Is there really an Art District in Highland Park? As in Highland Park, California?
Yes. Highland Park has a tradition in the arts that dates back to the early 1900's when the USC College of Fine Arts was located right here in Highland Park and visionaries such as Charles Lummis and Antonio Corsi were living in the area.
Historically rich in tradition, the area bordering the Arroyo Seco was Los Angeles' first cultural center at the beginning of the 20th century.
The tradition continues with a concentration of artists continuing to reside in Highland Park, and with new gallery spaces opening regularly. Highland Park is now one of L.A.'s most exciting and richly diverse destinations to view contemporary art.
The Arroyo Arts Collective was established in 1989 as a community organization of artists, writers and performers who live and work in Northeast Los Angeles, including the neighborhoods of Highland Park, Mt. Washington, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights and Eagle Rock.
Since 1993 the Collective has organized an annual Discovery Tour of artists' studios and homes on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Tours have been co-sponsored with the Southern California Historical Society, the Highland Park Heritage Trust, the Audubon Society and other community groups and feature the work of well over 100 artist participants.
Avenue 50 Studio, a central point of the arts community in Highland Park is now celebrating the ninth year of its remarkable journey.
That journey includes dozens of shows in Highland Park ranging from international exchange exhibits to presenting Asian and African American artists in a largely Latino community.
The art openings are a testament to the mix of cultures, national origins, and races that make up metro LA and our special Highland Park neighborhood.
The artists in the local art community feel strongly that the showing of multicultural arts on a monthly basis in a working class neighborhood can go a long way in educating people to the importance of diverse art in our lives.
The Art District in Highland Park is indeed building bridges of cultural understanding through artistic expressions.
Cheryl, You know I would love the art shows and galleries they have there. I've read other posts where you speak about all the art (and the incredible outdoor art I'd be watching for these shows if I were closer!
When Artist hipsters in black rimmed glasses outnumber cholos on Monte Vista st. You know the area has gentrified.
Sky, I figure when the homeboys all have blogs, we will have arrived. And we're getting there. :-)