Bert Green on August 12, 2009, at 12:17AM – #3

No, I am not closing my gallery. My lease goes through mid-2012.

But I am closing early on Art Walk because the crowds are too big (something about creating a monster?). After 6 we are setting up with Jeff Gillette's artwork at the Annex LA in the old bank at 4th & Main on Art Walk nights. So head up there to see more goodness.

Remember, everyone, the Downtown Art Walk starts at noon. Think of it this way: BGFA in the daytime at 5th & Main, and BGFA in the evening at 4th & Main. Oh, and don't forget the whole point of this is to buy art. If you don't do that now and then the galleries will just close down. We need your support.

Louie D. on August 12, 2009, at 07:37AM – #4

really, to buy Art? Because im pretty sure Art Walk was created to experience art. But if you want to believe that the Art Walk is more like a swapmeet...

Bert Green on August 12, 2009, at 10:42AM – #5

The "swapmeet" you are talking about has nothing to do with the art galleries. There are lots of people who set up temporarily during art walk, but they are neither participants in the event nor provide any support throughout the rest of the month to the gallery scene. There are also empty spaces that host shows and parties, and they are also not official participants. I am not opposed to them doing this, but to confuse them with the actual galleries (and the event itself) is unfortunate. Look at the map for the event at downtownartwalk.com. You won't see any "swapmeet" or temporary spaces listed there.

And, yes, galleries are businesses. If visitors to Art Walk only spend their money at restaurants and bars, the galleries will close. Simple economics.

Aaron on August 12, 2009, at 12:40PM – #6

lol, Louie is lecturing the person who started the Art Walk about the original intent of Art Walk. Love it!

CarynHo on August 12, 2009, at 01:06PM – #7

There are some of us retailers who do not pay the $500 to be included on the map for artwalk put out every month by downtownartwalk.com but still have art exhibits that would like to be viewed.

My store, FLEA, located on 6th St. inbetween Main and Spring is participating in our 3rd art walk. The first one we were barely open a few days and had no art exhibit but last art walk I had and continue to have on exhibit in the space in the front half of my store dedicated to local artists. I have on exhibit a great Los Angeles artist by the name of Judy Ragagli known as the foremost master painter of the phenomenon we know as Barbie. Her brilliantly executed photo realistic oil paintings manage to venture deeper to truly bring to life all that is Barbie.

And in true art walk spirit I will also be having a local band headed up by the talented Mike Officer who lives in downtown.

If you haven't been to the store yet I hope everyone will stop by and check out the great article that Eric Richardson did on our store when we first opened back in June http://www.blogdowntown.com/2009/06/4457-flea-hopes-to-offer-something-for-everyone.

Thanks again Eric. Hope to see you and your wife tomorrow night. Peace and Blessings.

Randall BusTard on August 14, 2009, at 09:13AM – #8

Granted, there are a number of mini-swap meets throughout the Downtown Art Walk owing to the popularity of the event. And at least one of them looks strikingly similar to the swap-meet-fashioned wholesale malls that are open daily not two blocks from 6th and Main—although I doubt that most folk who visit the night-time swap-meet would be caught dead at the day-time ones.

However, there is a a fair amount of activity and art to be found and appreciated as one cuts through the hug crowds of side-lined spectators. And that brings me to the problem of the Downtown Art Walk is being handled.

Whether it has come up before the city council I do not know, but after watching the behaviour of the LAPD last night, I would strongly suggest shutting down at least Main Street between 4th and 5th and perhaps even 4th between Spring and Main.

While the LAPD were responding to some small incident, they used their cars to block half the lanes on Main in the middle of the Art Walk. A white LAPD van, with only its parking lights on, blocked nearly all of 4th Street while traffic piled up behind it. (I heard part of the casual conversation being held by the one uniformed officer and two people in the van, and it had nothing to do with any urgency nor business at hand.) Then the LAPD van stopped all the east-bound traffic as the driver slowly rolled across the lanes—no headlights not turn signals—and eventually turned left on Main to saunter off.

Meantime, up on Main near 5th, the LAPD officers were more concerned with yelling at people across the street to NOT cross the street, and then in groups of two and three (some of which were not LAPD but merely under-age LAPD Explorers) walked in front of on-coming traffic on Main Street in a way that resulted in them nearly being hit by at least one SUV, only to stand round and shoot the shit rather than respond to what initially appeared to be some sort of urgent business.

Obviously, the LAPD are acting like a gang acting out against what they feel is another gang on their turf. I feel that part of the problem might be relieved were at least one street—Main—shut down for a few hours so as to greatly mitigate much of the problem. Most of the motor traffic appears to be cruising, and not many busses would be put out for those few hours were they to be detoured to Broadway or Los Angeles for two or three blocks. The size of the poorly contained crowds as well as the Main Street not being closed off might be allow the LAPD to offer reasons to eventually shut down the event. Fighting now for some temporary street closure might save the Downtown Art Walk later, especially when one considers how the escalation of police presence as well as the incidents over the last year or so have certainly caught councilmembers' attention.

Need Info Please ... on August 14, 2009, at 07:42PM – #9

Can anyone tell me the name of the group that was playing on 5th street last night at the Artwalk? I wasn't walking, but I heard the heavenly violin up in my 10th floor apartment, and I would love to follow up on them. Bert maybe?

Thanks.

Bert Green on August 15, 2009, at 01:40AM – #10

No idea, sorry. I heard them too, they were good, but I'm not at all involved in the music selections on the street :-)

Sandie Richards on August 16, 2009, at 07:08PM – #11

There was a group called, "Portable City Projects", which created a peaceful and welcoming little gathering spot in the alley next to 'Billy's'on 5th. That may have been the lovely violin that 'need info' heard. The team welcomed folks to the tables while dressed in waiters' outfits, with the soothing music. www.portablecityprojects.org

Russell Brown on August 17, 2009, at 01:35AM – #12

It was part of our Katrina Revisted exhibit at The Exchange. We thought doing a little New Orleans Cafe Du Monde event with chicory coffee and an artist bent would be nice. We also had jazz and blues planned but a loud band set up in the alley next to the Rowan and drowned it out. So we gave up after struggling for an hour.

The chalks boards were a major hit as we engaged the community on city livability issues and Katrina New Orleans issues.

A screening of New Orleans and Katrina films and events is planned over the next 2 weeks. We hope to make the alley a center of activity also.