On the first Saturday of every month, downtown Santa Ana transforms into a lively walkway of people from all over Orange County. Twelve contemporary art galleries host an evening of mingling, dining and inspiring friends to spread the word about their up-and-coming neighborhood The Artist's Village.
An estimated 1,000 people made it out to this free event last month. A local gallery owner who recently opened a space in the landmark Santora Arts Building says he can see the area transforming all around him.
“Notice the building across the street," he said, "Three months ago everything was empty in that space and now there’s 'coming soon' signs everywhere."
“Notice the building across the street," he said, "Three months ago everything was empty in that space and now there’s 'coming soon' signs everywhere."
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| Santora Arts Building built in 1929 |
There's currently about a dozen restaurants and bars surrounding the galleries. They give the culinary scene in some of America's coolest cities a run for their money. The Crosby's quail & hen of the wood ragu and Memphis Cafe's barbequed duck quesadilla are particularly noteworthy.
Many of these local hot spots have managed to curate the unpolished industrial look that has seemingly become requisite across LA, New York and The Bay Area; single Edison light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, exposed pipe and a brick wall.
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| craft beer and live music at The Copper Door |
For owner of The Road Less Traveled, a small art school and boutique in the village, Santa Ana was the most logical place for young artists south of LA to dig roots.
"You get different stuff here. You get one of a kind businesses; you're in old buildings. It's the only downtown area really in Orange County."
"You get different stuff here. You get one of a kind businesses; you're in old buildings. It's the only downtown area really in Orange County."
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| The Craft Kitchen |
Most of the storefronts are built in the old Spanish colonial style and date back to the 1920s. Now many of the second and third stories above the shops are being converted into work/live lofts which are open to the public for viewing during the art walk.
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| photo courtesy of: www.condo.com |
The City of Santa Ana has managed to get visitors to their downtown and now they're looking to encourage more creatives to call it home.
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| Seven painters cover a blank canvas in inspiration as the art walk buzzes around them |
The transition has been a slow process. While more and more artists are opening up their studios for the art walk, many have yet to convert them into full-time galleries because there's just not enough people coming through on a daily basis.
One gallery owner is optimistic about the future, "We actually chose this location, because it’s a great,
hopefully up and coming place," he said, "It feels like things are coming back."
From the looks of all the businesses moving in, he might just be right.
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