The City of West Hollywood is celebrating the winter holiday season with art during the month of December! These include a specially commissioned artwork by artist Daniel Sulzberg on display on street pole banners and digital transit shelters throughout West Hollywood; and a holiday poem, writing workshop and Holiday Poetry Hotline by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng.

The City of West Hollywood, through its Arts Division, has since 2016 commissioned artists to create visual artworks that celebrate the winter season and beautify the City on street pole banners and, more recently, on digital transit shelters. This year’s selected artist is Daniel Sulzberg, who was chosen through an open call for artists. Past artists have included Shag (also known as Josh Agle), Steven Rahbany, Mona Tanksley, Sophie Morro, and Joey Deruy. Street pole banners featuring the artwork from this year and former years will be on display along portions of Santa Monica Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, N. La Brea Avenue, N. Fairfax Avenue, and N. San Vicente Boulevard.

Artist Daniel Sulzberg is an award-winning illustrator who specializes in whimsical, colorful, and detailed illustrations that are a perfect match for his imaginative storytelling. He was a resident of West Hollywood for nearly two decades and fell in love with West Hollywood’s diverse mix of cultures and eclectic characters. In the past, he has been a screenwriter for shows such as the CW network’s Smallville, a creative director for Red Bull Cartoon, and has worked with clients such as The New York Times, Google, Nike, Facebook, DreamWorks, Major League Soccer, and Sesame Street. He is a published children’s book illustrator and is represented worldwide by IllustrationX. Outside of his creative work, Sulzberg is a vinyl collecting mocha-maestro, and a soccer-loving father to two feisty children. More information about him can be found at www.danvillage.com.   

West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng will be hosting a Holiday Poetry Hotline and related writing workshop.

From Sunday, December 1, 2024 through Tuesday, December 31, 2024, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng invites the community to call into the Holiday Poetry Hotline at (310) 853-3952. Prerecorded poems are available to listen to 24 hours per day every day through the end of the year. The Hotline will feature “poetry prescriptions” to respond to common ailments of winter blues. The Hotline features poems from Jen Cheng, as well as former West Hollywood City Poets Laureate Steven Reigns, Kim Dower, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace. Cheng will also host a live call-in event on Saturday, December 21, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time where callers can enjoy live readings from the curated list of “poetry prescriptions” or request a custom poem written for them.

On Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., join Cheng for a poetry writing workshop, drawing inspiration from curated “poetry prescriptions.” The workshop will be held at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. This free workshop is for adults, open to all levels of experience and ability, and RSVPs are required. RSVP info is available at www.weho.org/community/arts-and-culture/holiday.

The City Poet Laureate has also written a new poem for the holiday season called Winter Memories:

‘Winter Memories’ – by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng

Gather the shimmering songs, quiet and loud.

It is winter and our sunny neighborhood loves a million colors, proud.

Cozy up with scarves and sweaters warm with memories of love.

Walk along rugged oak trees and bright bus shelters. 

Visit with a cuppa and hear the hum that might be the next meme.

Your feet wander along and discover old and new beats:

Our winter wonders sans snow woo us to listen and stay a while.

Let the polyphony dazzle and tingle our hearts with delight.

For more information about the City’s Winter Holidays Arts programs, please visit www.weho.org/arts or contact City of West Hollywood Arts Coordinator Mike Che at (323) 848-6377 or at mche@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. Receive text updates by texting “WeHo” to (323) 848-5000. West Hollywood City Hall is open for walk-in services at public counters or by appointment by visiting www.weho.org/appointments. City Hall services are accessible by phone at (323) 848-6400 and via website at www.weho.org.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or slunn@weho.org.