The Arts District: History and Architecture in Downtown L.A. with the L.A. Conservancy

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East side of Pickle Works building, showing full south end under construction. Photo by Adrian Scott Fine/L.A. Conservancy

Since moving to the Downtown LA Arts District in the summer of 2010, I have become fascinated with the original warehouse buildings in the area and the history of the neighborhood. I live at Santa Fe and 2nd St., directly across from the new One Santa Fe complex, which is scheduled to be completed in late 2014 or early 2015. I also live about two blocks away from the former Pickle Works building, which was the site of the very first artist occupied live-work lofts in the area. (top: East side of Pickle Works building, showing full south end under construction.<br />Photo by Adrian Scott Fine/L.A. Conservancy)

Pickle Works building at 1001 East First Street.Pickle Works building at 1001 East First Street.

 When I found out that the Los Angeles Conservancy was going to offer a walking tour of my neighborhood I was very excited at the opportunity to find out more about the history of the buildings surrounding my home and to get a chance to look inside some of them. Our first stop was the former California Vinegar & Pickle Company, later James K. Hill & Sons Company Pickle Works at 1001 East First Street, architect unknown, 1888-1909. Unfortunately we weren’t able to get a look inside the building due to construction and safety issues.

L.A. Conservancy tour guide in front of the old Art Dock space at the Pickle Works location.L.A. Conservancy tour guide in front of the old Art Dock space at the Pickle Works location

The Pickle Works building was the former home of the Art Dock (aka the Drive-By Gallery in the early 1980s), and was the first live/work home for artists in the Arts District. In 2005 the building was shut down and seventy-five feet of the oldest section was removed by the city to make way for Metro Rail. (The First Street Bridge needed to be widened to accommodate the train.) The city wants to demolish the rest of the building, but the neighborhood council, the Los Angeles Conservancy, and the majority of the community would like the Pickle Works building restored to house artists once more. At the moment this historic property, determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, stands vacant – awaiting its fate.

L.A. Conservancy tour guide discussing the Art Dock.L.A. Conservancy tour guide discussing the Art Dock.

“Wolf At The Door” by Karen Kristen, 1982 Art Dock installation.Wolf At The Door by Karen Kristen, 1982 Art Dock installation.

South end of Pickle Works building.South end of Pickle Works building.

The second stop on the tour was the Challenge Cream & Butter Association at 929 East Second Street, Architect: Charles F. Plummer, 1926. This building is somewhat generic from the outside, but once you get inside its something else altogether. With wide-open spaces and magnificent views of the city, the Challenge building is definitely an enticing work or studio space. This building was one of the first to be converted to artist lofts in the early 1980s. We toured the enormous loft of clothing company Design Syndicate Inc., which included a wall-mounted fountain designed by artist Eric Orr that was original to the buildings design. Upstairs was the workspace of artist Jim Morphesis, who had many works on view. It was a treat to see his work in person. He was very courteous and greeted all who wanted to say “hello.” The last space we visited in the Challenge building was the owner’s loft, which he kept open for private parties and filming. Although the Conservancy volunteer couldn’t tell me what films or TV shows had been filmed in the space, I was still very impressed with the two-level loft. At over 5,000 square feet, it incorporated the old loading doc for the dairy on the ground floor. 

jim_m1Above and below: Jim Morphesis artworks on display at the Challenge building, 929 East Second Street.

Jim Morphesis artworks on display at the Challenge building, 929 East Second Street.

Some historic photos of the Challenge Cream & Butter Association building.

Some historic photos of the Challenge Cream & Butter Association building.

Model for the 1980s redesign of the Challenge building.Model for the 1980s redesign of the Challenge building.

The third and last location I was able to make it to that day was the Southern California Supply Co. at 810 East Third Street, Architect: Richards-Neustadt Construction Co., 1910. The first workspace we visited was artist David Hollen’s studio in the basement. Hollen’s partner, Frank Theobaldt gave us a tour of the space, which had no windows and had to be vented with industrial fans. It suits Hollen’s work, however, since he uses materials such as steel and sheet metal. The space was large and had a gallery area in the back where Hollen had his work on display. Theobaldt showed us some work in progress sketches on the wall and described a new piece titled Clouds Over the Great Plains, which will be an 11 x 11 foot sculpture laser cut from sheet metal. Theobaldt said that they don’t live in the space; they commute from their home in South Pasadena. But he said they pretty much just sleep in Pasadena and spend most of their time in the studio. Theobaldt said they have been working in the Arts District building since 2006.

David Hollen's partner, Frank Theobaldt with CARTWHEEL's Cindy Schwarzstein.David Hollen’s partner, Frank Theobaldt with CARTWHEEL’s Cindy Schwarzstein

David Hollen discussed his artwork with collector Sandy SchwarzsteinDavid Hollen discussed his artwork with collector Sandy Schwarzstein

Frank Theobaldt discusses Hollen's many sketches for work in progress.Frank Theobaldt discusses Hollen’s many sketches for work in progress.

Preliminary sketch for Hollen's “Clouds Over the Great Plains” sculpturePreliminary sketch for Hollen’s Clouds Over the Great Plains sculpture

Since there is no elevator in the Southern California Supply Co. building, we hiked up three floors to A. S. Ashley’s loft on the top floor. Ashley space was crammed full of surreal canvases brimming with pop culture references and crazy assemblages apparently created with a punch line in mind. One of the first things that caught the eye when we first came into the space was a shrine to Ernie Kovacs’ Nairobi Trio. Consisting of monkey skeletons, a TV set with a clip of the Nairobi Trio skit on a loop, and some framed photos of Kovacs and other actors from the show, this creation seems more like it was created to amuse Ashley than as a work of art. I thought it was amazing, but I wondered what people who weren’t familiar with the Nairobi Trio would think?

A. S. Ashley with x-ray of ankle broken in a surfing accident.A. S. Ashley with x-ray of ankle broken in a surfing accident.

A. S. Ashley with CARTWHEEL's Cindy Schwarzstein.A. S. Ashley with CARTWHEEL’s Cindy Schwarzstein.

A. S. Ashley discussed his artwork with collector Sandy SchwarzsteinA. S. Ashley discussed his artwork with collector Sandy Schwarzstein

“PREUßISCHES TEEPARTEI PUPPENSPIEL” by A. S. Ashley, acrylic on canvas,  41" x 27"PREUßISCHES TEEPARTEI PUPPENSPIEL by A. S. Ashley

“YOU'RE A VERY BAD MAN” by A. S. Ashley, acrylic on canvas, 60" x 72"You’re a Very Bad Man by A. S. Ashley

“DALI'S PORTRAIT OF BUGS BUNNY IN MAYONNAISE” by A. S. Ashley, acrylic on canvas,  60" x 72"Dali’s Portrait of Bugs Bunny in Mayonnaise by A. S. Ashley

 After spending some time looking at everything in Ashley’s loft, we finally dragged ourselves away and headed to the nearby Pie Hole for some lunch. With stomachs full of apple pie and chocolate crostata, my companions headed over to Angel City Brewery. Unfortunately, I had to call it a day. But I highly recommend taking the walking tour yourself. You won’t be able to go inside the private spaces, but there are some public buildings, like Angel City Brewery that you are welcome to go inside. You can find a PDF with information on all of the buildings on the route and a map on the Los Angeles Conservancy web site.

as_ashley10A. S. Ashley’s Nairobi Trio installation, Eat Dem Taters

as_ashley9A corner of A. S. Ashley’s work space

as_ashley11The front of the Southern California Supply Co. building, showing businesses on the ground floor.

A view from the west side, showing the distinctive Shepard Fairey mural.A view from the west side, showing the distinctive Shepard Fairey mural.

 All photography by Wendy Sherman except the first Pickle Works building photo by Adrian Scott Fine/L.A. Conservancy

 Thanks to: The L.A. Conservancy: Cindy Olnick, Erin Cullerton, Sarah Weber, Jessica Hodgdon, Marcella Riberio, and all the volunteer tour guides; The artists, including: Jim Morphesis, David Hollen, Frank Theobaldt, and A. S. Ashley. I’d also like to thank all the landlords and businesses who opened their buildings up to the public so we could all come inside and take a peek at these magnificent structures and the treasures within.

1 Comment

  1. Carlton Davis
    November 27, 2013

    Wonderful article Wendy, I was delighted to see the photos of the Art Dock at The Pickle Factory and the images of the all the other buildings on this LA Conservancy Tour. I hope the additional attention given to these buildings and especially the Pickle AKA The Citizens Warehouse will help in the effort to preserve this building.

    As a final note The Southern California Supply Company, which my wife Virginia Tanzmann and I knew only as 820 East 3rd Street was for many years the offices of The Tanzmann Associates, and in the back of the building was my art studio after I left the Pickle Factory. The office was on the ground floor where the store now resides. Virginia Tanzmann, formerly president of the LA chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a Fellow of the AIA, is an architect of distinction. Hers was – I was the design director for her firm – the largest woman owned design firm in Los Angeles in the late 1980s and 90s.

    The Tanzmann Associates did many significant projects in Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles Mission, The Hollywood Free Clinic, and The North Hollywood Redline Subway Station. It was in this office that artist James Doolin and myself worked on the design of this station by building a 15′ long model and developing design ideas for it. The station was a critical hit with the community and Metropolitan Transit Authority. Virginia’s firm was primarily engaged in public, infrastructure and not-for-profit projects.

    For many years, The Tanzmann Associates had a gallery within the office, where there were shows by such artists as Jeff Kaisershot and Jacqueline Draeger. Before Shepard Farley Mural, the side of the building was painted with a large green sign with white letters announcing The Tanzmann Associates. It was the sign post to the neighborhood before it became the Arts District.

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