Guest on October 13, 2010, at 02:28PM – #1

Ed, downtownartwalk.org says October activities are ON. Is there another website saying otherwise?

Guest on October 13, 2010, at 02:49PM – #3

I'm getting the same website/info at downtownartwalk.com and downtownartwalk.org

Maybe you need to clear your browser cache? or maybe I do?

Guest on October 13, 2010, at 03:30PM – #5

Yea ArtWalk! I love you dearly!

Guest on October 13, 2010, at 04:16PM – #8

Not that I'm in favor of commerce directing culture, quite the opposite. But I do want to point out that not one post on the downtownartwalk.com site has said that the October walk is off. Maybe the dot-org site had to change their statement, or something else happened to cause you to lead with the wrong information. Time for a retraction? (Otherwise it could be construed as your having deliberately published damning and false information about downtownartwalk.com, which won't help anyone, let alone your credibility.)

Otherwise, bravo, Mr. Fuentes. Thank you for the nice piece on this month's goings on.

Guest on October 13, 2010, at 06:14PM – #9

This is Bert Green's take on the Artwalk, Part 2:

"The Board of Directors of the "Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk" has been running the Second Thursday Art Walk event for 15 months. The Corporation was created by Richard Schave and Kim Cooper in 2009 and was chartered by the State of California as a Public Benefit Corporation. Since it was formed by Schave, it has not only operated out of public view (which is its right), but has been consistently unable to raise any funding or pay any of its bills. It is transparent neither to the public nor to the owners of the galleries; in fact, the head of the Board specifically stated in 2009 that the Corporation could not create the impression that it existed to benefit the art galleries, as that was considered a potential conflict of interest. In effect, Schave and Cooper created an organization that was contemptuous of the very purpose of the Second Thursday art gallery event itself. That was the moment it began to spin out of control. The Art Walk no longer ended officially at 9 pm under Kim and Richard, so any consideration for the residents of the neighborhood ceased, and the direct involvement of the residents of Skid Row was ended. Cooper and Schave were also the only people paid — to operate their shuttle bus — everyone else was a volunteer.

In November 2009 Schave and Cooper were fired by the Board for incompetence (they were given the public option to resign, to save face). No matter what Kim Cooper claims, neither Russ Brown or I had anything to do with that. Following their firing Cooper conducted a public, online smear campaign against Russ Brown, who led the Neighborhood Council and the HD BID, and who for more than 5 years PAID THE ART WALK'S NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT BILLS as its major sponsor, as well as paying for the shuttle bus and their compensation as docents. Nice way of saying thank you to your backers.

The Board invited me to join them in late 2009 to provide continuity in the wake of Schave and Cooper's departure, and I agreed. I attended a few meetings and tried to help them, but I resigned after 6 months because I saw no real way that I could contribute to a Board whose leaders that had so little interest in real art and no stake in Downtown.

Jay Lopez was hired in December 2009 to replace Schave and was promised a salary of $67,000 to manage the event. He was never paid, except for a few small token payments to keep him from quitting, and the Board consistently refused (but was also unable) to reimburse the HD BID for the staggering security and cleanup costs associated with the event. The Board demanded that Lopez perform his job with zero funds and no support, and even denied that it was their job to raise money. The Board members rarely even showed up at the Art Walk at all, but insisted that Jay implement stupid policies like the Art Walk lounge, which was never staffed or supplied with maps, which proved to be an embarrassment to visitors. There was no money for any of that. Russ Brown still continued to pay the cleanup and security bills with the HD BID money, with the property owners bitching and moaning the whole time about the costs.

Most of the local property owners and businesses which reap enormous profit from the event were all approached repeatedly for support by Jay over the past year, but they refused to contribute. Their attitude was that the event would go on anyway so why should they pay when there was no penalty to refuse? The nonprofit was too disorganized to apply for any arts grants, although one member of the Board did work his butt off to try and get corporate sponsorship. In this economy, he was unsuccessful.

The Board DID agree to disband recently. They now lie about that, but it is true. It is also true that they did not formally vote on that, so Jay Lopez acted on that information without it being official, but the Board, left to its own inertia, would have allowed multiple Art Walks to occur without acting on anything at all, as they had always done. I personally believe Jay was acting correctly in his capacity as director to salvage the event from collapse. The Board obviously disagrees, and strangely enough is threatening legal action over it. Threatening Jay over something that they had little interest or true involvement in from day one? Why? Maybe the lawyers will sort it out, but in any case the losers will be art community of Downtown Los Angeles.

The gallery owners met a few times recently, but all the talk that they voted on anything is false. These meetings are merely advisory anyway, to provide the galleries with an opportunity to know each other and for the director of the Art Walk to share information and opinions. The only poll taken was to discuss a possible new weekend art walk, as to whether it should be on a Saturday or a Sunday. There was a verbal discussion about whether the Thursday event was or was not in the interests of the galleries. No decision was made about that, but neither were they in control of the Thursday event, so it did not matter what they wanted. The Board, which has no connection to the galleries, is in charge of the Thursday event, and has little or no communication with the galleries and does not consult them on anything.

It comes down to this. The Board is bankrupt, and the Second Thursday event costs upwards of $100,000 per year. The same property owners who now claim to have saved it with pledges of $200,000 have all refused to pay the bills in the past, so what has really changed? That there is now a pledge to contribute? All of this bluster is based on a pledge? From people who could have had the same result months ago for 1/4 the cost? Doubtful that it will happen. No checks have been written. There is no budget, there is no plan. If you have a worthless Board and Corporation, why give it any money? If it has proven unable to operate until now, how will that change? Maybe they can prove me wrong, if so I will own up to it. In any case, the Second Thursday event has so little to do with art anymore that it now works against the galleries to keep calling it an "Art Walk." It should be changed to "Downtown Night Out" or "Downtown Pub Crawl" or whatever else, but trying to pretend it is about art is actually destructive to the reputation of the art venues of Downtown Los Angeles.

A big Downtown Los Angeles thank you to Richard Schave and Kim Cooper for creating this mess. No matter how much they protest and post lame videos which prove nothing but their own contempt for downtown and its people, they are at fault for putting this worthless nonprofit structure in place, removing the galleries (and ultimately the importance of art) from the purpose of the event, and setting into motion the chain of events which privatized the Art Walk and turned it into nothing more than a pub crawl which takes precious resources away from the creative community of Downtown Los Angeles, and accelerating the process whereby creative people are driven out of the communities that they created."

Guest on October 13, 2010, at 07:51PM – #12

With apologies to Mel Brooks and Blazing Saddles, all this art walk talk that never dies between Kim and Bert makes me sing:

I'm tired, sick and tired of artwalk, I've had my fill of it, from Main to Spring, tired, tired of being bored, tired of art uninspired, let's face it, I'm tired!

Guest on October 13, 2010, at 08:17PM – #13

As far as I'm concerned, Bert Green's credibility and veracity is about on par with that of the former owner of Weenezz, and now current owner of Stray Cat.

I'm not 1000% sure about Kim Cooper, but if I were to bet the family farm on the honesty or integrity of her versus Green, I'd go with her.

It's amazing because I used to think just the opposite.

Guest on October 13, 2010, at 08:32PM – #14

I personally believe Jay was acting correctly in his capacity as director to salvage the event from collapse.

OMG. You gotta be kidding me! That strikes me as so disingenuous, I feel a need to insert a sarcastic "LOL" right here ---> LOL

To be giving a million benefits of the doubt to someone like Jay Lopez speaks volumes about the observer. An observer who is giving kudos to someone who unilaterally issued a press release that attempted to sabotage a monthly community event. And, in turn, the community itself. Then, most tellingly of all, an observer who wants to praise someone who changed the password to the organization's website without any kind of authorization.

Yes, uh-huh, that's quite transparent and full of integrity.

Guest on October 13, 2010, at 08:48PM – #15

Bert Green: "The gallery owners met a few times recently, but all the talk that they voted on anything is false." Bert Green is lying here.

So I see now Bert Green wanted the artwalk to go away. So he dropped the leadership ball. Richard and Kim came in to pick it up since they operate a PR company and are extremely involved with a community of artists. The goal given them was to keep the artwalk going. So they developed a non-profit board to stabilize the artwalk. In so doing they were dealing with some lame ducks like Bert Green both individuals that also did not want the headache of the organization. But somehow wanted the GM money, anyway, if it was there-But that's another story. So the gallery/art people who are poor and could offer direction of an intellectual and energy, mailing lists-to create a crowd, sort, were left out of the political loop by Bert, Kim, Richard and Russell. I think they all did this. (Perhaps Richard and Kim were dismayed with the gallery politics since Bert was representing the gallery owners.)

But it seems to me that the people at fault for the lack of leadership is Bert Green since this all started with Bert throwing his hands up in the air giving up control of the artwalk. I am not sure how he is blaming Kim. He advised and worked with Jay Lopez to dismantle the website for the artwalk and to hijack the mailing lists, facebook and twitter accounts. In addition, he gave up the artwalk and insists that it become a "Downtown Night Out" or "Downtown Pub Crawl." Something no gallery/artists want to see happen. Well except for Bert/Jay/Edgar.

People this event ARTWALK needs to stay as it is only waaay better. A lot more art can be inserted throughout the event on the streets. Yes money needs to be raised and I believe can be raised and is being raised. But yes we need a good leadership group to actually accomplish these goals. With all of the politics I do not believe that this will be accomplished any time soon. There is an existing leadership group in control of the politics here and this is not going to change. I guess peddling in one place is better than not peddling at all?

The only reason the artwalk is so successful is because of the galleries and artists. The marketing is done by these hard working people. This is why thousands of people come to downtown. Lets keep that in mind as we move forward. Much of the support has been steered directly in Bert Greens direction for years. Now look at what he has done. Thanks for nothing Bert.

Guest on October 14, 2010, at 08:56AM – #19

arguing with Kim Cooper is like watching the special olympics. Someone eventually will win, but in the end you'll both still be RETARDED!

Guest on October 14, 2010, at 09:04AM – #20

Move on already!

Guest on October 14, 2010, at 09:25AM – #21

I think it's important to pay attention to what Bert Green writes about the Artwalk---not so much about the troubled history, but about what it has become.

Tonight will be a chance to look at it and really consider whether or not it is just a party scene, an alcohol fueled romper room. Just how important will be art be tonight? Will it even have a chance will all of the drinking, food trucks and riff raff?

Finally, will the new funding show itself with an organized, clean (and cleaned-up) and safe effort?

Tonight will be the big test, and we can see if Bert's worst fears are a reality!

Guest on October 14, 2010, at 10:37AM – #22

The "artwalk" is a great source of revenue and revitalization for the downtown community. In light of the LA Times article today, where Bert Green mentions "disastrous," I have to agree with his sentiment. In terms of semantics art has various meanings. Think of folk art, highbrow, lowborw, academic/conceptual work, design, realism, personal expression.... The list goes on. The downtown art walk in its current form has morphed into more of a social scene or block party where the primary emphasis by a majority of the patrons are eating (food trucks), drinking, and hopping around from craft fair to gallery. Having lived in the neighborhood, Spring Street, for close to 10 years I must say this event has increased the profile and allowed for a once desolate neighborhood to blossom. There is plenty of room to have a more gallery and collector friendly opening on Saturdays. I agree with Bert, when you have 20,000 primarily under 30's folks coming downtown, their agenda is not going to involve a critical discourse of fine art or for collection purposes. Galleries are a business and in these tough economic times gallery revenues have decreased from Chelsea to Bergamont Station in Santa Monica. In terms of the Thursday event, change the name; a suggestion "Downtown Arts, Food/Drink, and Cultural Fair." This would be more of an actual portrayal of the Thursday event as opposed to Artwalk which in all honesty is not the reason why 20,000 folks come downtown.

Hint, Hint...

Where else in the United States have numerous brand new bars all of sudden opened up in one neighborhood in the last 2 years? The only place I can think of internationally is the Lapa neighborhood of Rio de Janiero.

Guest on October 14, 2010, at 10:40AM – #23

Anyone else notice that Ed posted a piece on the artists, art, and galleries?

Guest on October 14, 2010, at 05:46PM – #24

"The only place I can think of internationally is the Lapa neighborhood of Rio de Janiero."

There are also the Zona Rosa in Tijuana and Revolution Boulevard in the same city. You should have seen those crowded nightmares until the narco violence shut down the scenes. Downtown is headed toward those pre-narco areas in Tijuana.

Guest on October 14, 2010, at 08:07PM – #25

The artwalk looks like it is full force. I do not see any drunk people walking about. Looks like nice people out for a nice evening in Downtown L.A. Whodathought?

Guest on October 14, 2010, at 08:37PM – #26

Okay now...perhaps there can be a mutual mud slinging truce. I mean we all have heard the same stuff over and over and over. How about a fact slinging without all the personal stuff. Attacks on people's families by anyone, for any reason should rally be "out-of-bounds". And btw all parties have been guilty of this, not just one or two but almost everyone and equally. It's like bringing up facts about someone being adopted. Do we really need to go there? No.

Guest on October 15, 2010, at 08:08AM – #27

I think it's important to pay attention to what Bert Green writes about the Artwalk

That makes about as much sense as saying people should pay attention to Benedict Arnold, Brutus or Judas.

Bert Green was oddly silent right after Jay Lopez tried to sabotage Art Walk -- other than a very obnoxious, vulgar quip of his that Eric Richardson had to delete -- and Green's recent comments above merely confirm why the community could feel just as confident in seeking suggestions and advice from, say, Bernard Madoff.

Guest on October 15, 2010, at 09:54AM – #29

"I think it's important to pay attention to what Bert Green writes about the Artwalk"

"That makes about as much sense as saying people should pay attention to Benedict Arnold, Brutus or Judas."

Judas didn't start the Artwalk, did he? Bert Green did and that's why it's important to listen to him.

Look at it from his perspective. The whole thing sorta turned out like Rosemary's baby. Unlike Rosemary, Bert Green wasn't willing to mother the thing any longer. He decided to have an abortion instead and conceive a completely new baby--the quarterly weekend event.

Guest on October 15, 2010, at 07:12PM – #31

Judas didn't start the Artwalk, did he? Bert Green did and that's why it's important to listen to him.

And Green is like the bratty little child who the other kids don't want to cater to, and so now in a huff he wants to take away all his marbles and other toys and run home?

No one has stopped him from organizing a quarterly weekend event. So go do it. Go for it! But why does he then insist on sticking his big nose into the affairs of the monthly Art Walk?

He has said that if his part of downtown becomes too economically mainstream and successful, his very existence is threatened. That indicates he now has the instincts of a neighborhood saboteur, Scrooge and troublemaker.