By Robert Bernstein
The Funk Zone Second Friday Art Walk is drawing crowds as big or bigger than First Thursday!
Here are all my photos from the November event.
There are notable differences. First Thursday is well-organized, with a printed map and gallery guide. It is also easily accessible by bus and there are many parking structures in the area. The Funk Zone, not so much. We had to park about half a mile away. Still, the Funk Zone event was worth it.
Our first stop was on Helena Avenue at a venue that did not even show up on the official listing. It offered a wonderful buffet of food:
This typewriter caught my eye. It is the exact model I grew up using. It was my mother’s college typewriter
The main exhibit was about photography, including a very large camera in the middle of the room
The sign on this shipping container looked like a joke
At Gray Space Gallery we encountered Lark Batteau who was about to sing
This porcelain snake by Joan Rosenberg-Dent was everyone’s favorite and it sold right away
The Arts Fund had a wide assortment of creative pieces. I encountered my friend and Atomic Force Microscope collaborator Dr Paul Hansma whose wife was exhibiting
Here were some of the popular pieces there
We went on to the vast Michael Kate Interiors and Art Gallery where an interview was taking place
We followed signs into Stand Up Paddle Sports
Which led upstairs to Art Studio 121
Where musicians were performing
In a tight space packed with art and food
Then we were on to Sol Hill Studio
Including some political art that was amusing and scary
We headed for The Silo which everyone was talking about
But I am now not sure where we saw this wonderful art
One of the galleries was giving out flowers
Here is what we saw in The Silo
We went in search of some other recommended galleries that we never found. A train sped through as we walked in the dark
In that wandering we found Loveworn on Anacapa Street with a Social Justice Series illuminated in the dark
We made our way to Youth Interactive
And here was the scene outside there
I highly recommend the Funk Zone Art Walk. Just be prepared for disorganization, confusion and getting lost. I guess that is what makes it the Funk Zone!