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Downtown LA Art Walk: Yes, There is Culture in Cali By Anne-Marie Watkins

How often do you hear people bemoan the fact that everything worth doing in California is frightfully expensive?  Another popularly held belief is that Southern California is lacking in cultural activities.  To both of these notions I must heartily disagree. Need proof?  I offer to the skeptics out there, the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk.

I suggest that those bemoaning the lack of culture (and free entertainment) check out the Downtown L.A. Art Walk post-haste.  The whole concept was the brain child of Kjell Hagen (Inshallah Gallery) and Nic Cha Kim (arts activist/ playwright) as a means to promote the galleries in the area and help revitalize the neighborhood.  On the second Thursday of each month from noon to 9pm, the Gallery Row area closes down to automobile traffic and hosts the Downtown L.A. Art Walk.  In addition to the fine artwork from the over forty five galleries participating in the event, there are street vendors selling crafts, food and beverages.  The availability of libations really helps to promote the eat, drink and be merry attitude which prevails at the event. 

A bit overwhelmed by the idea of trying to navigate the area and narrow down which galleries mesh with your artistic taste?  It can be a bit disconcerting to pilot your way around blocks and blocks of unfamiliar territory.  Not to worry, there are free walking tours to help you get acquainted with the area.  The first tour starts at 6:30pm and the last one leaves at 7:45pm.  There are a variety of tour guides and each tour lasts around thirty to sixty minutes. While the tours are free, you do need to call and reserve a space.  Sadly, reservations can only be made one at a time so if you and your significant other want to attend, it will require two phone calls.  Concerned with parking and walking from gallery to gallery?  They have that covered to by way of the free shuttle to transport you around the area. 

Where else in southern California can you get exposed to such a variety of artistic works and enjoy the sunshine to boot? It’s a delightful way to merge artistic exposure with the outdoor loving lifestyle prevalent in Los Angeles.

The “Gallery Row” area is located near Main St. and Spring St., between 2nd and 9th Street.  From noon to nine o’clock in the evening, the entire area becomes a pedestrian walkway and interested parties can meander from gallery to gallery taking in the art installations and enjoying the camaraderie of shared interests.  Over forty five galleries currently participate in the event.  The entire event is free.

Attendance has increased greatly over the years.  The first Art Walk only attracted seventy five people.  Current attendance averages five thousand visitors per month with some events boasting as many as ten thousand.

For more info visit http://downtownartwalk.com/