Once upon a time, Ray at Night was a monthly celebration of local artists that brought people and attention to a tiny stretch of road in downtown North Park. Every second Saturday, locals would stroll in and out of shops and studios and look at art and hopefully buy something to give them pleasure, support local artists and stimulate the local economy.
Back then, the galleries and art-friendly spaces on Ray Street were the first destination for local artists to see what was happening at a grass roots level and, if they were lucky, a Ray Street gallery was the place to go to try and show their own work for the very first time. Almost overnight, Ray at Night became the first rung on the city’s serious art ladder for both artists and patrons of the art.
More recently, Ray at Night has become something else, or something as well as what it was. After 114 events, the art walk and the brand is in a state of flux – trying to reconcile what it was with what it is, and what it wants to be – while the North Park business district changes all around it.
In some ways, Ray at Night is a success. If its founders’ goal was to revitalize the area, then they succeeded. There has been a sea change over the past few years and North Park is definitely a busier place to be and home to plenty of great restaurants and bars.
Because of this shift in tone or because of a confluence of many things, Ray at Night has lost its sparkle as the crown jewel of San Diego’s numerous art walks, even though there is still a healthy turnout every month. With the recent departure of Planet Rooth, all of the founding galleries and businesses have now gone; fewer serious art spaces have replaced them and the louder street party vibe that was always a small part of Ray at Night has incrementally consumed the mellower ambience conducive to looking at and talking about art.
More change is afoot however, and Ray at Night intends to remain central to what North Park hopes to become, now guided by North Park for the Arts. Meanwhile, Ray at Night celebrates its 115th Art Walk this Saturday, April 9, 6-10 p.m. There is still interesting art to discover in many nooks and crannies in the neighborhood, including old school wet-plate prints this weekend at the Rubber Rose by L.A. photographers Angela and Ithyle.
If you haven’t been to Ray at Night in a while, then check it out and keep it on your radar as it becomes what it becomes.
Got an event, performance, happening or anything art-related to share? Then send the details to andrew@andrewprinter.com at least two weeks in advance.
