LGBTQ+ artwork moves forward for North Branch Redondo Beach Library

by Garth Meyer

An LGBTQ+ artwork may be commissioned by the city for the front of the North Branch Library after a 3-1 city council vote Tuesday night. 

The art would highlight the LBGTQ+ community on Artesia Boulevard, a street with a particular history for the group. It was the location of the former “South Bay LGBT Center” and currently the LBGTQ+ Artesia Bar.

The city’s Cultural Arts Commission recommended the project to the city council last year, after it took direction from the council in 2023 to explore a permanent installation along the theme of flying the “Progress Flag” at city hall for Pride Month.

Last December, the current council voted to advance the library sculpture idea, budgeted at $35,000, as part of a broader plan for placemaking art on Artesia Blvd.

City staff launched a survey on the subject March 16. It was shut down after three days due to what was deemed auto replies and repetitive answers likely from bots. 

More than 400 responses had come in, with 160 ruled invalid. 

Of that, as described by Mike Witzansky, city manager, to the question of ‘how supportive are you of an artwork of an LGBTQ+ theme at the library?’ he reported that 50% of respondents ranked it a one (lowest enthusiasm) and 39% ranked it a 5 (highest enthusiasm). 5% ranked it 4 and 4% 3.

“That was the best we could glean given the nature of the survey,” Witzansky said.

City Councilman Scott Behrendt opened the discussion May 12 by calling for an artwork “including, but not exclusive to LGBTQ+.”

“I may be personally in favor but I don’t feel comfortable ignoring the sentiment of our residents,” he said, citing what he has heard from his constituents as well.

He proposed two options; to go ahead with the other artwork agreed to on Artesia Blvd. and see how everyone feels after that; or to do a community survey about an “inclusive” artwork at the library to seek “broad, durable support.”

Councilman Zein Obagi, Jr. said that an “inclusive” artwork should be family-friendly, “not offensive to a parent with a kid.”

“What I hope for, what my goal is, is that we present art to the community for full feedback before we buy it,” he said. 

Obagi, Jr. then cited his own poll of District Four constituents. 

From 328 responses, he recorded 58% were in favor of an LGBTQ+ statue, with 36% no and 7% not sure.

He then showed an artwork created by AI — featuring leaping dolphins and a whale striped in the colors of the pride/”Progress flag”.

Councilmember Paige Kaluderovic said that while the LGBTQ+ community is “though a small percentage of the population, we are not whole without them. We should recognize them in an intentional and purposeful way.”

She proposed a previous idea of a rainbow-painted crosswalk at Green Street be brought back to the table, as part of “casting a wide net,” whether for a mural, sculpture or crosswalk.

The significance of a crosswalk at Green Street would be because the Artesia Bar, formerly the Dolphin Bar, is kitty-corner to the library there. The bar has long been known as one of the lone gay bars in the South Bay.

Councilman Chadwick Castle said that it was “ important we have community input as art on Artesia is supposed to be something that garners broad community support.”

Mayor Jim Light relayed a message from absent Councilman Brad Waller, who was supportive of an LGBTQ+ artwork, not just the sculpture option.

Mayor Light noted that the motion back in December was a bit ambiguous — thus city staff was asking for more direction from the council. 

“Personally, I don’t have a problem with LGBTQ+… I think these things can proliferate over time… I support LGBTQ+ art in this case.” 

“We need to know about the maintenance and longevity of the artwork,” Kaluderovic said. 

For the overall Artesia artworks project – paid for by the John Parsons art fund, which comes from a one percent fee imposed on Redondo Beach capital improvements and private development projects – city staff has sent out a request for artists’ qualifications and received 180 responses. 

The request for qualifications did not include any concepts for the art.

In public comment Tuesday, Betty Leinen, a boardmember for South Bay LGBTQ+ Center, said, “The Artesia corridor has long-functioned as an LGTBTQ+ gathering space in the South Bay. This project is about acknowledging history, not promoting politics.” 

“This is not adult content, it’s history. Exposure does not indoctrinate children, it just shows that if they too are LGBTQ+ they are loved.”

A transgender teen said, “Hate has no home in Redondo Beach.”

More voices spoke in support, including Scott Houston, an openly gay boardmember for the West Basin Water District. Houston is also a candidate for the 66th Assembly District, now held by Al Muratsuchi. He will be termed out in November. 

“The Artesia corridor was a place we knew there was safety,” he said. “This would be truly meaningful to us.”

A married woman with two children from North Redondo who spoke, said she “strongly opposed” the project. 

“We all have colleagues and friends in the (LGBTQ+) community. I am a Hispanic woman, I’m not asking to put a sombrero in front of the library. There are other cultures in the beach area as well.”

Steve Hague, a 35-year resident, said, “I thought (the focus on) Artesia was to bring people in. To bring people in, you’ve got to have a broad scope.”

Georgette Gantner, former Redondo Beach Public Arts Commissioner and mayoral candidate, said, “It is family friendly because gays and lesbians have families. They adopt, they have their own children… These are people, you’re born a way and that’s the way it is.”

A member of the Cultural Arts Commission which recommended the project, Krristina Christian-Kelly, said that “the proposal was for a sculpture.”

A transgender woman from North Redondo Beach spoke in favor.

“I would be totally for a Hispanic monument. That would be awesome,” she said. “I also think we should have one for LGBTQ+. Let’s go.”

More voices spoke in favor, including callers.

“This project is going to take some courage,” said Marie Puterbaugh. 

Daniel Lynch suggested a “rainbow wave with a dolphin in there; something like that… I don’t think anybody would oppose this. If you do, you got issues.”

District Four resident Nansea Skiba suggested a “more universal theme… rather than just one interest group.”

City Clerk Eleanor Manzano counted 37 online comments in support of LGBTQ+ art in front of the library and 15 opposed.

Mark Hansen, Harbor Commissioner, said that the “City of Redondo Beach has a very proud history of demonstrating inclusivity.”

Finally, a mother of two spoke of “brainwashing… sexualizing children. How do you talk about LGBTQ+ without talking about sex?”

She referred to Councilman Obagi’s A.I.-generated example.

“Gay dolphins? Gay sea life? What does it have to do with Redondo Beach? What’s next, daily drag shows at the library? What are the boundaries? Where are we going to stop when it comes to LGBTQ+?”

A District 5 father of a transgender youth said he was “very much in favor. It’s a bold move and we should take it … These children are battling every day. If we can’t do this, what’s that telling them?”

Mayor Light concluded the discussion by saying that there were valid concerns about the location, and assured the public that any artwork would not be sexual in nature. 

Councilman Obagi, Jr., said, “I am totally in favor of honoring Mexican-Americans and honoring more groups in the future, but (LGBTQ+) is overdue.”

He made a motion for staff to proceed with the plan to commission an artwork at Green Street and Artesia Boulevard, at or around the North Branch Library.

“Because of the history of that space,” said Councilmember Kaluderovic, proposing to add the phrase as an amendment to the motion.

Proposed artwork will be first reviewed by a subcommittee of community members, then the Cultural Arts Commission, followed by final approval from the city council.

Councilman Behrendt made a substitute motion for an “inclusive artwork at North Redondo Beach Library or elsewhere that recognizes and honors all, not exclusively one group or identity.”

No second followed. 

Councilman Chadwick Castle said, “Right now, I think what’s causing the ambiguity is about what the art is,” he said. “There’s art of all types along the Boulevard (in the city plan). There will be other locations to bring all types of art to Artesia Boulevard.”

Obagi reiterated that the dolphins striped in the “Progress Flag” colors was “just an A.I. image to get people to become aware.”

The council’s Artesia Boulevard Strategic Art plan, approved in December, allows for 10 or more art installations between Inglewood Avenue and Aviation Blvd.  

Phase 1 includes two large median pieces, two welcome monuments, two crosswalk-art paintings and improvements to five existing concrete benches. ER