In the past decade Bergamot Station Arts Center and its galleries were threatened with erasure. For years it was the single largest concentration of art galleries in Los Angeles—up to 30 at one point—with its convenient location and reduced rents, due in part to most of the land being owned by the municipality of Santa Monica and also because the project was managed by a partner in one of the galleries, Wayne Blank of Shoshana Wayne.
Formerly a train depot, Bergamot was converted into an arts centre in 1994. Two decades later, with the coming of the light-rail train system, the city began fielding proposals from developers for more profitable use of the land, while the Metro station cut into a corner of the complex. Several important dealers pulled out: Shoshana Wayne moved to the West Adams area and Track 16 to downtown Los Angeles.
Today, only 18 galleries are there but they are on much more secure ground, says William Turner, whose gallery is one of the longest lived. “The city could not have been more supportive in getting us through Covid,” he says, citing both a rent moratorium and rent reductions. Other galleries have moved in—including Marshall Gallery, Galerie XII and Von Lintel Gallery—and some spiffy architecture has been introduced by way of a talent agency (Range Media Partners) and a trendy restaurant (Birdie G’s).
This week, many of Bergamot Station’s galleries are opening new shows, several focused on photography. Turner will debut a show by Julian Lennon, Atmospheria; Rose Gallery is featuring the Surrealistic work of the Mexican artist Tania Franco Klein; and Berman Art Projects is showing works from a wide range of women photographers including Diane Arbus, Dorothea Lange and Graciela Iturbide.
Bergamot will be open all day and into the evening on 18 February, with receptions, curatorial walkthroughs and more. On 18 and 19 February, Danziger Gallery is presenting a small fair by the non-profit Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles.