Human Touch

The pier is long gone, leaving only its concrete piling foundations. What remains are the rocks dumped in a protective breakwater that parallels the beach, and the storm drain's huge battered pipe sections. It's one of the few times construction has done the beach a favor. Wander for miles north or south and you'll not find any other place that so consistently holds sand good for sculpting. You could call it "engineering sand." Compacted properly, this sand will make a pile that invites structural experiments masquerading as art. The sand isn't all that makes the place special. It's also the only place where you can stand on sand and see the backsides of breakers. Look north and south and you can almost believe you're on an island. The location draws fishermen, martial arts practitioners, sunset watchers, lifeguards warning people about falling off the rocks, and one sand sculptor. Here are some images from the place that show it's more than just a pile of rocks. Walk onto the Breakwater The image above looks north from Venice Beach. The Breakwater is to the left, with the lifeguard tower to the right.

Image Gallery Human Touch Museum

breakwater.htm 1999 February 15