A Tribute That Felt Like a Roast

Fred Weisman was getting a lot of grief for someone being revered. Billy Al Bengston, the painter, told him he shouldn’t have worn a tie (“I shouldn’t?” said Weisman), and Carol Jeanne Feuerman, a sculptor who is making a life-size resin likeness of Weisman, wanted to make sure he didn’t muss his pin-stripe suit.

“That’s the same suit I’m doing you in,” she reminded the art collector and philanthropist.

“OK,” said Weisman. “I won’t spill anything on it.”

Weisman, who is on familiar terms with many artists, was the center of attention when the Venice Family Clinic kicked off its annual weekend art tour with an informal dinner for 500 of its biggest supporters at the Beverly Hilton Thursday night.

He was honored not only because he has pledged $500,000 toward psycho-social services at the 22-year-old medical facility but because he “cajoles artists like Robert Graham to open their studios for the art walk and asks people like Ed Ruscha to donate two pieces of art to our auction,” said Laura Maslon, a clinic supporter.

More than 25% of the people who receive free services at the clinic are homeless, said board president Michael Goldberg, adding: “That’s what Fred responded to.”

“I saw the Venice Family Clinic for the first time a little over a year ago, and to me it’s very, very special,” said Weisman. “In some circles, Los Angeles is considered the homeless capital, so we need to help out with this terrible situation.”

Many of the artists who open their studios for the annual Art Walk attended the dinner, including Joy Fay, Peter Lodato, Guy Dill, Peter Shire, John Okulik, Fritz Scholder, E.F. Kitchen, Buzz Spector, Laddie John Dill and Lita Albuquerque.

The onslaught of tourists comes as something of a shock for introspective artists, but many have come to actually look forward to it. “I’ve never had a bad experience,” said Laddie John Dill. “Venice is a very quiet community, with the exception of the art walk. At most studios, you can’t find the entrance on a normal day.”

“It’s actually a very powerful exchange,” said Albuquerque. “I get charged on other people’s energies.”

Dr. Nell Levy, one of the clinic’s volunteer physicians, was also honored for her work. Both she and Weisman received small Peter Shire sculptures. Weisman received an intricate piece the color of the Beverly Hills Hotel that Shire said represented a “microcosm of the L.A. universe.”

Translation? “The machine-like shapes have amorphic spirit shapes rising to the top, and on top of that is a watermelon. To me, it’s both happy and tragic, and that’s essentially L.A.,” said Shire. “The things that make it easy for us to live here also screw it up.”