The Santa Monica Conservancy has assembled an unusually rich program for September.It includes a lecture on Architect Julia Morgan, a salon at the home of visionary architect Ray Kappe, FAIA, and a visit to the Inkwell.

Today, Saturday, Sept. 8, at 4 p.m., a free lecture on architect Julia Morgan will be given by Christy McAvoy, principal of Historic Resources Group, who has delved extensively into this subject as part of the Historic Structures Report for the Annenberg Community Beach House. The lecture will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Reservations are advised and can be made online or by leaving a message at 310-496-3146.

Morgan was the foremost woman architect of her era, and designed a number of buildings for William Randolph Hearst, including the Marion Davies estate on the site of the Annenberg. It was the largest house ever built on the California Coast.

On Saturday, Sept. 15, 4-6 p.m., the Santa Monica Conservancy invites members and friends to a Salon at the home of visionary architect Ray Kappe, FAIA. Mr. Kappe has been a driving force of the local architectural scene during his 60-year architectural career and as founder of the innovative school SCI-ARC (Southern California Institute of Architecture) in Santa Monica in 1972. His own home, an award-winning masterpiece in Rustic Canyon (1965-1967), is considered one of the most exciting works of architecture in the region. Its structural and design innovations as well as its breathtaking beauty have inspired many architects and students.

This event, a fundraiser for the Conservancy, includes of a house tour, a reception with elegant hors d’oeuvres, and a conversation with Ray and his wife Shelly. Tickets are $150 for Conservancy members, $175 for the general public.

Space is limited; early reservations are advised. Purchase online or mail your check to P.O. Box 653, Santa Monica, CA 90406 in time to arrive by September 12.

Also set for Saturday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to noon, Coastal Cleanup Day, the Conservancy, the California Historical Society, makers of the film “Whitewash” and various local African American groups are joining with Heal the Bay on Coastal Cleanup Day as part of a broad collaboration to inspire a more diverse audience to learn about our local watersheds, the ocean, and our shared community history.

Conservancy docents will be on hand at a new Coastal Cleanup Day site established to call attention to the section of Santa Monica beach sometimes known as the “Inkwell.” This beach site was a popular hangout for African Americans from Los Angeles County from the 1920s to the 1960s, long after racial restrictions on public beaches were invalidated. In 2008, the City of Santa Monica installed a plaque near Ocean Walk at the end of Bay Street, recognizing this important gathering place as well as Nick Gabaldon, the first documented surfer of African and Mexican American descent.

Coastal Cleanup Day is an international effort held annually to clear the sand and water of harmful and unsightly pollution. Volunteer registration for the new Bay Street site will take place on the beach at Lifeguard Tower 20. For more information, including a special offer for the first 100 volunteers to sign up at Bay Street, see our website.

In a related event, the documentary film “White Wash,” exploring the history of African Americans and water culture, from slavery and civil rights wade-ins to surfing in contemporary times, will be screened on Sunday, September 16 at 2 PM in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium of the Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard,90401. A discussion with director Ted Woods, Rick Blocker, founder of BlackSurfing.com and Alison Rose Jefferson, historian, follows the free screening.

The Conservancy’s Downtown Walking Tour takes place every Saturday morning at 10 AM. You can sign up and pay in advance on our website, send email to dwt@smconservancy.org, or just come check a few minutes early at 1436 2nd St (the Hostel, next to the historic Rapp Saloon). Have a group of friends or family visiting? We’re happy to schedule a private group tour with at least 2 weeks’ notice.

Conservancy members’ annual membership contributions support its work to preserve the architectural and cultural heritage of our city. Members receive our informative quarterly newsletter and discounts on tours and events.

Join or renew now! You may join online as an Individual or Household Member or as a Business/Corporate Member. Questions?
Call 310-496-3146 or email info@smconservancy.org.