History Revisited: 1966’s “Artists Tower of Protest” To Be Recreated On The Strip
1966 was a turbulent year in American history and an active time on The Sunset Strip. The youth counterculture movement was protesting the war in Vietnam, fighting for civil rights and influencing U.S. politics, fashion and music. As a direct result of the opposition to the Vietnam war, a group of artists in Los Angeles worked with sculptor Mark di Suvero to create "The Artists’ Tower of Protest" as a symbol of their collective dissent.
Originally built on an empty lot at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and La Cienega (now where Pink Dot is located), the tower was surrounded by hunderds of panels designed by artists from around the world. Messages of love, peace and political dissent were created and placed on public display.