Karen Baker

Karen Baker’s “Shopping Baby" is part of an ongoing series "The Baby" and will be featured at Los Angeles Center for Digital Art during Downtown Art Walk.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — To ramble on foot and be rewarded by a personal expedition is unique for L.A., and the Downtown Art Walk has solidified that activity as a welcomed routine. Yet, the current divide is what kind of Art Walk is the preference for any future leadership. Do you help galleries with owners who dare to keep doors open, but feel they are imprisoned in a bunker protecting inventory? Or will the pop-up trucks, temporary galleries, and bars branding themselves as the final Art Walk rendezvous overpower the original intent of the night?

In the last few months, gallery owners and curators made the challenge that you don’t need an Art Walk to enter a Downtown gallery.

The solution could be very simple for Historic Core residents tired of the crowd. They can walk around Thursday night and be surprised. Or they can escape and head toward a gallery away from the masses.

Here is a peek at some of the art planned for the week–on and off Art Walk.

WE WANT A CROWD: During November's Downtown Art Walk, the Los Angeles Center For Digital Arts will have its opening reception for “Snap to Grid: the UN-Juried show.” Some may think any show that exhibits everything entered would be a mess. In a way, it is, and that is the fun. No worries, there is always solid work being shown proving that LACDA has a skilled following. One of the featured photographers at "Snap to Grid" is Karen Baker, who shows ten images from her series “The Baby.” Los Angeles Center For Digital Arts / 107 W. 5th

ARTIC WAVE: BIG BREAKWATER: Arts Brookfield's final installation for “Mind Frames” features local artist Christopher Haun. “Arctic Wave: Big Breakwater,” curated by Janet Levy, is a mosaic wave composed of images from surf posters and magazines, connecting the viewer to a moving connection with “water, rendered motionless, frozen in time, reflecting tranquility, calm and stillness.” Opening Reception will be held during Downtown Art Walk, Thursday, November 11 from 6 to 8pm, with an artist talk at 7pm. Runs through December 17 / 7+FIG Art Space / 735 S. Figueroa

OFF THE BEATEN PATH: That is the name of Terrell Moore's current show at his South Park gallery. It is open until midnight to get the late crowd. (ADD) “The work being displayed in the front showroom is abstract painting, all recent work,” says Terrell. “The back room is an installation of photographic images, actually self portraits, that illuminate in florescent light.” Terrell Moore Gallery / 1221 S. Hope

HANS ON DECK: Dialect hosts Hans Haverson with a preview and reception Wednesday, and will be open for Art Walk on Thursday Dialect / 215 W. 6th Unit 111

THREE SOLO SHOWS: “Laurie Hassold: New Sculptures” is a series of “biomorphic sculptures" in which "nature’s baroque and whorish tendencies” are “strutted out in shameless glory.” “Jocelyn Marsh: The Penweather House (An Installation)” is a whimsical look at the whale ship Essex, sunk by its own prey. “Aardvark Letterpress: Los Angeles Loteria” showcases masters of print-making. BGFA is open until 6pm during Art Walk. Through Dec 24 / Bert Green Fine Art / 102 W. 5th

FASHION ISLAND: Samantha Magowan uses multiple mediums for a detailed dark narrative that extends the symbolism of patterns. You can call it fashion angst, as her imagery was formed by a “profound curiosity about the circumstances” of the 1994 murder of Gianni Versace. No grisly details are exploited. Magowan looks at the motivation. Instead of “Why me?”, the question becomes “Why?” Edgar Varela Fine Art / Through Dec 24 / 102 W. 5th

PLATA O PLOMO + ANIMATE OBJECTS: CB1’s Clyde Beswick plans to stay open until 9pm for Art Walk to offer a last look at Martin Durazo's “Plata O Plomo” and Chris Oatey's “Animate Objects. Both exhibitions close Sunday, November 14, with an artist talk by Oatey at 4pm. CB1 / 207 W. 5th

TOP OF THE DOME: Crewest’s current show “Top of the Dome” is a graf take on Day of the Dead themes that has street artists use imagery on small skull sculptures. It became retrospective with the news of the passing of graf artist GIL ONE K2S, who died of cancer last week. The show will be open for Art Walk and features George Yepes. In addition, Crewest will host a promo event for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's new release "Faster." Look for automobile inspired prints by "Two Rabbits" Crewest / 110 Winston St

FUNDRAISER: After a month off from Art Walk, Downtown Art Center will be open this month from 5 to 8pm to support their fundraising efforts. Proceeds will go toward DAC’s arts programs that enable those with developmental disabilities to be creative. Downtown Art Center Gallery / 828 S. Main

LATE ADD: Norbertellen Gallery will be open for Downtown Art Walk from Noon to 10pm. Into the night the gallery "transforms" into a working studio. This weeks "Artist Studio" live painting features Erik Jerumanis. Norbertellen Gallery / 215 W. 6th

ELSEWHERE: “Marxist Glue" at Hold Up Art (358 E. 2nd) gallery has 13 of the City’s most prolific “wheat-paste artists” on display until November 15.

“Re–Designing History” shows off pieces from FIDM (919 S. Grand) Museum Study Collection through December 17.

MOCA’s new show “The Artist’s Museum” showcases the work of Los Angeles-based artists who have made an impact on the local art scene over the past 30 years.

‘Stillness and Methamorphosis of Time’: Photography and video exhibition featuring Massimiliano Leanza, Laila Pozzo, Tea Falco and Matteo Vinti– four Italian photographers who combine works to share identities and visions. “We will breathe memories, stories and spaces in black and white,” says the release about this joint exhibition with ADC Contemporary Art Gallery, located in the Arts District, and the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles. ADC Contemporary Art Gallery / Factory Place Arts Complex, 1330 Factory Place, Building I