Other Places Art Fair

As the fall season in the commercial art world gears up, OPaf (Other Places Art Fair) is back, insisting on a decidedly non-commercial approach to LA art. Popping up for one day to celebrate artist-run, off-the-beaten-path, and bespoke art spaces, the fair, now in its sixth year, takes place at Battery Leary-Merriam, a decommissioned Army battery in San Pedro. This year’s event will feature over 100 artists as well as workshops, reading, and talking tents where activities will range from talks by writers and thinkers, clay workshops, and group meditation. KCHUNG, the freeform Chinatown radio station, will present a program of music and performances. 

You’d be forgiven for equating the L.A. art scene with what is on view in our commercial galleries and institutions. Yet, what is so powerful about OPaf is that it shines a light on unconventional art spaces and art practices that don’t fit neatly into the mainstream market, proving that art in L.A. is dynamic, unconventional, and not always happening in plain sight.

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Photo: Image courtesy of Other Places Art Fair