Venice Family Clinic Surf & Skate Silent Auction Draws Large Crowd

A 9-foot longboard shaped by Dan Cobley and designed by Venice-based artist and architect David Hertz was among the featured art pieces available at the Surf & Skate Silent Auction to benefit the Venice Family Clinic.

Hertz, a Venice resident since 1978, had six bids with a high bid of $700 for the long, black surfboard with a photo montage of Southern California images, including musclemen, actors, surfers, cars and bicycles. The board was shaped by Cobley, 33, who runs DANC Surfboards in Hermosa Beach.

The party drew about 500 people Friday night to Track 16 at Bergamot Station Art Center in Santa Monica. The event was a kick-off for the upcoming 34th annual Venice Art Walk & Auction on May 19-20 that will be hosted by Google. The art walk features artists and architects who open their homes and studios and the auction features artwork donated by more than 400 artists. The Venice Art Walk & Auction raises more than $600,000 annually and all proceeds fund the clinic's health care services.

The Venice Family Clinic is the largest free clinic in the country and serves people who are poor and who have no private health insurance.