by Bona Hong

This weekend the Santa Monica Art Studios held their 5th Anniversary Open Studios. For two days, the historic airplane hangar turned visual arts community opened their collective doors to the public, and art lovers from around the block and across the seas gathered to join in on the celebration. The 22,000 square foot hangar located at the Santa Monica Airport has been divided into 29 artist studios and the Arena 1 Gallery. Every hall and passageway in the complex was hung with the impressive work of the occupying artists. I was there Saturday evening and throughout the night, hundreds of art-loving men, women and children (and even a few canines) were present to admire the glory of the artistic process and vision.

Adding to the visual experience of swimming through images was the musical soundtrack provided by three uber-talented performers, Patrick Ferris, Amy Raasch, and Scott Gold. Although they were set up with just an amp in the Arena 1 Gallery, the farthest end of the hangar, the great acoustics carried forth their marvelous sounds to every ear in every corner of the complex. While art patrons may have come expecting mere visual stimulation, they stayed and enjoyed the multiple sensory experience of the blues, rock, folk and jazz audio accompaniments of the musical talents on display.

I stole away from the FORTH table to explore the maze of inspiration I knew was awaiting discovery. I asked Nikki if she would be alright to hold down the fort(h) alone because I’d be back “in just a few” to take a peek. I’m sure I must have been gone for at least an hour and I had just barely skimmed through the studios. If I had only two words to describe the experience, it would be “sensory overload” (in a good way). I was overwhelmed by the magnificence of the colors, textures and emotions conveyed on those walls. Every style and technique imaginable (and unimaginable) seemed to be represented in this diverse display. At the end of the night, as I stepped out into the now strangely under-stimulating quiet of the darkened skies, I wondered which images would continue on with me in my dreams…and hoped I would be tumbling on the beach with Barbie and Ken.