Art Walk is Dead, Long Live Art Walk
Photo Illustration by Ed Fuentes
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — When it comes to bringing attention and visitors to Downtown Los Angeles, the Downtown Art Walk is in rarified company. Staples Center and nightlife maven Cedd Moses could certainly make their claims, but one could fairly argue that the monthly event has done more to change the perception of a night out in Downtown than any other venue or event. On any given Art Walk Thursday in 2010, one could expect to see 20,000 participants wandering the streets of the Historic Core, reveling in the night’s energy and events.
In that context it is easy to see why many in the community were up in arms last Friday afternoon when Jay Lopez, Executive Director of the non-profit set up to run the Art Walk, sent out a release saying that the event was “ceasing all event operations until January 2011” and would be returning as a daytime, gallery-focused affair.
While it now seems that the October Art Walk will continue as planned on the 14th — though without Lopez at the helm — weak organization and significant challenges related to the event’s growth make it unclear how the event will move forward and who will be running it if it does. At the same time, Lopez is moving forward on a pair of events that continue pieces of the Art Walk’s aims.
GROWTH OF AN EVENT
The first Downtown Art Walk took place on September 9, 2004, with eight galleries participating. The event was the brainchild of gallery owner Bert Green, who had moved his Bert Green Fine Arts to the corner of 5th and Main earlier in the year.
The first event was tiny, attracting less than 100 people. It quickly grew, though, and six months later Green told the L.A. Times that his gallery was seeing approximately 200 visitors each walk.
When Green decided to hand over the reins after four and a half years, those numbers had climbed into the thousands, but the night had also hit growing pains. In the Spring of 2009 LAPD for the first time cracked down on unpermitted art and craft vending taking place on the sidewalks. In March, art supply store Raw Materials had its front window broken out by a drunken shoplifter.
New director Richard Schave created the event’s first real structure, registering the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk as a California public benefit corporation in June of 2009. While Schave’s tenure as head of the event did not last long — he resigned five months later — the structure he created lives on.
Lopez was picked as the non-profit’s second director in December of 2009, a time when the event was attracting 10,000 participants monthly.
His tenure now proves to be similarly short-lived. A Sunday release by the non-profit board called Lopez the event’s “former director.”
SUCCESS CREATES CHALLENGES
The Art Walk’s explosive growth has left it straining against that organic structure as those involved try to figure out who should be paying for services such as trash and security.
Because the Art Walk takes place on Spring and Main, cleanup after the event has largely been left to the Historic Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), an entity funded by an assessment on neighborhood property owners. That was ok when the Art Walk was small, said BID Executive Director Russell Brown. “Back then, instead of our normal five people in the evening, we would have eight people in the evening,” he explained. These days, the BID requires a staff of 25 to manage logistics on Art Walk night.
This summer, the BID presented the Art Walk non-profit with a bill for its services. “After months and months and months of saying ‘these are the costs, this is what we’re doing,’ we actually just put it in writing,” Brown said.
The BID isn’t the only group looking to see costs reimbursed. To maintain order as crowds grew, LAPD has also played an increasingly large role in the event. Reserve and off-duty officers have been volunteering their time to show up to the event, but the department is now looking to the non-profit to cover policing costs for the event. Current discussions would have the department supplying 16 officers each month at a cost of just over $7,000 per event.
The night’s boisterous atmosphere has also brought it into increasing conflict with neighborhood residents who chafe at the noise generated by the night’s many bands and DJs. Some long-time residents of the Historic Core now avoid the night and its scene rather than stay to enjoy it.
WHO CONTROLS ART WALK?
Sunday’s release also said that the board is “currently engaged in discussion of potential changes and improvements.” While it did not lay out what those options might be, commenters on the initial announcement questioned how any one group could control the fate of an event that has become so strongly associated with life in the Historic Core.
There are signs that the non-profit board has been questioning its own usefulness. Multiple sources told blogdowntown that the board had chosen earlier this month to dissolve itself. While board member and press representative Wicks Walker would not confirm that on Tuesday, he said that the body was considering many options. “Our agenda is to juggle everybody’s interests, and to try to preserve the good that’s coming out of this thing,” he said. “To that end, whatever structure, whatever budget, whatever organizational plan is best to preserve that is what we’ll do.”
Walker said that it was too early to know exactly what costs the non-profit would be responsible for in keeping the event going, but that he believes the funds are out there. “The overwhelming response from everybody is that we want to find a way to keep this going,” he said.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Among business owners, though, opinions of the Art Walk seem split.
Furniture store (Sub)Urban opened last year in the heart of Art Walk at 5th and Main. Owner Ronnie Gene said Monday that “part of my business plan is built around Art Walk.” While Art Walk attendees may not buy much on the night of event, Gene said that the event has been an important piece of creating awareness for the store.
Jonny Cota of avant-garde boutique Skingraft tells a similar story. “[Art Walk night is] a headache,” he says, “but the week after Art Walk is always the best of the month” for sales.
Old Bank DVD was an early Art Walk participant, but co-owner Erik Loysen said the store stopped providing wine and cheese during the event three years ago. “People came in to eat dinner,” he said. While the store is wary of signing people up during Art Walk night since many attendees are from out of the area, he does believe that the event has a long-term benefit for his store as people are surprised to see a DVD store in the area.
That’s not the case for all business categories. Startup restaurants and bars have long counted on the Art Walk to make their monthly rent.
FINDING SOLUTIONS
Developer Tom Gilmore thinks it is important to keep Art Walk intact because of the way it shows Downtown’s potential. “When it is at its best, Art Walk provides an unbelievable opportunity to see what Downtown is capable of in the coming years,” he said.
Still, he said that it is important to work with all involved to set a structure for the event. “The crowd ultimately conforms to the format you put in place,” he said. “If you focus it as a party, it’ll become a party.”
In a meeting with property owners that will take place after this issue goes to press, Gilmore plans to suggest some ground rules dealing with music on the sidewalks and alcohol served in galleries and events.
He feels that property owners are going to need to play a more direct role in funding the event.
UP IN THE AIR
As of press time on Tuesday evening, the downtownartwalk.com website still shows Lopez’s 149-word announcement about the cancellation of the 2010 events. Walker said Tuesday that the board is still attempting to get access information from Lopez to change the site back and restore its content.
He said that the board is meeting with stakeholders throughout the week as the event’s future is decided.
As for Lopez, he says the weekend’s controversy does not change his vision for the weekend Art Walk. He is proceeding with the plans he announced on Friday to reshape the Art Walk into a quarterly event that would take place on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6pm. He said that it is important that the Art Walk remain about the galleries, and that the new structure will make that happen.
He also hopes to launch a new event called Off Broadway, bringing performing arts, theatre and cinema to venues on and around Broadway at free or low cost.
That event, which he hopes to launch in December, would take place on the familiar second Thursday of each month.
A few days back it looked like that might be a quiet night. Now it might just be one with a little extra going on.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 09:49AM – #1
Journalism.
Thomas K Nagano on September 29, 2010, at 09:55AM – #2
I remember when I could walk into most Downtown LA Bars..King Eddy, Al's, Quon’s, Hank's, Sam's, Tony's, Cole’s, Casey’s. Oiwake, Little “Ps” (Little Pedro’s est 1899), La Cita, Golden Gopher, Figueroa, Weiland’s and don't forget Craby's (with one "b"), Cocola and the old Redwood… recognize everyone in the room... Can't do that anymore.
Now it's Bottega Louie, Fu-Ga, Pete’s, The Association, Bar 107, Blue Velvet, Bordello, Bottlerock, Broadway, Corkbar, Chop Suey’s Far Bar, Edison, Gallery at the Biltmore, Genji Bar, J’s, Hop Louie, McCormick & Schmick’s, Point Moorea, royal Clayton’s, Seven Grand, Standard, Suede, Cana Run Bar, Big Wang’s, Down n’ Out, the New 5 Star, others.
And Downtown's the better for it. People do not have to drink and drive…Maybe attend more AA Meetings.
I'm treating the Art Walk, like I use to treat the weekends in when I lived in San Francisco in the late 70s'...leave it to the tourists and the visitors.
I wonder how many of our new friends are buying into the Downtown game, renting, condo or just hang'n with friends on the couch.
I Love LA - TK Nagano
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 09:55AM – #3
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-The-Art-Walk/145017538875179
jim winstead (@jimw) on September 29, 2010, at 10:14AM – #4
a small correction: the shoplifter who assaulted us and busted out our window was not drunk or otherwise impaired. just young and violent.
Jonathan Jerald on September 29, 2010, at 10:16AM – #5
Jay Lopez' modest proposal to cancel the walk for remainder of 2010 has the virtue, at least, of initiating a broader dialog about the fate of the event. It is certainly true that the Downtown Art Walk has grown far beyond the vision of those that created it and the ability of a small, underfunded, arts-oriented non-profit to control it. It is, however, a huge success -- even if the 'art' part of the equation is a bit diminished. It is a a showcase for downtown L.A. that benefits restaurants, bars and retail businesses and even a few galleries and artists. It also benefits anyone with a stake in the development of downtown LA by projecting a vision of the city as a truly world-class urban center.
The Central City Association, LA Inc., The City of Los Angeles and particularly Council Districts 9 and 14 and Mayor Villaraigosa should all be grateful to the Walk for promoting LA as a destination for cultural and culinary tourism. The Walk has grown to the point that it deserves broader support from some of the larger and more well-heeled entities (such as Central City Association, LA Inc., etc).
Let's hope Tom Gilmore can pull in some bigger players and keep second Thursdays alive. He has the good will and support of both the creative and business communities and allies in city agencies committed to finding solutions to the Walk's challenges (such as LAPD's Kris Werner). Maybe they can convince the many retailers that benefit from the Walk to kick back some support. Instead of trying to contain it, maybe the organizers should be thinking about helping the walk grow by spreading into other downtown communities. Little Tokyo? Arts District? Chinatown?
Walk on!
celia on September 29, 2010, at 10:17AM – #6
And the shoplifter was part of a group of young violent men, he was just the only one who got caught.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 10:41AM – #7
Violence and shoplifting are sadly a part of urban life. This was shocking even more because it was the daytime, looking at the security photo published. Thank goodness no one was hurt or worse! Speaks to security. But it also was a small exception to most people's Art Walk experience.
celia on September 29, 2010, at 11:02AM – #8
Guest #1 -What published security photo are you referring to? It wasn't during the daytime, it was in the evening, when Art Walk was in full swing. People were hurt. I was assaulted and still suffer from injuries that night. Jim was also assaulted. We were trying to keep the guy away from the customers in the store (there were young children present), who were also traumatized. How dare you minimize what happened. You weren't there and obviously don't know what you're talking about.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 11:07AM – #9
And, while Guest #1 thinks violence and shoplifting are a part of urban life, that doesn't mean it is to be tolerated and/or that the Art Walk team shouldn't be concerned about it's increase. I know several other business/galleries (and no I am not referring to Bert Green) have had damage and thefts. Some pop-up galleries as well as regular downtown galleries have had this problem. So it does NEED to be addressed.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 11:08AM – #10
It sounds like the "young, violent men" element is the same group who thinks it is fun to destroy Downtown after Laker's championship games. I hope this is only a small percentage of those attending Art Walk. Overall, Art Walk is a plus for the community. As a loft owner who pays money toward the BID, I say it is a good investment and would love to see my BID payments go toward clean up and security once a month. I also think the participants should contribute something as well...
Kim Cooper on September 29, 2010, at 11:10AM – #11
An open letter to Councilwoman Jan Perry from Richard Schave, founding Executive Director of the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk non-profit
Dear Jan:
This is just a note to let you know that your response to queries from The Los Angeles Times about the fate of the Art Walk fell far short of anything a person in a position of leadership and who has a vision for a neighborhood would make.
Art Walk has occurred mostly in your district for six years. In that time it has undergone some amazing transformations, of which you are well aware. The biggest challenge facing the Art Walk is that it spans two kingdoms. One kingdom is the world of Russell Brown's lament: "It just costs too much for all those people to come down here. Who is going to pay for it?" The resources of this kingdom are finite—every dollar allocated to Art Walk is one less dollar for another need.
This kingdom and its needs must be addressed, but Art Walk sits in another kingdom as well, and that is the infinite, a place concerned with the higher self, notions of right and wrong, culture, a pervading sense of positive social change. Strangely, the Art Walk and the library crisis both straddle these kingdoms, so perhaps it is not surprising that you have chosen to look away from fostering both of them. It is very challenging to address something that is so far from politics as usual, but doing so is the mark of a great civic leader, and I believe you are capable of it.
What the constituents of the Art Walk need, what the community in the Historic Core needs, is not necessarily a statement from you saying that the city is going to wait and see what the Art Walk board proposes. What these groups need is someone in your position who can address their concerns about this second kingdom: who is going to foster this intangible part of Art Walk which makes it so special? Who is going to make the Art Walk board and the competing business interests in the area call upon their higher selves for the good of the community, and lift this debate out of the muck of greed and prejudice, and find some solutions? The solutions exist, and finding one for this second kingdom (the infinite) will bring a fiscal solution (the finite). The path to success exists without a fiscal handout from the city.
I call on you to organize and oversee a series of managed community meetings, in which the Art Walk board and its stakeholders can come together to address the very real challenges facing the event, and the real solutions that they must be directed to take to correct the course of this non-profit and the cultural and business entities that rely on its success.
You have no reason to feel despondent. The hearts and minds of the community are waiting for you to make an intelligent and empathic statement on the topic of this dear event. They are waiting for you as a leader to take initiative. The Art Walk can be saved and you, Jan, can save it.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 11:10AM – #12
Why is the Down Town Art Walk being given any credit. They don't create this event or manage it. They do promote it a little through the website's presence ( although not very effectively and it has very little if no impact on the amount of people who show up) This Event is not in anyone's hands anymore than any one person is responsible for Weekends on Hollywood Blvd. People come out so places stay open, and places stay open so people come out.
The DTAW should disband so they won't be held responsible for what they are not responsible for in the first place. The only reason they don't is ego. They are placing themselves in harms way and the only thing that results is that all the cities entities are pointing the finger and waiting instead of doing the job our tax dollars are already paying for i.e trash clean up and police
"City Councilwoman Jan Perry, said that she is waiting to see what proposals the art walk board comes up with before moving forward."
Give me a break why is a city official waiting to do her job???... BECAUSE SHE HAS A SCAPEGOAT! Not blaming her or anyone else for this mess just sayin.
Sooooo DTAW people do yourself a favor and disband so the city can figure out how to do their job when the people come out in two weeks. Ill be there!
Thomas K Nagano on September 29, 2010, at 11:37AM – #13
I agree with Jonathan Jerald, add the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. TK
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 11:38AM – #14
Guest #5 Maybe because one of Jan Perry's staff members, Pamela Huntoon, is on the art walk board.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 11:58AM – #15
Oh great, Even Jan Perry's office is in bed with Russell Browns gang Pamela Huntoon. Terrific. Lets wait. Wait for what Jan? So far I see no leadership, just up in arms. This is a small problem for someone like you Jan. You have friends that could really help out with the artwalk. Use them! The apathetic leadership that has led to Russell Brown ruling the roost with Tom Gilmore at his beck and call-or is it the other way around, is outrageous! Your game has always been to play the fence. Well jump the fence this time. Actually DO SOMETHING! Something that supports culture and the further development of Downtown L.A. Just because the area does not have the juice like the Staples center or Hollywood has now. It could and it is moving in that direction. A real leader looks at things in 5 and 10 year increments. Jan get past your nose, will ya!
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 12:01PM – #16
GUESTS #1-15 - PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SHUUUUUT UP ALREADY!!!
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 12:02PM – #17
Hi Celia: The photo with the three punks (one girl) when did that happen? My mistake I thought it was the same event. Terrible none-the-less. Glad no was was hurt or killed.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 12:08PM – #18
PS from #1 And yes violence and thieves are a part of urban life. Stating a fact does not make it right. As I said this is a matter of security. And if there is so much crime during Art Walk could we please see the police reports so as to get the full impact of this terrible situation? Or a list of who, what and where? This is where facts are oh so important.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 12:11PM – #19
Sorry Guest 7. I did not realize my free speech was no longer allowed. Ahhhh America.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 01:02PM – #20
GUESTS #1-15 - PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SHUUUUUT UP ALREADY!!!
huh what does that even mean there havent been 15 posts yet
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 01:54PM – #21
Guest 5 Why are you saying this? Are you on the hotplate?
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 01:57PM – #22
at guest6
huh no I have no connection to this I was reponding to the person that wrote it
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 03:26PM – #23
This just shows that people are hungry for an actual night life in Downtown LA outside of LA Live Staples Center area. Other than the LA Art Walk, if you go any other night it is bare bones dark with no sign of life other than just the random bars in the area. This brings people more together since it is not just bars and restaurants but actual stores or places for people to walk to that are open.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 04:37PM – #24
kim cooper,
please stop. i really mean it. stop soap boxing about you and your "husband" richard. it is getting so old and BEYOND annoying how you try to make everything about you.
Friskie Buffet on September 29, 2010, at 04:45PM – #25
I'll drink to that! <clink!>
Kim Cooper on September 29, 2010, at 05:56PM – #26
Guest 9, none of this is about me, or about my husband Richard Schave. This is about an amazing cultural event, held in the public trust, that is facing big challenges. I believe that the community can come together to face these challenges and save Art Walk. I'll be just as happy as you will be when I can stop speaking up on this matter, but until the problems are solved, I'll be around helping to keep the players honest.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 06:27PM – #27
I guess the art walk can be considered an "amazing cultural event" if you use definition 5 for culture and consider the drunk, party culture something to be protected. It certainly doesn't fit into definition 1 or 2.
cul·ture [kuhl-cher]
–noun 1. the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc. 2 .that which is excellent in the arts, manners, etc. 3. a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period: Greek culture. 4. development or improvement of the mind by education or training. 5. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 07:02PM – #28
kim,
if this wasn't about you and your husband, why do you need to flaunt a letter that he wrote to Jan? you could have simply stated that one was written, or actually say nothing at all and actually do something for the community without needing recognition.... don't forget that narcissus drowned loving himself.... lessons to learn.
Kim Cooper on September 29, 2010, at 07:26PM – #29
Guest #9, it is an open letter to Jan Perry, which means it is for all eyes to see. Thank you for asking, I certainly would not want there to be any confusion about the reason that this was posted in various places online and emailed to members of the media today.
This open letter follows a great many unpublished emails and unpublicized phone calls made over the past ten months as we've continued to do our work for the benefit of the community, off the Art Walk board, much as we did while on it.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 07:33PM – #30
As for Lopez, he says the weekend’s controversy does not change his vision for the weekend Art Walk.
But what made him believe he had the right and authority to roll over everyone else, declare the Thursday evening Art Walk null and void and, most tellingly, then shut down the original website? Or even more tellingly, his believing that changing the password to the website's account and locking others access to it was a perfectly fine thing to do.
What's in it for him?! A possible big pat on the head from various business interests resentful of the idea of paying more dollars, or paying anything, for the monthly event? Some other type of gratification or benefit?
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 08:30PM – #31
Politics is about negotiation, consenses and compromise. Anyone adept at big city politcs knows this, it's what politics is all about. If one has a political goal or agenda these are things to keep in mind. Think of the Chinese game "Go" or even Akido. Frontal assults like in WWI are not useful. And Art Walk is nothing if not politics.
There are always "special interests" and "favors" in politics, it's how our system plays the game, rightly or wrongly. I would have been a little diplomatic with Jan Perry, on a personal and human side. A frontal assult in poitics means there is nothing to lose and one's goals have changed. Jan Perry is a strong, politically adept African-American woman who has seen and experienced it all before and she has come out on top. She no doubt will be the next mayor. One cannot and should not make it so she seems or does lose face, again rightly or wrongly. She is just not any woman. Jan is no demon. She knows how to play the system and get things done, regardless of some people's opinions, concerns or anger. Political savvy is important. When that happens people listen or it starts to fall on deaf ears.
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 10:19PM – #32
the, kim, keep it unpublicized...... that would be the "noble" thing to do. i certainly don't want to censor you.... but your narcisism is astounding. i've never heard someone talk so much about their accomplishments. it must be dizzying....
Guest on September 29, 2010, at 11:50PM – #33
So curing Art Walk for hipsters is going to catapult someone into a City Council seat? Please. Enough with the crisis of your own creation as a soapbox -- on both sides.
The City of Los Angeles has real problems to solve, the disfunction of a volunteer run event is not one of them.
Let's be thankful someone had the foresight to pull the plug and draw attention to fundamental issues the event management will need to solve for themselves now. Could it have been done better? Sure.
But why would any leader want to get sucked into this quagmire without knowing there are the elements in place to reach a successful conclusion?
This really seems like something the BID should have handled on a macro level much better than they have. Isn't that what businesses and property owners pay them for?
Bottom line, those with a vested interest in this event need to start ponying up for the infrastructure to make it safe for everyone.
Don Garza on September 30, 2010, at 12:10AM – #34
Let's be clear. The bottom line is the bottom line. The issue is simple. Money to support the art walk is not forthcoming. The City is broke , the BID can not cover all costs , and other funding issues are also at issue here.
All of this drama about Russell Brown and personal vendettas stemming from one poster is just that. It takes away from the real issue. The Issue is that that person , if they were all about the community , would not be whining about getting others to pony up the money and blame them for the funding problem , but they would pony up dollars. But I only see her with her hand out and not willing to put money into the pot. She sounds more like a whiny welfare recipient who only wants to take and not get off their behind and work and put money in , but only feels entitled to other people's hard earned money. That is what city money is , hard working people's tax payer money! In these tough economic times we need to find or create other sources of funding to support these projects. But I remember that same person sunk the corporate sponsorship in the name of "community"... a while back.
We need to ask the question? has this person put any money , their own money , a substantial amount, into the art walk endeavor to cover the logistics? I can only say no. And in my opinion has no credibility when they speak. People are getting sick of reading these petty blaming everyone else for their inadeptness. They should just stick to what they do best .. It is working for them and stay out of something that they helped turned into a cluster because of their delusional thinking by sabotaging the corporate sponsorship, believing that somehow money would fall out of the sky to pay for the logistics of the art walk.
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 12:23AM – #35
Let's be clear. As someone close to the events that have occurred over the past few days, Jay Lopez acted on his own because he felt that his "vision" for art walk was better than anyone else's plan for the monthly event. However had Jay been able to monetize the Art Walk and create a plan for crowd control and worked closer with the Historic BID none of this would be happening. Because he saw that he couldn't perform he decided that he wants to do his own Art Walk. His excuse that he thought the board "disbanded" and was under the impression that was was casually discussed was gospel is just utter nonsense. You have a former director of the Art Walk unilaterally make a decision that affected many businesses and organizations because of pure ego. Jay Lopez, you should have stepped down a long time ago--I really hope that you won't lead another organization to ruin as you have with art walk.
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 12:35AM – #36
But I remember that same person sunk the corporate sponsorship in the name of "community"... a while back.
If you're referring to Kim Cooper, that's what I also once believed was true of her. In fact, I recall being relieved when first learning that she (or at least her husband) had left the Art Walk organization and was being replaced by the guy who supposedly was big on landing corporate sponsorships. But the Coopers have been gone for quite awhile -- or long enough for their replacements to have made a difference -- and everything still seems to be at square one.
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 12:53AM – #37
Does Kim now still feel that her and Richard personally crashing corporate sponsorship was the right decision to lead Art Walk into disbanding?
Richard called Cadillac North America and personally crashed $50,000 in community arts funding because Cadillac would not give it to them but only to the community with restrictions.
Kim personally called Children's Hopsital LA and crashed their partnership with the kids and the arts.
Legal action was taken against both because of their rants and craziness. Cease and desist action by Art Walk board President (and lawyer) David Hernand (who was brought on board by Richard and Kim). They were removed for gross incompetence and malfeasance. Yet they are the saviours in this huge mess?
They never worked with raising any monies to pay any bills. But screamed like hell when their Party bus was no longer paid for as crowds zoomed from 8,000 toward 15,000.
There was no relationship with any of the galleries at all. You could never talk with 40 galleries for 9 months because an old email list was Bert's fault? How about picking up the F***king phone or walking into the store?
Sure bring them back with Julie Rico running the crashed and burned Weeneez (and stolen The Must).
You are listening to an insane person rant from the (Internet) corner. Enough. Give them their meds.
Kim Cooper on September 30, 2010, at 07:39AM – #38
False, anonymous smears got us into this mess to a large degree, but won't get us out.
At this point, the false, anonymous smears (Guest 14 particularly ) reveal just enough internal board politics to be coming from people who were involved either in the non-profit or the BID. This is the poor behavior that derailed the Art Walk in the first place. I think it's long past time that you stop attacking the messengers, and start doing the hard work that's needed to fix the problems.
No legal action was ever taken against us. Do you think the Los Angeles Times would have left a dangling reference to threats of cease and desist actions made against us by David Hernand, but omitted any legal action that came from these threats? Nonsense. Russell Brown made an empty threat to sue us both because I, alone filed an ethics complaint against him as President of DLANC, I published it online, and a few days later David Hernand sent a letter advising us to stop talking about Russell Brown's behavior. I continued to exercise my free speech rights, and no lawsuit was forthcoming.
The only person who raised any money for Art Walk was a 20-year-old volunteer who brought in $6500 in small sponsorships through telephone solicitations of local businesses. Meanwhile, Marc Loge, whose job it was to bring in corporate sponsorships, made some kind of arrangement with Cadillac, but when asked to explain it to the Art Walk's Executive Director and Treasurer, quit the board and tried (and apparently failed) to seal the deal with Russell Brown outside the non-profit.
Please clarify how Cadillac could contribute directly to the community with some strings attached? To whom do they write the check? Are the expected to write a check to the HCBID earmarked for "cultural programming" or just "street services"? How is it tax deductible?
If I was in charge of charitable giving for GM, I too might question what the heck these guys were up to.
It is the hardest thing as a director of development to raise money for trash collection, xeroxing costs, phone bills and other mundanities. But a successful organization can find the funds.
I never called Children's Hospital.
I once calculated the hourly rate for the three members of my family's full-time volunteer work for the Art Walk during most of 2009. I will not quote that amount here, but simply say I consider it by far the largest contribution made to the Art Walk non-profit.
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 08:07AM – #39
the only way to get Kim to shut her trap is to STOP talking about her. you are all enabling her and continuing to bring up the past. the past CANNOT be changed. so anyone with beef with Kim Cooper, just email her directly or call her "pr" company directly. I am so sick of the back and forth and I am so tired of hearing her speak. if you stop engaging her she will go away......
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 09:00AM – #40
Amen to guest #9. I don't know who Kim Cooper is but she's getting on my last nerve. I feel like every discussion about Art Walk is about her and her husband. Kim, you seem like an alright lady but can't you take a break so that others can have healthy, meaningful dialogue?
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 09:43AM – #41
The artwalk has long since run it course, I'd love to see some changes to it. One big thing could be to bring back the art! I was a the very first artwalk and each one after, up until the past 2.5 years where it's just gotten to be quite a bore and 95% of the crowd has no interest in art, to me that sort of defeats the purpose of an "artwalk". I'm all for changes if it will bring back the essence of an "artwalk". Not a Thursday night free for all to come treat my community as a trash can then leave.
David Klappholz on September 30, 2010, at 10:18AM – #42
@Guest 15 (#41): I'd be far more likely to seriously consider what you say if you identified yourself, as Kim does.
bigphatcatlover on September 30, 2010, at 10:24AM – #43
Eric: Great article! Thanks for putting the history and facts all together in one place. Though I live on Spring Street (since 2004) I learned a lot from your complete biography of the event. Please keep on keeping us informed.
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 11:33AM – #44
I don't know Kim Cooper but I've quickly grown to love Kim Cooper.
Kim, I support you.
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 04:33PM – #45
Great article about the history of art walk. Thank you Eric!
Martin Ramos on September 30, 2010, at 06:09PM – #46
SAVE THE ART WALK! Strength in numbers. Show the Bureaucrats that the DTLA community supports the event and wants it to be run properly!!!
SAVE THE ART WALK FaceBook Page
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 07:58PM – #47
Legal action was taken against both because of their rants and craziness.
And how do they compare with Jay Lopez? You know, the person who decided on a whim to make himself the sole decisionmaker and ruler. The person who waved off board members, announced Art Walk was shutting down, stripped apart its website and changed the password to it.
And how do they compare with Bert Green? He could have expressed rationale, reasonable arguments why the Art Work was past its prime. Instead, nothing has come out of him except a very brief statement quoted by Eric Richardson last week. However, Green did leave a profane, amazingly obnoxious post on this website a few days ago. That all by itself spoke volumes about where he's coming from.
If I didn't know better, I'd think Julie Rico has been teaching classes on ethics, integrity and honesty to some people in the neighborhood.
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 09:42PM – #48
Guest 11: You may still believe what Bert Green and friends states about certain people in downtown- that by the way, have done a lot of good things for this community. But I see that Bert was lying about a lot of things. I think it is time to take what Bert says or has said with a grain of salt. What Bert has done is quite different than a bad business partnership. He undermined and pulled the rug out from under an event wherein thousands of workers, hundreds of businesses and hundreds of thousands of dollars are made to support DTLA. I am not sure I see the comparison to someone that has produced many good huge projects for the art community here in downtown. How it is that you are berating Bert and at the same time espousing his exact same views of hatred seems ironic.
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 09:46PM – #49
and misrepresentation of a good person. Did you not notice his manipulation of the other issues on this blog group? Do you think Bert's pattern of behavior just emerged yesterday. Bert has been relentlessly trying to destroy numerous good people in this community for years. You fell for it and are still in it deep. Seek the truth and it will set you free.
Guest on September 30, 2010, at 10:29PM – #50
jeezus peopole stop bashing Bert Green he didn't have the authority to kill the art walk neither does Jay Lopez or the board for that matter. The art walk has grown and run organically since before there was a board and will continue to do so. They do nothing and really have no authority or money.
I would love to see a more focused art based event where the actual merits of the art could get the much needed attention it deserves. Downtown is considered a scub by the rest of the city and is associated withe the mess that is the art walk. Its is otherwise just ignored by the art press and the rest of the world. The legit galleries in the area would be stupid NOT to do something to remedy this.
Second Thursday is for the community party let the art in the area move to a different day and get the attention it needs to keep the area vital and competitive as a destination on the art world map.
Guest on October 01, 2010, at 09:17AM – #51
Every event has it's own organic growth, faced with problems and with wonderful possibilities.
No matter what the problems have been, no matter what the initial attempt was meant to be, there is no argument that "Art Walk" has created the IDEA, throughout the greater Los Angeles area, that downtown L.A. is now a "somewhere" to go for food, purchases, nightlife, living and just walking the streets to appreciate the area.
Everything that grows needs community involvement and tweaking. But where were all of you 40 years ago when "our" central library was about to be torn down? Or when the Los Angeles Conservancy was attempting to create awareness of movie palaces with the first walks?
Do we really want downtown's street traffic controlled by developers who provide no benches for lingering and talking ala the Nokia? Do we really want people to use this outdoor space ONLY if they have the MONEY to drive in, pay for parking, buy expensive meals and then attend expensive shows, and leave? With every living neighborhood comes it's problems. We should embrace these problems as issues to address, issue by issue, and NOT destroy something that is, finally, beginning to happen again...What manipulated fools would we be?
Guest on October 01, 2010, at 10:10AM – #52
The only credibility Bert Green has in my eyes was his slamming Julie Rico in a string of postings a few months ago. But if there weren't a lot of information available to the public about her and The Must, I wouldn't know for sure if that was a legitimate belittling or not.
However, in light of things since last Friday, I do wonder if he lashed out at Ms. Rico just as much because she in the past has come out in defense of Kim Cooper. Ms. Cooper's possibly cordiality towards Rico is one reason I admit to being still a bit suspicious of Cooper.
jeezus peopole stop bashing Bert Green he didn't have the authority to kill the art walk neither does Jay Lopez or the board for that matter.
The problem was that Jay Lopez believed in his own mind that he had the right to shut things down. Also, if he were a victim of an innocent misunderstanding, why did he change password control to the Art Walk's website?
As for Bert Green, if he's no more a third-party bystander, why all the silence from him since last Friday? Moreover, why hasn't he explained in plain, rational terms what is wrong with what Kim Cooper has been saying for the past few days? He could have said something like "I had absolutely no involvement with what Jay Lopez did, so Cooper should leave my name out of things. But I sympathize with his or anyone else's desire to discontinue the monthly Art Walk because...."
More tellingly, why has Mr. Green avoided responding in such a manner and instead chosen to slam Ms. Cooper with a very crude, nasty brief reply, which Eric Richardson was forced to delete?
John Swartz on October 01, 2010, at 10:25AM – #53
I've been a resident of downtown since the beginning of the art walk and have only missed a handful in the 6 years of its existence. The Art Walk represents everything that is good in the renaissance of downtown. Long Live the Art Walk!
Guest on October 01, 2010, at 10:30AM – #54
Guest 11 "But if there weren't a lot of information available to the public about her and The Must, I wouldn't know for sure if that was a legitimate belittling or not."
But where is this information coming from, the courts? Or the same ones that have been affected? Did you get your real information from the source and there are just a few sources where you can get the accurate information and that is the courts, the police records or Julie Rico actually verifying this information in writing. So Guest 11 your interpretation of the events surrounding Julie Rico are just that, your interpretation. Have you not seen some of the artists that have posted in favor of the art festival and her 4 art galleries she built over a 20 year period. I cannot help but think that Bert Green wanted the power all to himself in Downtown. He could not deal with a strong woman like Julie Rico so bashed her every time he could. Jay Lopez did the same. In fact, so did all of his gang of men, gaining women as they manipulated the community with their misogyny. Again the truth will set you free. The truth is always way more complicated than the rumors.
Guest on October 01, 2010, at 10:52AM – #55
"As for Bert Green, if he's no more a third-party bystander, why all the silence from him since last Friday?"
Thats a mob mentality because he's not directly involved in the rhetoric ( mostly negative) flying around he must be responsible) Why would he want to get involved in this mess based on some of the comments he will be be criticized no matter what he says. He has no official capacity to make a decision if ( and that's a unfair if)he's influencing things from behind the scenes then good for him hes like every other business person with a stake. But its the Board and Jay Lopez who make the calls.
In any event like I said this is all just talk since none of them have any influence on what has become known as the art walk. So its all just a big pissing match of little consequence.
Guest on October 01, 2010, at 11:23AM – #56
Sorry, Guest #5, but an article in the Downtown News refutes your assumption:
Lopez seem to have been a defiant jerk in choosing to shut down both the artwalk event and its Internet page. The obvious clue is he changed access to the web site. If it weren't a power play and ego trip on his part, why else would he have done that?
Cooper claimed that Green's intention for some time has been to terminate the monthly Art Walk. The woman appears to have been correct.
Guest on October 01, 2010, at 12:21PM – #57
Two Things first of all "Tseng said" is hearsay there is also all kinds of rumors that she is a shit stirrer as well but that's all again hearsay.
Bert Green and whoever else have the right to influence, put pressure on or compete against if need be the art walk if they are unsatisfied. why would they would anyone go through the time and effort to change it unless if it was serving the needs of the art community?
In any event your missing the point Bert Green is in no official capacity to make any calls. Any private stake holder has the right to influence the art walk to the degree that they are dissatisfied doesn't mean they are responsible for the decisions of the people for those who actually make the call.
I will say this though the success of the art walk has nothing to do with the board or Green as much as it has to do with momentum. If Green thinks that the community event art walk will just disappear in a few months because there is no board he's REALLY naive
Having said all that i'm all for a seperate art walk that will actually serve the purpose of shedding light on the art and making it a more attractive draw for dedicated art professionals.
Kim Cooper on October 01, 2010, at 03:29PM – #58
This morning, my husband Richard Schave, the founding Executive Director of the Art Walk non-profit, addressed City Council regarding the crisis facing the entity, and his plea that Councilwoman Jan Perry to take the lead to initiate the healing and cooperation that's needed to save Art Walk.
Of his reason for speaking today, Richard says "If your councilmember is upset with you for an open letter you write, you should definitely read it to even more councilmembers. It's important to engage in your activities with right action and selflessness and vest no interest in the fruits of your action, and just move forward."
A video of his comments to Council can be found at the link below: http://vimeo.com/15469380
Guest on October 01, 2010, at 04:55PM – #59
Kim,
Can your "husband" not speak for himself? Seriously, can you please just stop? If you really intend to do good for the community, without any expectation of reward, compensation or validation- then do it quietly. Why do you keep yammering so?
Adam Steinbaugh (@goodreverend) on October 01, 2010, at 05:07PM – #60
Was there any indication that Jan Perry was upset about the open letter? What cease and desist is being referred to?