Photos by Carolina Pinto
Malibu City Hall hosted a celebration for Malibu’s 25th anniversary on March 28, inaugurating the “Art of the Board,” a display of surfboards hung from the ceiling. Artists John Van Hamersveld, Lita Albuquerque and Chuck Arnoldi selected the surfboards, and attendees could participate in a silent auction to win the boards.
The celebration began with the City Council meeting at 6 p.m., followed by a reception with a band, free food and drinks and the “Art of the Board” inauguration, open to Malibu residents and anyone interested.
Mayor Pro Tem Lou La Monte said the Cultural Arts Commission was responsible for the inauguration of “Art of the Board,” and the event’s success was thanks to it.
“They have been working on this show for about two years to get it up, and they finally got it; it looks spectacular,” La Monte said. “I think it’s fantastic, an incredible turnout, more than I ever expected. So far everyone is loving it, and so am I.”
Pepperdine alumnus Rick Wallace (’79), who has lived in Malibu for 40 years, attended the event.
“I have been involved with Malibu all these years,” Wallace said. “I came to Malibu for Pepperdine in 1975. I was a freshman. I graduated four years later, and I stayed in Malibu because I love it so much.”
Wallace said he was very pleased with the event due to the number of attendees and the people themselves.
“It is very nice,” Wallace said. “I had a feeling that it would be very well-attended, and whoever is involved with Malibu is here.”
Around 10 students were at the event to show their community support and appreciation for what Malibu has become.
Junior Mary Claire Spann said she attended the event because of the frequent announcements and her personal interest in getting to know Malibu’s history.
“They have been advertising this for a long time, and I honestly didn’t know much about the history of Malibu, so it’s cool to see how much pride a lot of people have, and the fact that it has only been a city for 25 years is pretty crazy,” Spann said. “It’s good to see the type of people that live in Malibu with us.”
Senior Sara Tandon said she went especially for the “Art of the Board” inauguration and to support the artists.
“One of our alumni committee members from Pi Beta Phi made one of the surfboards, and we wanted to come and support her,” Tandon said.
Tandon said she wasn’t expecting the celebration’s positive outcome.
“I think there is a lot more people than I thought there was going to be. It’s fun to see all the other people who live in Malibu, because we are kind of separated in our little world, so it’s really interesting to see the people who live here and make the city up.”
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