Gabba Art Alley Project: A Neighborhood Cultural Legacy

written by Julie Faith

Hidden Hi Fi: Art Alleys Celebration

Presented by: de LaB, Gabba Gallery, Hidden Hi Fi (a project of Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) + Public Matters)

Gabba Gallery

3126 Beverly Blvd,

Los Angeles, CA 90057

August 27, 2016

The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles (MCLA)

De LaB

Gabba Gallery

Hidden Hi Fi

Pilipino Workers Center (PWC)

Public Matters

On Saturday, August 27, de LaB, Gabba Gallery, and Hidden Hi Fi hosted a free public event in LA’s Historic Filipinotown as part of an effort to share the area’s vibrant cultural legacy. It was a first-class afternoon of music, art, food and fellowship celebrating one of LA’s most exciting communities. The Gabba Gallery was open during the entire event to showcase their current exhibition, CRATEDIGGER: The Lost Art of Album Cover Art. Live painting by artists Phobik and Dytch66 along with Chalk Art from Jocelyn Herrera captivated kids and adults alike. Music by Filipino DJ/Producer Gingee kept the mood light and contributed to the atmosphere of celebration. And the food? Oh Yeah, Coolhaus ice cream served out of the Hidden Hi Fi jeepney, Vchos and Cali Fresh food trucks, and The Park’s Finest Filipino-inspired BBQ offered delicious options to fill hungry bellies.

As evidenced by the pictures in this post and the bazillion art enthusiasts in attendance, the highlight of the day was the walking tour of the Gabba Alley Project hosted by the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles. Produced by the Gabba Gallery’s Jason Ostro, the alley boasts upwards of 100 murals over several blocks by more than 80 local and international artists. Designed to, as Jason describes, “turn blight into bright”, the murals have turned the neighborhood’s formerly rundown alleys into an internationally acclaimed outdoor street art gallery. The walking tour was moderated by Lizy Dastin of MCLA and Alissa Walker of de LaB who are fluent in the particular characteristics and lovely eccentricities of street art. Many of the artists were in attendance and several even came along on the tour to discuss their contributions to the project, chat with fans, and answer questions; Baloonski, Pastey Whyte, Nvralone, Keith Dugas, Andrea La Hue/Random Act, and Jennifer Korsen/Humansmakeart to name a few. There was even some not-so-hidden free art available for those savvy enough to pick up on it.

Although this particular event has now concluded, you can still visit Gabba Gallery during business hours or walk the Gabba Art Alley Project yourself anytime using the map below.

Hidden Hi Fi is supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs City of Los Angeles, and Center for Cultural Innovation’s 2016 Creative Economic Development Fund grant. Public Matters is a project of the Pasadena Arts Council’s EMERGE Fiscal Sponsorship Program.

Gabba Alley Art, Wrdsmth ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Activities_Mural Map ©2016 Hidden HiFi, Gabba Gallery

©2016 Hidden HiFi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

A resident discusses living with the art, PasteyWhyte ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Phobik wip ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Phobik wip ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Phobik Full House, ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Pastey Whyte explains his mural ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Pastey Whyte and fans ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

PacMan, Balloonski ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

NvrAlone, Bleep Bloop ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Lizy from The Mural Conservancy discusses Baloonski ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

LA ART, Balloonski ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Gabba Alley Art, Pastey Whyte ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Gabba Alley Art, Noah Neighbor ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Gabba Alley Art, Morley ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Gabba Alley Art, Moncho1929 ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Gabba Alley Art, Em Wafer ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Gabba Alley Art, Andrea La Hue-Random Act ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Gabba Alley Art, (Artist_) ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Gabba Alley Art, (Artist_) ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Gabba Alley Art (Artist_) ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Dytch66 ©2016 Hidden Hifi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Dytch66 ©2016 Hidden HiFi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Chris Self, NvrAlone, BooLeep ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Can you hear it_, Jennifer Korsen-HumansMakeArt ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Balloonski Love ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Balloonski ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

A little (Chuck and Chris) Self love for Em Wafer ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved

Hidden Hi Fi crowd, ChickenSpeak and NvrAlone ©2016 Hidden Hi Fi, Gabba Gallery, Photo credit- JulieFaith, All rights reserved