DTLA ArtNight is a cultural art walk held on the first Thursday of every month, with over 38 vendors, galleries and restaurants participating. This month’s art initiative centered around the LA Wildfires and supporting those impacted by the ongoing crisis.
Popular stores stayed open after hours with live music, free drinks and designer art. The Adidas flagship store, in particular, teamed up with local artists to design six pairs of sneakers to be auctioned off with all proceeds going towards “Being Black LA,” an organization aimed at helping Black families impacted by the wildfires. Adidas also donated $10 per attendee to wildfire relief efforts.
One of the featured artists was Tyler Morgan, a henna artist who designed a pair of sneakers on display. “I made and mixed the henna on my own, then sealed it with a Mod Podge. It holds but it also stains the shoe underneath, which actually means you’re wearing a transformational piece of art,” Morgan said.
For Morgan, the design of his sneakers was a direct tribute to the wildfires. “The orange on the back of the shoes represents the fires behind us and the seeds plant new life,” Morgan said. “All we have to do is be willing to rebuild.”
Karla Anahi, a friend of Morgan’s, came to support his art and the broader initiative. “ArtNight does a good job of bringing people together through art. This month they’re showcasing a lot of work from Black artists, which is important because we should be celebrating Black artists, and supporting our community in times of tragedy,” she said.
Just down the street, Rachel Berkowitz, owner of Aesthetíque Studio, opened her gallery as a space where attendees could express themselves and be creative. “The space is open for anyone to see my artwork. I have hand-picked sculptures and paintings that I’ve done to showcase,” Berkowitz said.
As attendees stopped in to admire the sculptures and paintings, they were also able to drop off toiletries, pet and art supplies to be donated to families affected by the fire. For every donation made, attendees were entered into a raffle to win tickets to an LA Clippers game.
Diana Barillas, the event coordinator of ArtNight, described their event as being the key to “building communities and highlighting the artists of Downtown.” Barillas is responsible for coordinating 30 artists into the Emerging Gallery every month, which is complemented by a DJ, food, drinks and conversation.
While her job can be demanding, Barillas is driven by a passion for creating a lively community Downtown. “As an organizer, it’s exciting to see when artists collaborate and communicate,” Barillas said. “They have that growth, which is how community grows.”
As the night went on, Downtown continued to hum with energy despite the rain. Jazz bars filled up with music, restaurants hung art above their diners and galleries held open mic events. DTLA ArtNight’s success stands as a testament to the combined efforts of organizers, artists and community members to help the community of Los Angeles rebuild.
Anahi put it best, “You can’t beat the community of Los Angeles. Art will always bring us together.”