The Brewery Arts Complex in Lincoln Heights will open its 17-acre campus to the public this weekend for the Brewery Artwalk. The event features more than 100 artists who will showcase their work in open studios, according to Kristen Carlson, president and CEO of Carlson Industries.
The tradition of the artwalk dates back to 1983. Carlson noted that the idea originated with the artists who were already present at the site, who wanted to create an opportunity for open studios. This initiative followed the founding of the artist colony in 1982, a move made possible by a landmark Los Angeles ordinance.
In 1982, the city passed the Artist-in-Residence ordinance, which allowed unused industrial buildings to be converted into live-work spaces for artists. Following this legislative change, the Carlson family developed one unit as an artist loft and placed an advertisement in the Los Angeles Times.
The response to the advertisement was overwhelming. Carlson recalled that the line of interested applicants stretched down the street. She said the phone rang off the hook until her mother literally took it off the line, leading the family to realize that this was their new direction.
The property has a long history that predates the artist colony. In 1979, Arnold "Whitey" Carlson and his sons Steven and Richard purchased the shuttered plant. Whitey Carlson, who was a transplant from New York, had previously built the Island Garden, which was once home to the New York Nets.
Kristen Carlson, daughter of Steven, explained that her grandfather and father came to California in the 1970s to find property for development. They eventually settled on this site. In the early years, the family sold off the plant's contents piece by piece, including bricks, kegs, and tanks.
Before the full transition to an artist colony, the facility housed other tenants. Among the earliest occupants were the American Institute of Piano Technology, a repair academy, and a stainless-steel fabricator for restaurant equipment. The 1982 law ultimately transformed the site's purpose and identity.
Today, the complex consists of 23 buildings that include studios, galleries, a restaurant, and 300 live-work lofts. The oldest structure on the site is a steam power plant with an iconic smokestack. Designed by John Parkinson and built in the early 1900s by Edison Electric, the building now houses a state-of-the-art climbing gym.
The Brewery Artwalk is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is held at 2100 N. Main St. in Lincoln Heights. Adults age 18 and over will pay a five dollar entry fee to help cover artists' costs. Admission is free for children 17 and under, as well as for residents of ZIP codes 90023, 90031, and 90033 who show identification.
Free parking is available, but organizers recommend rideshare services because the lots fill up quickly. The nearest Metro stop is Lincoln/Cypress on the A Line, which is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the venue. The Brewery Artwalk is a financial supporter of LAist, though it has no influence on the outlet's coverage.
