Aside from the beaches, Orange County isn’t going to come up much in this blog.  However, as a follow-up to my March 29th post about So Cal visual artists, I’m going to introduce you to M. Hanks Art Gallery in Fullerton.

Art Gallery Connection

In California, we’re fortunate to have a few art galleries that not only specialize in African American art, they are also owned and operated by African Americans.  M. Hanks Art Gallery is one of those.  The gallery used to be in Santa Monica, that’s where I first found it, but can now be found in the city of Fullerton.  

As always, geographic perspective…it’s about an hour and a half drive from San Diego.  I’d give it about an hour drive from downtown LA.  Keep traffic in mind.

Talking to an Expert

I came across the gallery because I was looking for a local spot where I could spend some time to talk to an expert, ask some (possibly stupid) questions and basically broaden my horizon.  If you’re on the way between LA and San Diego and are interested in art, stop by.  To visit, either send an email or call to schedule an appointment to see the art available.  It’s a great way to learn more about art work in general and well-known and up and coming black artists specifically.  While you can certainly see art in museum’s such as the LA County Museum of Art or San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora or Museum of Modern Art, there’s something more personal about being able to talk to someone who knows the art.  And quite frankly, Mr. Hanks actually knows more than a few artists in the collection.

There are galleries in the Bay Area that I’ll introduce you to in upcoming posts.  If you’re an art fan or simply want to be in a “safe” space to learn more about the art world, these galleries will certainly help on your journey.  If you have time in your California visit, try and fit an art lesson in.  You might find it time very well spent.

Until next time…

May the road rise to meet you and the wind be at your back.