Travel Back in Time Tonight for the ArtWalk

Crank up your Walkman, puff your afro and put on your legwarmers, the 1980s are coming back to the Valley with the third installation of the Canoga Park ArtWalk on Thursday, July 19.

The free event, hosted by 11:11 A Creative Collective, the Canoga Park Improvement Association and the Art Officials, is a once-a-month collaboration held from 6-10 p.m. on the third Thursday within the Canoga Park Historic Old Town Center, starting at 7227 Owensmouth Ave.,  just north of Sherman Way.

The event includes several pop-up style galleries, live music, an eclectic assortment of local vendors and artisans, in addition to gourmet food trucks and wine and cheese.

Addy Gonzalez one of the founders of the 11:11 art gallery said that the idea behind the theme, ‘80s Toys, was inspired by the 1980s decade during which she and the other founders of 11:11 grew up.

“We were thinking about what was something that made us have a lot of fun and we immediately thought of our toys so we decided to do an '80s toy theme,” Gonzalez said.

They encouraged all of their artists to submit artwork that was ‘80s themed.

“It’s inspired a lot of artwork with iconic cartoon characters of the ‘80s, like Care Bears and Transformers. We also have had some sculptures submitted,” Gonzalez said.

At the ArtWalk there will be a DJ playing ‘80s music and organizers will be handing out things like '80s slap bracelets and glow-in-the-dark bands.

“We’re kind of geeking-out on it a little,” Gonzalez said, laughing.

Another unique thing at the ArtWalk will be the Etch-a-Sketch wall.

“Basha Danesh of L'art, one of the partners of the ArtWalk, donated a variety of Etch-a-Sketchs of different sizes that will be mounted on a wall so people can come and draw on them,” Gonzalez said.

This is the second year that the Canoga Park ArtWalk is taking place. While 11:11 has been doing pop-up art shows throughout the Valley since 2009, the Canoga Park Improvement Association reached out to 11:11 in 2011 after they heard about what the gallery was doing elsewhere and invited them to come and collaborate with the association to create this event.

Gonzalez said at first not many people knew about the ArtWalk, but as word has spread, the event has just kept growing.

“In May, last year, we had maybe 300-400 people show up, now we’re expecting somewhere around 1500-2000 people to show up.” Gonzalez said. “It’s been really exciting to see it grow and have the community come out and be a part of it.”

For Gonzalez the goal of the ArtWalk is simple, just to let people walk the streets of their community and enjoy some art.

“I hope it encourages people to be a part of their community and take pride where they live,” Gonzalez said. “I think also, it’s one of the ways that we can show that when the community works together, great things can happen,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said for her, it’s important to promote artwork locally.

“We know there’s a large pool of very talented people in the Valley and we don’t want to have to take our art and our passion somewhere else other than our home,” Gonzalez said. “We’re so passionate about having art shows here in the Valley to showcase all of the amazing talent that’s already here.”

Gonzalez said the gallery always has open submissions and welcomes artists from all levels and all media to submit their work to be showcased at the ArtWalk.  

The next show, which will take place in August is called “Heads will Roll.” 

“We’re just having fun with themes and themes that spark our attention,” Gonzalez said. “We also wanted to have a cohesive theme throughout the gallery and offer a medium that will be the same for all of the participating artists. So we bought a bunch of Styrofoam heads and are giving them away to our favorite artists to do with them whatever they want.”  

For more information on the ArtWalk visit www.1111acc.org.

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