For a second year in a row, the Reseda Art Tour provided a cultural destination for Angelinos across the area and build more audience in an attempt to benefit the San Fernando Valley as a whole. The self-guided tour started at the Reseda Neighborhood Council Community Space room on Sherman Way and Lindley Avenue.
“I want to bring Reseda back,” said Spike Dolomite Ward, co-founder of the nonprofit Arts in the Education Council, which also co-hosted the event with Reseda Renaissance. “The valley isn’t really known for arts and I want them to get familiar with this area and highlight a different side of the valley.”
Visitors had the chance to look at 19 different artists and 13 different studios within the blocks of Reseda. Along the sidewalk of Sherman Way was a CD3 Great Utility Box project where different artists had the opportunity to portray their artwork and transform each box with birds, butterflies, hearts and more.
Joe Phillips, a former CSUN grad student who now works with the Arts in Education Aid Council said this event really brings out the positive side of Reseda.
“My favorite thing about this artistic art tour are the utility boxes,” he said. “I actually voted to stop cut the graffiti that goes over these boxes. That costs a lot of money to repair. It truly just brings out the best in Reseda.”
Aside from the artistic work by different artists, inside the neighborhood council community hung other artists photographs by Sal Guitarez, Jorge Alvarado and painter Andrea Monroe surrounded by opera singers by Center Stage Opera, Twisted Gypsy belly dancers jangling away and roller derby kings and queens.
“I was actually on my way to church across the street and saw the artwork outside and it immediately caught my attention,” said Joel Hernandez, a local resident. “I saw everyone walking around and was curious to see what they were looking at. So far I love what I see.”
The slogan “I (heart) Reseda” was seen all throughout the event in bumper stickers banners and pens all to shed light among the community as whole.
“There seems to be a lot more this year,” said Meredith Graham from Tarzana. “I wasn’t able to do the whole walk last year so I made sure I did this year. There are so many more people this year and a lot more enthusiasm. It’s a very unique way to join together with artists and come together as a community.
