Zuma Press

N 33 1.138 W 117 16.949

Cardiff-by-the-Sea is a funky, little beach community about twenty-five miles north of San Diego, California. It sits high on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Below is one of the great surf spots in the county. The historic Highway 101, also known as the Pacific Highway, cuts through Cardiff on its way north. On a prominent corner of Pacific Highway is a bronze statue of a young surfer. Officially, the name of the statue is “Magic Carpet Ride.” Unofficially, it’s known as “The Cardiff Kook” and is the most controversial, derided, and beloved public work of art in San Diego.

Artist Matthew Antichevich at the unveiling of his creation.
Photo: Bill Wechter

The statue was commissioned by the Cardiff Botanical Society and created by Matthew Antichevich, a local artist and surfer. Originally, Antichevich’s proposal included a giant wave with an experienced surfer performing a “backside floater.” Unfortunately, the Botanical Society didn’t have the money for the wave, so Antichevich modified the design to have just a wisp of wave rising from behind the boy’s surfboard. The statue was unveiled July 22, 2007 and was met with immediate derision. Critics said the figure was too effeminate, the stance was ridiculous and out of balance, the hands were awkwardly limp-wristed, and the puny wave made him look like a rank beginner, or “kook” in surfer jargon. Why hadn’t the statue been of an expert surfer cutting through a gnarly wave? The committee responded that the statue was supposed to represent the joy of learning to surf since many a surfer had learned on the waves below. Why weren’t there any surfers on the committee that had commissioned this insult to the surfing community? How could the city pollute the view with such an awful piece of art? The deputy Mayor responded “Well, you go raise your own 90,000 dollars and put up a statue that you like.” The locals, who were now calling the statue “The Cardiff Kook”, responded with bumper stickers that demanded to “Remove the Kook” and bloggers threatened to yank the statue from its pedestal by chain and pickup truck. Fortunately, some creative souls had a much better idea.

The first prank

A few weeks after the unveiling, pranksters dressed up the Kook in a pink pleated skirt, bikini top and a lucha libre wrestling mask. City authorities quickly removed the “graffiti” but the Union Tribune published pictures nonetheless. A week later, as the Kook donned a top hat and cane, it was clear that a solution to the offending statue had been found. Over the following years, the Kook was decked out in all kinds of outfits including a bridal gown, a clown costume, a Zorro costume, the Stars and Stripes, Halloween TP, a Jack-o-lantern, and many others. The costumes were usually removed after a few days by city employees at taxpayer’s expense. In July 2009, a local artist named Eric Hardtke raised the bar by building a papier-mâché wave with a wire-frame surfer performing an awesome shred right behind the Kook. The artist seems to be saying “this is the statue you should have built.” This work of art is so inspired that, rather than destroy it, it was stored in a warehouse on the Paul Ecke ranch. A year later, Hardtke struck again with an enormous shark that seemed to rise from the pavement, swallowing the Kook whole. Today, the costumes are quite elaborate and change a couple of times a month. The Kook in his various get-ups can be found on calendars, t-shirts, and postcards. His story has been written up nationally and internationally. Myriad websites are dedicated to the Kook and he even has Facebook friends.

In July 2011, Matthew Antichevich returned to Cardiff to repair damage to the statue that careless costumers had wrought. Asked what he thought of the Kook’s cultural icon status, Antichevich said “I'm thankful, but I don't know what to say. I'm kind of overwhelmed.” Last weekend, Hardtke did it again. An entire Jurassic scene was built around the Kook including an erupting volcano and two small dinosaurs near the granite base. A Pterodactyl with an eight-foot wingspan had the Kook by the arms as it soared overhead. Crowds of fans flocked to the Kook to see the scene before it was removed.

Here are some of my favorite Kook costumes.