors will be recognized on site, forever, and in Carousel media

Gazebo Sponsor

$50,000*

* Or in kind.

Our charming 50 foot diameter octagonal roof tent structure will attract excitement in the community and visitors to Venice. It will bring Centennial Park to life and be cherished and photographed by all. Your sponsorship - or in kind donation - will build our iconic Gazebo tent roof structure. If you build it - they will come!

Pedal Power Sponsor

$5,000*

* partially sold - $5,000 balance

Pedal power, by even a 10 year old kid, will make our carousel go 'round. Your sponsorship, together with our SpaceX engineering team will underwrite the engineering design, materials and fabrication of our Bike Linkage. THANK YOU Ted, Leo & Brenna! Pedal power rules!

Solar Sound & Light System

$8,000*

* Or in kind

The sun will power our twinkling night lights and digital sound system. Your sponsorship - or in kind donation - will fund the solar system. Enchant us!

STORY TELLER SPONSORS

Our imagery tells fascinating and fun tales. Our alternative energy machines inspire visitors to create their own. All Story Teller Sponsors will be recognized on site and in Carousel media.

Wild & Wonderful Bike Machine Sponsors

$3,000

Students from Venice High School are dreaming up wild and wonderful machines utilizing pedal power. We'll install several bike machines in the park together with the carousel. Sponsor now and you'll be invited to participate in bike machine design & fabrication. Our Smoothie Bike is running now. Pedal power in the park!

Jester Sponsors

$1,000

Carousels have expressive, carved gargoyle-like Jester Heads. They might be portraits of notable people (like Mr. Kinney, himself) or other members of the Venice community (like your dog or a hummingbird donning their favorite hat). Choose from our designs or collaborate with our artists.

The Decorators

$200 - $1,000

Sparkling Mirrors, Painted & Carved Rounding Boards, Story Panels & more decorative elements make a carousel special. Choose from our designs and contribute your ideas to our artists' renderings. Make us sparkle!

Contact Us

Drop us a line!

Sponsor - Donate - Participate

Become a part of this wonderful project. There are many ways to join in, including: adopting a carousel creature, building the Gazebo, painting, carving or sending a contribution. We're also hosting kids art classes, a SPY public art landscaping project and bike machine building workshops. Join in. HELP BUILD THE CAROUSEL, today!

Venice Flying Carousel

Studio: The back building on Court D @ 412 Carroll Canal, Venice. Mail: c/o Venice Chamber, PO Box 202. Venice CA 90294 Email: info@VeniceFlyingCarousel.com

(310) 709-7826

Press

We're in the news!

Click here for the Venice Living Cover Story

I'm interviewed about my Venice Public Art & More

Click here for the Argonaut Comic Strip interview

Click here for the Yo Venice video
Click here for the Atlas Obscura video
Click here for the Lincoln and Rose article

Click here for Yo Venice article

Click here for Before They Go article

OUR FIRST SPONSORS - THANK YOU!

THE VENICE PLACE PROJECT . THE ELECTRIC LODGE . OPEN TEMPLE .

. THE BIKE SHOP . VENICE METAL WORX . KNOCK KNOCK .

CAROUSEL ART WORKSHOPS

CAROUSEL ARTS

WOOD CARVING

Adults are invited to come learn & carve for the carousel. Flexible hours. No experience needed. Supplies provided. We'll help you to design, sketch, make a clay maquette and we'll teach you to carve wood the old fashioned way. From small carousel decorations to "jester heads" and beyond!

Contact Robin at: info@veniceflyingcarousel.com

CAROUSEL PAINTERS

Our Carousel Rounding Board Medallions will be painted by Venice artists, each interpreting a decade of Venice in his/her own style. Invited artists include: Never, Rip Cronk, Francisco Letalier. Contact info@veniceflyingcarousel.com

SPY: EARTH & ART PROJECT

We partnered with Safe Place for Youth, SPY, to spruce up landscaping, install Robin's mosaic spheres sculptural seating and help in public art planning for Centennial Park. LA Department of Rec & Parks is maintaining it from here, but Neighbors are invited to join in! It's a wonderful education and employment program for the youth and it's making a huge, positive difference for the park!

BIKE MACHINE WORKSHOPS

100 Engineering Design students from Venice High School's STEMM Magnet are conjuring up wild and wonderful bike powered machines. We'll select several designs to fabricate in our studio for installation in Centennial Park. Join in. Help out. Mentors, fabricators, creatives & assistants invited. Contact us for more info.

Join in!