Brewery Art Walk – Exploring the Buildings

What could be more enticing than an art walk held in an old brewery? Historical buildings fascinate me, make my imagination run wild. It would be hyperbole (Kat’s favorite word) to call myself a history buff, but I do love old things. I grew up with old things. My parents collected antiques; my dad had piles of very old maps. He’d research places and take my big brother, mom, and me on camping expeditions. We went all over the Western states, but mostly to the desert, exploring ghost towns (in the days before it was trendy). So, toss in the word beer, and I was all set for a great adventure this past Sunday!

The old Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery campus in Lincoln Heights, just east of Downtown Los Angeles, has been home to artists since about 1982. According to their website, the building was converted to lofts with the passage of the Artist-In-Residence code, which let artists rent space where they could live and work in industrial buildings. Twice each year, the artists generously open their homes/studios to the public for the Brewery Art Walk. This was my first time attending, and my only regret is that I went on Sunday and not Saturday, because I would have definitely returned the following day. There’s more to see than possible in one day. For me, the thrill of exploring equaled the opportunity of seeing a variety of art, meeting the artists, and seeing where they create their works.

As to the buildings, according to Wikipedia, “in 1894 Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer decided to build a brewery in Los Angeles. They bought property from a private owner and called in architect John B. Parkinson to design the building. In 1903 construction was completed on the building. The brewery was one of the main brewing points for Pabst beer which made it an important section of industry in Los Angeles. In 1920, when prohibition started, the building was shut down. After prohibition ended in 1933, the building was updated due to the lack of care on the building during prohibition. The building operated how it did before prohibition until 1982. In 1982, Pabst beer sold the building to a private owner for about $500,000. After the building was bought, the new owner made the building into a loft for artists which he would charge about $2,000 a month.”

The gallery below showcases just a few of the many, many pictures I took of hallways, walkways, staircases, architecture, old windows, bricks, etc. I had a tough time paring down to this selection.  Attention, Attention!! The next Brewery Art Walk will be held in the Springtime, 2014. I highly recommend you calendar the date once they post it. I know I will. ~SueBee

Inside one of the lofts

Downtown Los Angeles

Brewery Art Walk – Exploring the Buildings

Brewery Art Walk – Exploring the Buildings

This space will house a rock climbing wall if permits are ever issued by the city (long process)

Brewery Art Walk – Exploring the Buildings