About the East Village

Long Beach 's emerging arts community has made its home in the East Village where virtually every art form is represented.

Home to the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), the nation's only museum to exclusively feature art from Latin America, the East Village offers cutting-edge exhibits, one-of-a-kind galleries, unique retailers, and chatty sidewalk cafes.

The East Village is also a popular place to browse through galleries and explore some of the city's most eclectic boutique stores. Every Saturday, be sure you come by for Long Beach's only fully certified organic Farmer's Market.

Mission Statement

To address the concerns and visions of the East Village Arts District and implement actions to improve the quality of life for residents and businesses in this community while creating opportunities for artists of all disciplines to flourish.

About the East Village Association

The East Village Association, or EVA as it is affectionately known, has opportunities in all areas of volunteerism. We are a recently renewed organization as the area businesses and residents strive to keep an artistic and independent culture alive in a city that, like many, seems to care more and more about stucco than culture. We want to be a catalyst for the expression of everyone in Long Beach and the surrounding areas who have a voice.

City and Government Websites

• The Official Online Travel and Entertainment Guide
• Official government website for the City of Long Beach
• Downtown Long Beach Association

History of the East Village

A group of eight brown frame buildings—art shops, studios, and private art schools—in a rustic setting at the corner of Ocean Blvd. and Atlantic Avenue, known as the “Wayside Colony” was in established in1922 by James C. Savery. Savery, a prominent businessperson and patron of the arts had been in Paris during the war and wanted to bring an arts community to Long Beach. The Colony housed wood and metal workers, glassblowers, painters, weavers, musicians and dancers. Artists works were on display and demonstrations were encouraged, china painting and rug making could be watched by those passing by. A restaurant was part of the Colony as well.

James Savery died in 1931, but it is said that the Wayside Colony continued through the 1930’s and into the 1940’s.

“East Village” Today

In late 1991, under the leadership of Phil Appleby, a group of interested residents and business people based in the area bounded by Ocean and Long Beach Blvd., 7th Street and Alamitos Avenue, met to discuss matters of mutual concern. This area is rich in both human and architectural resources. The group that formed from this meeting is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life and commerce in their neighborhood. An early consensus of the group was to encourage the arts and cultural community to expand their presence in the neighborhood.

A nineteen member steering committee, whose task it was to put together the East Village Arts District Guide for Development, was formed. Many hours spent in weekend retreats produced the document published in July 1996.

The East Village Association was created in 1997. The mission statement they adopted follows:
To address the concerns and visions of the East Village Arts District, implement actions to improve the quality of life for community residents and businesses, while creating opportunities for artists of all disciplines to flourish.

The East Village Association helped create an Arts District by promoting and supporting many exciting and colorful events that brought people into the area such as the “2nd Saturday Art Walk” with themes such as, “Wheels” (an art event coinciding with the Grand Prix); “Chalk Walk”; Halloween events and parades with giant puppets (art commissioned for the event); “Tour des Artistes”; painting gear-switch boxes and by writing grants to beautify and improve the neighborhood. The grants included public art that can be seen throughout the East Village, tree planting, and facade improvements on both sides of 1st Street and on Linden Avenue. Volunteers gave the Art Walk the boost it needed to become successful by creating and distributing a full color Art Walk map and brochure and a 2nd Saturday Art Walk web site artwalklb.com.

In November 1996, the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) was founded in the East Village Arts District by Dr. Robert Gumbiner. It is the only museum in the western United States that exclusively features contemporary Latin American art.

Between 1913 and 1918 the site that the museum now occupies was the home of Balboa Amusement Producing Company, then the world’s most productive and innovative silent film studio.

As the redevelopment of the city continues the Arts District must be nurtured and protected. This should include the business area, as well as the neighborhood. 2nd Saturdays and special events should be embraced, promoted and advertised. Galleries and restaurants are essential to an Arts District. We have a few good ones, but we need more.

A real push should be made to bring more artists to the East Village. Artist live/work lofts such as “The Palace” a 1920’s art deco roller skating rink, “Jet Studios,” “Peterson Lofts,” and “Lofts on 4th” have emerged, although more are needed. More live/work spaces that are for sale are needed so that artists can buy them and have a real stake in the community that they live in.

More emphasis should be put on improving and beautifying the district, such as more public art, parks, children’s activities, and simple things like alley cleanups and tree planting. The trees that already have been planted have made such a pleasant change. Barren, ugly streets and sidewalks have been transformed, but we still need more trees.

The East Village Association should spearhead these projects and help to organize volunteers to implement them.

Larry Bott

 

Some of the history information was taken from the East Village Arts District Guide for Development, the MoLLA web site and writings by Louise Kripal.