Venice, Seven Days, Santa Monica, Art

The Venice ArtBlock Offers Free Studio Tour This Sunday

Posted Oct. 9, 2013, 9:28 am

Special To The Mirror

By Henry K. Long

A free art tour will be offered this Sunday, Oct. 13 to the public featuring Venice artists. The Venice ArtBlock evolved this past May, when the annual Venice Art Walk excluded well-known artists after years of participation.

Many local artists have opened their studios to guest artists, such as Marty Katon, a painter for more than 40 years.

Known as the “Crocodile Dundee of the art world,” Katon has invited artists to show at his studio located at 324 Sunset Avenue, Venice (www.katonart.com).

One such noted guest is rock photographer Nick Busco featured on the back patio.

Busco has had a successful career in the music business. He has toured with legendary bands as well as premiere rock and roll road crews and lighting companies.

"We worked with some great bands back then, Rod Stewart, Queen, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Chicago, Donna Summer, James Taylor and Carly Simon, Chuck Berry, Toots and the Maytals," Busco said.

He is currently working on a rock documentary.

The film features “the business” from the crew’s perspective. It starts in 1969 at Woodstock and features the personalities of the touring and road crews, as well as designers, managers and creative and tech types too.

The documentary will feature how the business has changed.

“What we, as a creative team, brought to the business, before it really became a big business,” Busco said.

Busco has recently shown at Trunk Gallery, Santa Monica Art Studios, and more. His work can be seen at Mouche Gallery in Beverly Hills (nickbuscophotography.com).

Helen K. Garber is a 20-year member of the Venice Beach Art Community and was involved with the Venice Art Walk for many years before the new producers came in. 

“My work was featured on their poster and the cover of their catalog in 2006,” Garber said. “I enjoyed a number of special installations after I moved my studio to a location that is not on their route. Alison Dockray, the former producer was a big supporter of my work.”

Visit 801 Ocean Front Walk, Suite 9 (helenkgarber.com).

Gary Palmer, a painter from Belfast, Northern Ireland moved to Venice fifteen years ago and is looking forward to the event.

“We want to show the creative action in all the nooks and grannies of our precious town,” said Palmer.

Visit 361 Vernon Avenue (garypalmerart.com).

Artist Juri Koll will be showing his frescos. Also one of the organizers, Koll explains, “It's a legit, non-confrontational alternative to the status quo - meaning the Venice Art Walk. It also differs from the Venice Art Crawl in that its only artist studios that are open - not galleries, restaurants, pop up spaces - just the real thing.”

Visit 536 Sunset Avenue (veniceica.org).

The ArtBlock Studio tour will feature 50 artists on Sunday, Oct. 13 from 12-5 pm, from Rose to Abbott Kinney Boulevard between Lincoln and Ocean Front Walk.

Parking will be available at the Venice Skill Center on 4th and Sunset, maps of studio locations and shuttles will be provided. The event is free.

For more information, visit veniceartblock.com or facebook.com/events/600931316609004.