Artwalk showcases local artists
By ZBY CHIARA CANZI Special to the Daily Press
SM AIRPORT The six statuary figures of nude female bodies drawn on the bare wall in black paint with gray undertones, stood 10-feet-tall, isolated in a bright corner of the Santa Monica Art Studios.
Satomi Yoshimoto wanted to make an impression on people walking by.
“I wanted women to look at it and feel empowered, something that is hard to do in today’s world,” said the Korean-born artist. Yoshimoto, a.k.a. Rimi Yang, is just one of the artists who is showcasing their work at the Second Annual Sant Monica Airport Artwalk.
Set in one of the oldest operating airports in Los Angeles County, the artwalk provided an opportunity for people to view the work of local artists and explore the studios where ideas, dreams and spontaneity meet to create masterpieces.
“This is the birthplace of the DC3 during World War II,” said Hamp Simmons, Cultural Affairs supervisor for the City of Santa Monica.
After the Douglas Aircraft ceased operating in the city, local artists started renting spaces in leftover hangars.
“They are perfect spaces for art with very high ceilings and they were really cheap because nobody wanted them,” said Simmons.
The Airport Artwalk is co-sponsored by the City’s Cultural Division and the Santa Monica Airport in an effort to showcase the cultural and artistic aspect of the area.
“There has been a wave of artists here since the ‘50s, but nobody knows it’s here,” said Simmons. “It’s been terrific since we opened it up to the public.”
Last year more than 4,000 people ventured into the multiples hangars and galleries to feast their eyes on both innovative and traditional art. This year, Simmons expects the same or better turnout.
“We got everything from internationally renowned artists to more amateur painters and then we have a lot of people who have a job and they rent a space here and work,” he said.
Although the artwalk was not intended as an art sale, many of the artists made their best work available to potential buyers.
“It’s nice to have the opportunity to show your work and to have the option to sell it,” said Yang.
Yang’s petite size conceals a bursting personality and strong ideas about humanity’s purpose on Earth.
“I wanted to celebrate the body of a woman because I feel we need a female-inspired mentality in this world,” she said.
Yang was a librarian for most of her life and said her background helped her think of art in a very philosophical way. Yang called the larger than life portrait of female bodies “One Second of Eternity.” She wrote a note about what people should feel when looking at it.
“If you forgot everything else even in one second, then I think this wall might have given you one second of eternity in your mind and that state could be the ultimate Nirvana. But the question is how to maintain such a state. If you know the answer, please let me know.”
Yang’s studio is a small, space in the Santa Monica Art Studios. This building was designed and renovated in 2004 as a reusable space. The hangar is currently the refuge and creative home to 29 artists and two of the most innovative art galleries in the city.
The Cultural Affairs Division requires an application process to rent studios at the Santa Monica Airport.
“At the moment, the process is frozen, because there are so many good artists needing a space,” Simmons said. “We want them to be affordable for artists in the middle of their career and you have to demonstrate that you are a very professional artist.”
Making a living as an artist has its hardships. Rachael McCampbell opened up her studios and put all of her artwork up for sale.
“For this event, there are a lot of people that come through and they want to look at the smaller pieces,” she said. “My most expensive piece is about $8,000 but these prices are low compared to what you’d find in galleries. I lowered all my prices for this event.”
McCampbell paintings exhort peace and tranquility. “Life Dance,” one of her displayed paintings, depicts two seemingly weightless cranes taking flight. Her soft color palette matches her soft-spoken personality.
“I work in an emotive way and I am more of a process-oriented artist,” McCampbell said.“I put paint down and pick up a sander and scrap it all down, and put it down again and pick up other paint and draw and drip and throw until it takes on a life of its own.”
A self-described throwback artist, McCampbell gathers her inspiration from her surroundings and paints in an old-fashion way.
“When I see the paint, I like to touch it, I like to see it,” she added.
McCampbell’s long-time friend Gus Harper is an internationally renowned artist who works in New York and Santa Monica. At age 5, Harper fell in love with the idea of being an artist. His mother, Fielden Harper is a well-known artist herself. This exposure to art circles influenced him greatly.
“I go for the simple things in life,” he said. And his art reflects that. One of his staple techniques is the rose grid, neatly aligned and stacked panels whose contours meet to create torn roses and petals. In his artist statement, Harper stresses the fact that each of his paintings are a reaction to the previous one. In a sense, his art is in continuous motion.
“Bell peppers became mountains, citrus became lava flows,” he wrote. “The original subjects were mere launching pads for a series of paintings fueled by the simple joy of creating.”
Harper creates art to please his senses, he says, but the most humble and reassuring experience is when someone is so taken by his work that they make it part of their life.
“These types of events are a big introduction to the community,” said Harper. “New York is the center of the art world, but having been in both I like the vibe here much better, it’s more accessible.”
Santa Monica resident Camma Barsily walked into the studios with an open mind.
“It’s such a wonderful opportunity for the public to see (the artist’s) thought process,” she said. “And it’s pretty high quality for what I have seen.
“You get to see the art and talk to the artist and I am sure people may even purchase something.”
As part of the Airport Artwalk, the Santa Monica College Ceramics and Art Mentor Program showcased the work of aspiring artists. Stephany Price works with paint and paper. The Santa Monica Art Mentor Program is designed for gifted students and provides highly-talented aspiring artists the opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors.
“This event really means a lot to me,” she said. “I can show people the finished product and develop a good sense of who I am.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 31, 2008. Read the original PDF.