Giant surfboards appear to be stuck in the sand right here at Imperial Beach. This is Surfhenge. It stands as a vibrant tribute to the city’s rich surfing heritage.
Surfhenge consists of four towering surfboard-shaped arches. These arches reach heights of 16 to 20 feet. Each one weighs up to three-quarters of a ton. They are believed to be the largest colored acrylic moldings ever cast.
Malcolm Jones created Surfhenge. He was commissioned by the Port of San Diego in 1997. At that time, Jones was living in La Jolla. The installation of Surfhenge was completed in July 1999.
Jones’s path to creating Surfhenge is quite interesting. He initially entered Harvard University as a physics major in 1969. However, an art class changed his direction. He met a student of Josef Albers, who was teaching there. Albers’s demonstrations with colored squares greatly impressed Jones.
Jones graduated in visual studies from Harvard. He then studied with Vasa Mihich at UCLA. Mihich worked with colored acrylic plastic also known as Plexiglas. After living in Venice, California, and Boston, Jones settled in La Jolla.
In 1996, the Port of San Diego sought proposals for their airport expansion. Jones bid on 17 projects. He won one project, but it was put on hold. The Port then approached him. They and Imperial Beach needed an art piece for the Pier Plaza. Their last proposal, a rock with an old man on it, was not working out.
Jones proposed Surfhenge for the Pier Plaza. It was chosen. After completing Surfhenge, Jones designed benches resembling historic surfboards. Each of the ten benches features a plaque. The plaques tell the history of big wave surfing in the Imperial Beach Sloughs.
Near the pier entrance, you can find a bench dedicated to Dempsey Holder. It features a design of his Red Dot Surfboard. The plaque recounts Dempsey’s first time riding the Sloughs in 1937.
Other benches honor big wave surfers from the 1940s and 1950s. These include Buzzy Bent, Phil Edwards, John Elwell, and Jeff “Spiderman” Knox. Another bench recognizes local legends who surfed the Sloughs during that era. Names like Jack “Woody” Ekstrom, Jim Voit, and Buddy Hull are included.
Before Surfhenge, in 1998, Jones contracted Philip Dow to design and make the molds for, and cast five acrylic arches.
Malcolm Jones later created the Green Flash. It is located on the 3100 block of Ocean Front Walk in Mission Beach. Jones is currently working on surfboard benches at the new Imperial Beach Library.
Surfhenge not only captures the essence of surfing culture but also the innovative spirit of art in public spaces. Its colorful arches stand as a landmark. The landmark invites everyone to appreciate Imperial Beach’s unique coastal identity.