Envision a whimsical drive-through art gallery. That’s the Great Wall of Topanga. It stands ready to capture your attention. The Topanga View Mural is a key part of this wall.
The Great Wall of Topanga snuck up on Rick Denman. He rounded a corner on Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Just seven miles from the Pacific Ocean, a strange sight popped into view. It beckoned him to slow down.
The entire installation covers 48 feet of retaining wall. It’s on the east side of the road. Froggy’s Topanga Fish Market is right across the street.
Rick Denman created the Great Wall of Topanga as an anti-art piece. The concrete retaining wall supporting his balcony got tagged. Street artist Banksy was in town then. Denman’s friends suspected Banksy might be behind the spray paint.
Denman worried about Banksy collectors hammering away at his wall. As it turned out, the piece was by an artist named Accountability. He worked in the Banksy style.
But that gave Denman an idea. His retaining wall could be a canvas. He assembled detritus into the words “Got Art?”. It was an appeal for artists to contribute. He then painted “Great Wall of Topanga”. A Facebook thumbs-up let passersby know about the wall’s page.
Over the years, the Great Wall of Topanga has seen many art iterations. “Toys Wuz Us” is one example. Denman collected plastic toys his boys accumulated. He assembled them into a treatise on disposable playthings.
The “Banksy Trap” is a giant rat trap. An oversized spray-paint can serves as bait. It’s a nod to Banksy. Initially, it was over the road’s shoulder. But a CHP officer called it a hazard. Denman moved it for better photos.
“Mt. Rush-Hour” features three faces. They emulate Mt. Rushmore. One is made from a surfboard. Another uses push brooms and car ramps. The third incorporates a kitchen sink for its eyes.
Two replica Terracotta Warriors were donated in 2012. They guard a stairway to Denman’s property. Sadly, someone damaged them in 2021.
A butterfly and gecko are made from beer bottle caps. They are mounted on plywood. They are a bit challenging to see while driving.
In 2012, Denman installed a Sandy Hook Memorial. It featured 20 wooden figures. They represented children at play. The word “Kids” was also included. It remembered the kindergarteners killed in the shooting.
The installation first appeared on July 16, 2011. That day was “Carmageddon” in Southern California. The 405 was shut down. The Great Wall grabbed the attention of those on other arteries.
Denman was once accused of soliciting art. The local planning department threatened a fine. The words “Great Wall of Topanga” were also considered illegal advertising. The bureaucracy has since been resolved.
The Great Wall of Topanga couldn’t fund a Kickstarter project in 2012. But Denman persevered. The Great Wall has been entertaining drivers for ten years.
If you like odd art, the Great Wall of Topanga is worth a visit. Just be careful when stopping. Cars speed by quickly on Topanga Canyon Boulevard.