June Art Walk Wrapup

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — I had written up about 80% of my post on the Downtown Art Walk last night when a firefox focus bug decided to bite me and close that tab. And so my report got delayed until this morning. Oh well.

Yesterday was the June edition of the Art Walk, and after almost forgetting that fact (my new roommate came over to my room and asked, “What’s this art walk thing I’m seeing?” I went, “Oh yeah, that’s today.”), I did manage to hit ten of the galleries. I think that might be a high for me.

When you have a gallery in your basement, and it participates in Art Walk, I think you’re sort of obliged to start your tour there. I do, and so I did at Modern Art Downtown. Lots of different artists represented. I really enjoyed Paul Whitehead’s work, as I did when he had a show at 626. I think the submarine piece was my favorite.

Next, and across the street, was 626 Gallery. They’re showing ART about NOTHING by Robert Cendello. Most of the pieces are wood, with a lot of scrap bits and driftwood fashioned into pieces. Not exactly my thing, but worth seeing.

Next door, LACDA is showing a collection of very stark black and white photography from an old penetentiary in Philadelphia. Very cool urban decay type work.

Over at Spring Arts Tower this was the first Art Walk for new space/screening room Niche.LA. The christening show is a collection of cameraphone works. Some are printed, some are displayed on framed flat screens hung on the walls, and some are constructed into video montages projected and set against music.

Speaking of big spaces, Infusion (pictured above the jump) is huge. Definitely the feel of an art party, more along the lines of create:fixate than a gallery.

The Hive Gallery has a cool concept going. The front of the space is your normal open room with art on the walls, but back in the back are a collection of divided studio spaces. Artists are able to pay a bit of money to get some space to work, and in the process get a sort of built in showing process.

My calendar says that the second Thursday of July will be 14th, so go ahead and plan ahead now to make it out next month.