October is National Arts & Humanities Month! Let Metro take you on an art adventure.
October marks National Arts & Humanities Month –– the ideal time to experience everything Los Angeles has to offer. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Metro is your ride to exploring the region’s creative pulse with a range of transit-accessible events and activities. Read on to learn more about Metro Art’s dynamic range of offerings from hands-on workshops to immersive exhibitions.
It All Starts with Water: Plein Air Art Making Workshop with Rigo 23
Date: Saturday, October 5, 11am to 1pm
Location: Kuruvungna Village Springs (1439 S Barrington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025)
Ticket info: RSVP is required
Join Metro Art commissioned artist Rigo 23 at the Kuruvungna Village Springs to learn about his artwork design for the future D Line Wilshire/Rodeo Station. The artwork is inspired by the Tongva people and culture, both past and present. Learn more about his artwork, Gathering of the Waters.
Bob Ramirez, President of the Gabrielino-Tongva Springs Foundation, will lead a walking tour of the springs, deepening participants’ understanding of the landscape and its history. Afterward, attendees can contribute to a communal portrait by creating their own plein air drawings. The event is free, but space for the workshop is limited.
Metro Art at Rare Books LA: Tours and Artist Poster Signings
Dates: Saturday, October 5, 10am to 6pm & Sunday, October 6, 11am to 4pm
Location: Los Angeles Union Station
Ticket info: Purchase tickets and learn more
Explore the rich history of LA’s Chinatown through Where You Stand: Chinatown 1880 to 1939, an exhibition in Union Station’s Waiting Room Gallery. Guided tours of the exhibition will leave from the Metro Art table at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. each day.
In addition, artists from Metro Art’s Through the Eyes of Artists poster series will be signing free copies of their works, which celebrate neighborhoods across LA. Don’t miss the chance to meet artists Emily Kiwa Tanaka, Roberto Benavidez, Fabio Coruzzi, and Jeaneen Carlino, who will be present for poster signings on October 5 and 6 at select times.
Metro Art Bus at CicLAvia – Heart of LA
Date: Sunday, October 13, 9am to 4pm
Location: Echo Park Hub (1632 Bellevue Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90026)
Ticket info: Free event
During CicLAvia’s Heart of LA event, the Metro Art Bus will offer an immersive art experience featuring vibrant portraits of Metro riders on the bus exterior and art cards inside. As you bike, walk, skate, scoot or otherwise roll through the 7.5-mile route from Boyle Heights to Little Tokyo, Chinatown, and downtown LA, learn more about the artworks in and around five Metro Rail stations that intersect with the route. You’ll even learn how to load your bike on the bus!
Grand Ave Arts All Access: Metro Art Bus and Artist Talk
Date: Saturday, October 19, 11am to 4pm
Location: Grand Avenue, LA
Ticket info: Free event
Experience the Metro Art Bus once again at Grand Ave Arts All Access. Even better, stop by at 12pm and 2pm for a meet and greet with artist Samira Yamin, who will discuss her work on display at Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill Station. Explore large-scale, site-specific installations by artists Ann Hamilton, Pearl C. Hsiung and Mungo Thomson while taking in the cultural and architectural significance of the Grand Ave corridor.
Can’t make it to the artist talk? Grab an art guide at the Metro Art table and enjoy a self-guided tour of the station’s artworks.
“Where You Stand: Chinatown 1880-1939” Exhibition
On View: Through Wednesday, October 23
Location: Union Station, Waiting Room Gallery
Ticket info: Free event
Explore Los Angeles’ original Chinatown through Where You Stand: Chinatown 1880-1939, an exhibition that offers a multi-dimensional experience of the Chinese immigrant community’s early history in LA. The gallery invites visitors to step into the heart of Chinatown as it stood before Union Station’s construction.
Meet the Artist: The Theater of Architecture with Todd Gray
Date: Saturday, October 26, 11am to 1pm
Location: HEXI at The Deco Building, 5209 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Ticket info: Free with RSVP
Join Metro Art commissioned artist Todd Gray as he discusses his artwork for the future D Line Wilshire/La Cienega Station, inspired by the architectural design of the historic Saban Theatre. In conversation with architects Peter Tolkin and Sarah Lorenzen, Gray will explore the cultural and architectural history of the Wilshire Corridor and how it informs his artistic vision for the station.
Ongoing Exhibitions and Series
- Journeys Continued: LA Communities Through the Eyes of Artists: Explore LA’s neighborhoods through artwork currently displayed at Union Station’s Passageway Art Gallery.
- Through the Eyes of Artists: (onboard poster series): Enjoy this long-running series on Metro buses and trains, showcasing local artists’ vibrant interpretations of LA neighborhoods.
- Metro Art Bus: (in regular service): Keep an eye out for the Metro Art Bus, featuring dynamic portraits of Metro riders on its exterior and interior.
- Digital Shorts: View short-form video artworks by local artists on digital screens at Metro stations like 7th St/Metro Center and Hollywood/Highland.
- Metro Art Lightbox Exhibition Program: An artwork series in large-scale illuminated displays at select Metro stations.
- Explore one of the largest public art collections in the U.S. with a Metro Art art guide (available for select lines and stations).
There’s no shortage of ways to dive into the region’s creative energy this month, and Metro is your ride to all the action! Plan your trip at metro.net.
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