Are you a lover of arts and culture? Do you love seeing all of the unique artwork in and around Santa Monica?
Santa Monica is full of great artistry, both new and old, and it seems like it is everywhere you turn. However, there are a few unique places that stand out from the rest that are a must-visit. The next time you want to indulge yourself in something out-of-the-ordinary, check out these unique places in our eclectic city.
Chain Reaction
Cartoonist Paul Conrad and builder Peter M. Carlson designed this 26-foot high sculpture, which was installed in 1991 next to the Santa Monica Civic Center. It is made of stainless steel and fiberglass, and it depicts a mushroom cloud created by a nuclear explosion. It is a symbol of peace, posing a warning about the dangers of nuclear war.
jAdis
jAdis is Santa Monica’s prop shop and curiosity cabinet that is full of imagination and wonder. The shop is focused on displaying items from before the digitalization of our world, which are unique, historical, and whimsical. It is a truly unique place, where you never know what you are going to find. If you love discovering unique pieces for your home or simply browsing through historical gems, make sure to visit jAdis.
Singing Beach Chairs
Douglas Hollis is the artist behind the Singing Beach Chairs, two 18-foot-high sculptures that can sing. The Singing Beach Chairs first made their debut at the end of May in 1987. They have the ability to produce musical tones when struck by the wind. They are each made of five steel and aluminum tubes that have built-in holes to replicate oboe-like tones with the help of the wind. They are located between Pico Boulevard and the Santa Monica Pier, facing the ocean.
McCabe’s Guitar Shop
McCabe’s Guitar Shop is a unique place to both shop for musical instruments and to go to a concert in Santa Monica. It opened in 1958, and it has seemingly every stringed instrument you can think of: guitars, ukuleles, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, fiddles, bouzoukis, sitars, ouds, ethnic percussion, and more. They also repair instruments and teach lessons. If you’re a music lover, this is a must-check-out destination.
Farnam House
Aziz and Louise Farnam transformed their house into a mosaic masterpiece, starting in the early 2000s. Inspired by mosques and mausoleums in their native home of Iran, they used tiles, plates, and glass in bright colors to form the extravagant artwork on the exterior of their home. It started as a single tile on a retaining wall in the front of their home, and it grew into doing the entire wall, front walkway, and then the entire house.
Origami Intersections
In Santa Monica’s four downtown “scramble” intersections: 2nd & Broadway, 4th & Broadway, 2nd & Santa Monica, and 4th & Santa Monica, there are instructional origami designs (created by Robert J. Lang) embedded into the streets, which were done in 2000 by artist Robin Brailsford. She combined mosaic techniques, granite pavers, and bronze origami elements to make one of the city’s best-kept secrets: hidden artwork. Each of the square sections in the center of the intersection features embedded lines that equate to origami folds that create an indigenous Santa Monica animal. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for these!
Come To Historical Big Dean’s For Great Food & Fun
Big Dean’s Ocean Front Café was originally Laring’s Lunch Room, a landmark in Santa Monica for years, and it remains a vibrant, historical, and unique place in Santa Monica for residents and visitors to enjoy. Come check out our extensive dining menu that satisfies appetites of all types, and be sure to stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook!
