Save the Date November 8 Bloomfest LA
Join us in the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District on November 8 to celebrate Bloomfest LA for a series of events honoring Joel Bloom, the pioneering urbanist, advocate, and the Downtown Arts District unofficial mayor who passed away in 2007. In the 1990s Joel Bloom successfully petitioned the city to designate the area the “Arts District,” anchoring the area as a creative hub for downtown Los Angeles. From improving city services and to nurturing the artists’ direction and focus, Joel worked tirelessly from the helm of his eclectic general store in the American Hotel on Traction and Hewitt Street. After his death in 2007, in recognition of his efforts on behalf of the Arts District and Los Angeles as whole, the City of Los Angeles designated the area around Third, Traction and Rose as Joel Bloom Triangle, which is why we have chosen this as the core location for Bloomfest.
Art, music, food, and history–what the Arts District is know for– will all be part of Bloomfest 2014. Open studios and activities near 3rd Street and Traction Avenue include access to the studio and gallery of renowned neon artist, Lily Lakich; the District Gallery (featuring an exhibit of works by J.W. Pippen), and the Cornerstone Theatre. Just east of 4th Street on Colyton Street, attendees will find The Container Yard Marketplace and Creative Space, offering a vintage pop-up shop, ice cream churned with liquid nitrogen, and some of the most recent mural work added to the Arts District. Colyton Street is also home to The Arts District Flea, a weekly flea market with artisan crafts, jewelry, vintage clothing, art and more. This LA art tour offers a unique and intimate look at the Los Angeles Art district
ArtShare L.A., a 28,000 sq.-ft warehouse with subsidized live/work lofts, arts programs, classes, exhibitions, and events, is activating its full facility for Bloomfest. Attendees can participate in an interactive literary room (complete with typewriters for sharing thoughts, expressions and prose), the ceramics classroom or just relax in the lounge with DJs and light concessions. Local artists will participate in live painting, with rotating, collaborative canvases. Artists include, but are not limited, to Emmeric Konrad, J.W. Pippen, Debi Cable, A.S. Ashley, Robert Reynolds, and Suzi Moon. Live performances include spoken word, dance and live music, with acoustic sets beginning at 5 pm and electric sets at 7 pm. Bloomfest t-shirts are also available from a live t-shirt screen printing.
KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe, Mario Cotto, and Marion Hodges will be spinning in the beer garden featuring Angel City Brewery (which is also having an after party with Urban Grass, Dirty Lingo, and more). A variety of food will be available, including one of our favorite taco vendors – Guerilla Tacos and pork sliders made from two whole-roasted pigs from local restaurant, Cerveteca DTLA. ACME (All City Mural Endeavor) will also provide live fine art painting for the enjoyment of those in the beer garden. All beer garden proceeds will benefit area arts organizations: ArtShare L.A, LADADSpace/Arts District Center for the Arts (ADCA), and the Los Angeles River Artists & Business Association (LARABA).
Even more food! The Arts District is home to one of the most innovative culinary scenes in Los Angeles, including restaurants like Wurstküche, Pie Hole, Eat.Drink.Americano, Cerveteca DTLA, Blacktop Coffee, Umami Burger, Zip Fusion, Urth Caffe, Blue Bottle Coffee, The Springs, Zinc Café, Little Bear, and Church & State.
Neighborhood arcade bar EightyTwo will host a pinball tournament to benefit the Arts District, with all proceeds going to ArtShare L.A., LADADSpace/ADCA, and LARABA. The tourney will take place on EightyTwo’s collection of sixteen pinball machines and the winner will receive a trophy. Participants will also get a free pint of Angel City beer. Entry fee is $10, plus coin drop.
If it’s an intimate insider urban adventure you are seeking, as part of Bloomfest LA programming Cartwheel Art Tours an extension of Cartwheel Art, who is a supporter of the event, will be offering four free tours of artist studios, galleries, murals and other creative spaces of the district with guest speakers and artist meet and greets, supported by CD14. See post here from Cartwheel Art Tours where you will find detailed itinerary information and links to reserve space on eventbrite for each tour route and their times. If the tour you desire is at capacity, please check in at the information booth where a waiting list will be available.
Facebook invite for the Cartwheel Art Tours here. Facebook page for Cartwheel Art Tours here.
Facebook invite for Bloomfest LA 2014 event, here. Facebook page for Bloomfest LA here.
Free Parking and Transportation: Bloomfest is offering free parking at a self-park lot at 950 E. 3rd St. The Arts District is also accessible from the Metro Gold Line (Little Tokyo/Arts District Station) and the Metro 30 bus line.