The Hermosa Beach Art Walk takes place Saturday and Sunday, while the Redondo Beach Art Group’s “In Motion: The Human Body in Movement” opens Saturday night at the Beach Cities Health District
“I’m happy to say this is our seventh year for the Hermosa Beach Art Walk and supporting the arts in Hermosa Beach,” says Ken Klade, the Art Walk founder and president of the event’s presenting organization, Arts Group of Hermosa Beach.
“I believe we can make the Hermosa Beach Art Walk recognized as one of the top art festivals in the South Bay,” Klade continues. “The quality keeps improving year after year because of the reputation we are building among artists and the community.”
In some ways more closely resembling an arts fair, this weekend’s event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days and features the work of appoximately 100 local artists. There will also be entertainment. On Saturday, Mariachi Charros de Jalisco plays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Hyperion Outfall Serenaders from 2 to 4 p.m. On Sunday, the Island Breeze Band performs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Tres Hombres wraps up the show from 3 to 5 p.m.
Miss it or Kiss it: The youth and middle school dance teams of You Can Dance Studio give a demonstration of their abilities at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday.
South Bay native Nichole Blackburn was selected as this year’s festival artist. The exuberant and enterprising Blackburn travels the globe and paints murals in orphanages and children’s hospitals, often encouraging the children and staff to lend a hand – little Michelangelos led by the big Michelangelo, if we may put it thus.
But who can look at art without hearing their tummy growl? Dogtown Dogs offers grass-fed gourmet dogs. Try one (the Airedales are recommended), and then sample a plate from John Bowler’s barbecue truck, Barbie’s Q. Nobody – except for the vegetarians, and they don’t count, do they? – will go home hungry.
Lots of fun, and much art of which to ponder and choose. Log onto hbartwalk.com.
Frolicking, vaulting, bouncing, prancing…
It’s a good thing that Beach Cities Health District CEO Susan Burden likes art on the walls of the building where she works, because that has given the Friends of the Redondo Beach Arts a lot of space, mostly in long hallways, in which to place the approximately 117 pieces, by about 60 artists in the current exhibition, “In Motion: The Human Body in Movement.” It’s on view now, but it opens on Saturday with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m.
Nina Zak Laddon and Stefani Conniff are the co-curators, and the theme they chose goes perfectly with an establishment devoted to the mending profession. After all, if you’re in motion, you’re alive, right? And while art isn’t a cure for everything, many would happily argue that it can often heal a wounded soul. And who’s not a little wounded these days?
Last year’s show, “Through the Ages,” was quite a success and filled much of the lower floor. This year, there’s art on the second floor as well. Also, this being the coastal community that it is, there’s a wall devoted to surf art, and some of it exceeds all expectations. From ballet to sports and exercise, everything’s active in these paintings, drawings, photographs and sculptures.
Conniff, along with Sandra Liljenwall, explain that the public’s response to the art, as it’s been going up this week, has been positive. Many of the people passing through the halls wouldn’t necessarily spend an evening at Cannery Row or the Creative Arts Center, but when the art goes to the public it’s no less of an event, and one that benefits everybody.
The Beach Cities Health District is located at 514 N. Prospect Ave., Redondo Beach. Saturday’s reception also includes an awards ceremony at 7 p.m. The art will be on display through July 25. Call (310) 374-3426 or go to bchd.org. ER
