Magic Carpet Ride (2007)

Matthew Antichevich

(also known as The Cardiff Kook)

DESCRIPTION:   6-foot high cast bronze sculpture, mounted on a 6-foot granite base, with a poetry inscription by Robert Nanninga

Officially titled Magic Carpet Ride yet known locally as The Cardiff Kook (kook: slang for a crazy or eccentric person; a novice surfer), this bronze sculpture depicts a young boy learning to surf.  
The artist's original design included a wave component to illustrate a particular surfing maneuver or stance, but this component was later omitted due to budget constraints. 
The sculpture's final form received negative criticism from the local surfing community and prompted an on-going series of pranks and spoofs that dress the figure in humorous costumes and elaborate backdrops.  The pranks also often reflect current events, and this continued community attention has transformed Antichevich's work into one of Southern California's most uniquely popular cultural landmarks.

ROBERT NANNINGA POETRY DETAIL:
LOCATION:   entrance to San Elijo State Beach campground, South Coast Highway at Chesterfield Drive, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas, California, USA