While the Renaissance may be long over, America is in the midst of its own creative revolution, and artistic havens can be found all over: from America’s densely populated cities to the less populated rural towns. Through some thorough research, we’ve been able to compile a list of what we think are the five most intriguing artist communities of today.
Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
Silver Lake is a Los Angeles neighborhood housed in the city’s northeast quarter and named for the reservoir it surrounds. The region is home to a thriving community of writers, artists, and musicians who have been working to restore the city’s balance – once encumbered by the pretension of the upscale Hollywood and Beverly Hills areas. This commercial and residential area has also been home to many new introductions in fashion. As such it’s not hard to find an intriguing clothing shop on the Sunset Boulevard strip, the main track through this eclectic little neighborhood.
Recently, the area has earned some newsworthy publicity for its “Projection”, Artist Vincent Lamouroux’s piece in which he covered a neglected motel, billboard sign, and a few on-site palm trees entirely with a white, environmentally-safe lime wash - no easy feat to say the least. Additionally, the Iam8bit gallery has been heralded for its work pioneering a modern take on classic video games. Their gallery includes features such as modern themes portrayed through classic characters and interactive art, such as their Nintendo controller coffee table that functions exactly as a normal controller would!
Provincetown, Massachusetts
On the very south end of Cape Cod lies Provincetown, Massachusetts, a thriving artist community established by the foundation of the Cape Cod School of Art way back in 1899. While maybe not as new and trendy as many of the newly gentrified art communities, this area is home to a variety of well-established art schools. From modernistic paintings to woodcut printing, this area is a great place for any artist to learn a plethora of techniques.
Over the years, the art community has continued to grow to encompass a variety of centers willing to offer guidance and feature the works of young artists and writers. The near-Atlantic area has always held open arms to artists, and remains a vibrant hub of festivals, galleries, and publications.
Faubourg Marigny & Bywater, New Orleans, Louisiana
Even after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has continued to be a source of inspiration for many, drawing artists and musicians from all over. Faubourg Marigny & Bywater, the two neighborhoods most known for their unorthodox vibrancy, stay neatly tucked away behind the French Quarter. The area showcases a firm balance between historic architecture and social revivalism. All in all, the area is best described as vivacious with an artistic flair.
No Marigny experience is complete without a trip to Frenchman Street, coined the “Bourbon Street for locals”. No matter the time of day, this street remains lined with a variety of street musicians, artists, and craftsman portraying their goods. At night, the venues open up to provide a mixture of live musical acts crossing multiple genres.
While Marigny is most noted for its street art, Bywater is known for its galleries of the visual and performing arts. If you’re looking for a bite to eat or some trendy shops, a short walk down Piety street will lead you straight to some restaurants, cafes, and thrift stores that are sure to give you a taste of the area’s true artistic feel.
Alberta Arts District, Portland, Oregon
The Alberta Arts District, located in the northeast region of Portland, gets its name from Alberta Street, the main street of which the community surrounds. Unlike many art districts, this area actually encompasses three different neighborhoods: Vernon, Concordia, and King. In contrast with the multitude of other art communities that have been labeled the Williamsburg of their state, this is one art district that actually lives up to the name.
This widely diverse community is a rebirth of the one of the oldest sections of the city. The young, vibrant area is home to many a hip bookstore, café’, and co-op – they even have their own Community Cycling Center. From restaurants to tea companies to trendy bars, it’s a regular ol’ Greenwich Village. They even have their own souped up elementary school hotel! If you do decide to visit this eclectic area, be sure to come out during Last Thursday art festival, held rightfully the last Thursday of every month.
Detroit, MI
Detroit, Michigan is possibly one of the country’s most interesting developing art communities. This once dilapidated and crime-ridden area is now a growing scene on the up and up, and for only $30,000 a house it’s not hard to see why. Due to citizen support, incubators such as the Detroit Institute of the Arts, 555 Nonprofit Gallery and Studios, Red Bull’s House of Art, and Art Detroit Now have been able to provide emerging artists with new opportunities for success.
The area features many newish art galleries as well as a pre-existing museum, but the true beauty of this area is the newfound hope it has instilled in the artistic community. With such a low cost of living, and so many organizations to support them, these artists have been able to thrive and give back to their community, in return cycling the process. In response, the area has grown to encompass many new craft breweries and unique eateries, drawing the attention of the younger generation from all over.
If you’re truly an art lover, visit one of these five havens and you’ll be pinching yourself to awake from the surreal dream world you’ve entered. Each one embodies its own unique culture, roots, and vibe – its own flavor, and you’ll find it hard to stop after trying just one. So what are you waiting for, go out and see what you think for yourself!
