17th St/ SMC Ditch school to explore creativity at 18th Street Arts Center
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EXPO LINE TOUR | 2017
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so it’s a window into the artistic process, a window into the way that artists think about and make their work; and often times it’s a really interesting perspective.” She said the Center has become a hub for interesting work. “There are people from Los Angeles and all over the world who come here and have a unique perspective on the city that we live in,” she said. “It’s a place to have conversations about creativity, about art in society and its role and importance with the people that are actually making the art.” Yank said the proximity of an Expo stop has been compelling for the Center. Artists have been able to use the line to connect to other arts projects throughout Los Angeles and for some, the line itself has inspired or been incorporated into their work. In some cases, performance artists have used the platforms or trains as impromptu stages and Yank said the flow of people along the train has been a boon to the facility. “I do think that us having this stop so close has been very compelling to people whereas a lot of the arts activity is very centered more east,” she said. “It has been a way for people to see a connection to the Westside.” The Center’s Gallery is open from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free, except for occasional ticketed benefit events. The gallery and event spaces are fully accessible, with three ground level entrances with no steps. Upon requests for assistance, they can make programmatic aspects of projects available in accessible alternative formats. The Main Gallery is located at 1639 18th Street. Visit http://18thstreet.org for more information or call (310) 4533711 for more information.
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anta Monica’s second Expo stop is named after the nearby college but visitors to the area interested in learning something about art world will benefit from heading away from the school and toward the 18th Street Arts Center. It takes all of seven minutes to walk to the 18th Street Arts center from the 17th St./SMC Expo stop and for those who need their art even more quickly, the facility is working to open pedestrian and bike access connecting the center directly to Expo’s bike path. Whether it’s a short walk or a shorter bike ride, the traveler will be rewarded with rare access to art in motion. Unlike its artistic neighbor to the east, Bergamot Station, 18th Street Arts Center isn’t just a place to see art but rather a hub of artistic activity. The Center capitalizes on a pair of programs to support artistic creation. The first is a residency program that encourages contemporary artists from around the world to create new work within the Center’s supportive environment. A second program focuses on events and exhibitions that brings the public into the art making process. The Residency Program has three strategies. A long-term track promotes mentorship and anchors the facility. Mid-term residences of three years are designed to advance an artist’s career while short term stays of up to three months allow national and international artists to cycle through the facility. The result is a combination of artistic projects covering everything from performance to traditional art to interactive cultural projects. “It’s a place where art is happening actively, said Director of Communications and Outreach Sue Bell Yank. “We are supporting artists in their process of making art,
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