Cardiff Kook, Bronze surf sculpture in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California
Cardiff Kook is a 6 ft (1.8 m) high bronze sculpture depicting a young surfer in a learning stance on an invisible surfboard. The figure stands near San Elijo State Beach and is illuminated by LED lights at night.
Matthew Antichevich created the work in 2007 at the request of the Cardiff Botanical Society. The sculpture was designed to celebrate the surfing heritage of the region.
Local residents regularly dress the statue in various costumes, from sports jerseys to holiday attire, transforming it into a focal point of community expression. This practice shows how people view the sculpture as a living artwork that they continually reimagine and engage with.
The sculpture is located along Highway 101 at the entrance to the San Elijo State Beach campground and is easy to reach. Visitors can view the artwork at any time, with LED lighting making it particularly visible after dark.
A papier-mâché shark installation once surrounded the statue, starting a tradition of creative public interventions that continues. These spontaneous art actions show how the community actively builds on the work and uses it as a canvas for their own creative ideas.
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