POMONA - SCA Project Gallery
will celebrate its 10th anniversary today by inviting
the public to view "10," an exhibition by artists
who have shown at SCA over its tenure with an eye on the
future.
Ten years ago the Pomona Arts Colony had just a smattering
of galleries, a half-dozen at best. With the current number
of downtown art venues reaching nearly 40, one would think
it would be easy to miss the SCA Project Gallery, 281 S.
Thomas St., No. 104 - the underground venue beneath the
historic Founder's building.
Quite the contrary, the SCA Project Gallery still draws
large crowds during Second Saturday Art Walks with its
innovative array of monthly exhibits and talented artists.
One of the benefits of SCA's underground environment
is the immediate physiological disconnect that patrons
experience when entering the gallery. This is why SCA
features many installation shows, often encompassing the
entire space.
A true pioneer within the Arts Colony and neighboring
arts communities, SCA Project Gallery has managed to keep
its vision fresh, attracting artists locally, regionally
and from throughout the world.
Works for the "10" exhibit include individual
artists from Pomona, Los Angeles and Orange County during
the month of December.
***
The DPOA (Downtown Pomona Owners Association)
has recently relocated its office to Second Street near
Garey Avenue in the Arts Colony.
With the office now within the heart of downtown Pomona,
the DPOA can better serve the community as an information
and resource center.
And like so many small businesses in the Colony, the DPOA
offices are doubling as an art venue. The DPOA will open
its lobby during tonight's Art Walk with the premiere
of the METRO Gallery, 119 W. Second St.
The METRO Gallery, in keeping with the DPOA's priority
to build and enhance the downtown area, will feature and
promote artists locally and regionally. The first show,
"Locals Only," exclusively highlights the rich
base of artists living within the Arts Colony proper.
Artists in the "Locals Only" show include Father
Bill Moore, Kimber Berry, Tom Pathe, Juan Thorp, Max King
Cap, J. Cheryl Bookout, Joseph Todorovitch and Joy McAllister.
***
A new kind of art venue is taking shape in the "West
Colony" (the area of artist lofts and galleries west
of Park Avenue on Second Street), where an empty lot just
west of the Kitron building (500 W. Second St.) is being
transformed into a mini-sculpture park.
It was Dan and Dina Romero, both participating in the
sculpture competitions at Fairplex over the last two summers,
who thought up the idea of bringing the many sculptures
from the competition to downtown Pomona.
Through an agreement with Glasshouse owner Perry Tollett,
Dan Romero was able to use Tollett's westside property
not only to showcase ironworks in competition from Fairplex,
but to establish a site where future metal sculptors can
learn their craft.
The metal sculpture exhibition area will have its grand
opening on Second Saturday today. "There is nothing
like it in the Colony," Dan Romero beamed. "It's
an ongoing project where we will teach, build and display
metal sculpture of all styles, shapes and sizes."
Pomona's Art Walk takes place on the second Saturday
of each month in downtown Pomona, 6 to 10 p.m. Closing
exhibits are on display during Pomona's Last Saturdays
Metro Night Out, 6 to 10 p.m.
For more information and to download a map of all the
art venues in Pomona's Arts Colony, go to www.pomonaartscolony.com.
A.S. Ashley is a Pomona Arts Colony artist and advocate.
|