These days Los Angeles is being taken very seriously in the art world as more and more artists, galleries and high-profile museum directors are making their way here from New York, due to several elements which are key to their relocation. More space and great light come to mind- both of which LA has in abundance – as well as the creative culture that is embedded in the city’s DNA. While the major museums may dominate the scene, there is a hidden pocket in Santa Monica that is home to some of the freshest art. Bergamont Station is a gallery complex in Santa Monica which dates back to 1875, when it was a stop and car storage area on the steam powered Los Angeles and Independence Railroad. It then became a stop for the Red Line trolly running from LA to the Santa Monica Pier, and subsequently ended in 1953 when trolley cars stopped running.
Eventually, warehouse buildings took over and then became abandoned. That’s when the city of Santa Monica approached Wayne Blank, a land developer and co-owner of an art gallery, to create a campus-like facility to make artistic use of the Bergamont Station site. Since the opening in 1994, it’s been a popular destination for visitors- approximately 600,000 per year- from around the country as well as around the world. And for locals, Bergamont is a place where you can casually stroll around for contemporary or traditional art, fine art, sculpture, prints, photography, and visual art. Within one condensed area that has retained its urban industrial look, it’s easy to pop in and out, and with an assortment of restaurants and cafes all within close proximity, you can make hunting for art an outing. There are current plans to restore light rail service, as the Expo Line extension is making its way back to Bergamont. When this is completed, you just may spot a painting or two in transit. So not LA. So cool. www.bergamontstation.com
