Yard Deco Movement

Good taste may be the enemy of creativity, as Picasso put it, but it’s creativity that carries the day in frontyards that dare to be different. Blurring the lines between folk art, kitsch and historical landmark, “yard art” lodges in the memory; who can’t name a favorite theme yard? Perhaps echoing their distant origins in outdoor shrines, creative frontyards have a way of attracting pilgrims, beguiling neighborhood children and drawing tourists through international word of mouth. On the next two pages, visits to four of our favorite L.A. sites.

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Joan and Gordon Tolleson, Venice

What’s the story behind your yard?

Joan: We started 30 years ago with a couple of ducks, and it grew from there. Everything is from catalogs, the Salvation Army and gifts from neighbors.

How do people react to the yard?

Gordon: Everyone knows about it. Some Japanese tourists came, and their little girl wanted to come in and have her picture taken with our Christmas tree.

Joan: Children want to pet the animals.

Any trouble with gnome liberation activists?

Gordon: No, but high school kids took a couple of gnomes as a prank.

Joan: Later we spotted one of our gnomes on a balcony a couple of streets over.

Why don’t more people have creative yards?

Gordon: Too much clutter for people.

Joan: I’m from England, and everyone in England has a windmill.

How would you decorate the White House lawn?

Joan: Oh, I’d put gnomes all over it!

Gordon: Gnomes, ducks, chickens and elves.

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Gary Stark, Larchmont Village

What’s the story behind your yard?

The house and garden were designed by my best friend, Adriana Caselotti, who was the voice of Snow White in the 1937 Disney animated film. She lived in Hawaii for a while and loved the Asian influence. We turned the first spade of dirt in 1976. She passed away four years ago, at 80.

Is that a wishing well?

Yes. Everyone knew Snow White lived there so they’d stop by. It was a very happy situation.

How do people react to the yard?

It’s a landmark. People take pictures and throw money in the wishing well, which I take to church for charity, like Adriana used to do. People see a certain peace there.

Why don’t more people have creative yards?

A lot of people just depend on their gardener. The personal touch isn’t there.

How would you decorate the White House lawn?

I like the White House lawn, but there’s a great deal of grass there. They need some more flowers. Long rows of yellow and red.