Glimpses of Passion at August DTLA Artwalk

Downtown Artwalk is always one of my favorite art nights out in LA, and Iʻve got the August 2012 highlights here for you!

The once slightly-derelict downtown area has become transformed over the past few years, by legions of people swarming the streets, getting their “art on”. Itʻs like youʻre in New York City for the night, where gothic clowns, silly performance artists, and bands on buses could appear at anytime.

There are only a handful of legit gallery spaces, but increasingly more and more pop-up galleries spring up that showcase young energetic artists. If you decide to go, make sure you check out the official Downtown Artwalk website, get a map and look for the actual galleries first, because these always have ferreted out the best artwork, and you can easily get distracted by the hit-or-miss pop-up spaces. My favorites are: Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts, The Hive Gallery, Temple of Visions, and the new Jennifer Main Gallery.

Of course, the pop-ups can be fun places to party, but there is no quality control, as itʻs all pay-to-play for the artists. As an artist myself, I have shown at the classy Medallion building before (now sadly closed off to pop-up spaces by the owner), and I do appreciate the ability to show my art if I choose to, without having to wait on gallery acceptance to do it.

Still, there are more pop-ups than galleries (within easy walking distance at least) and I couldnʻt help but be personally bored and discouraged by all the mediocre art that abounds in most of them. If I see one more trite celebrity portrait or Dio de los Muertos skull Iʻm going to puke… unless itʻs by Carlos Vietos III, who wipes the floor with everyone elseʻs meagerly attempts at the latter. However, there were a few diamonds to be found in the haystacks, and itʻs amazing fun to find quality talent in these places.

In summary, Downtown LA Artwalk is still a blast, although this month it was abound with way too many thuggish wanna-be gangsters, and buzz-kill patrol officers… the latter of who were more out for no-show Occupy protesters than the thugs. Po-po, please go away and keep the art-party going, so the classier crowd component will return!