The El Segundo Art Walk Brings in the Crowds and Exciting New Ways to Interact with Art
Off the wall.
- CategoryArts
Ten years ago, a group of local artists and a committee of “art-minded” folks had an idea. Could El Segundo’s burgeoning creative scene and its rows of converted warehouses, wide array of businesses and hometown vibe be the makings of a great art walk? Only one way to find out.
On the third Thursday of June that summer, the El Segundo Art Walk (ESAW) first sprang to life. “It was like an artistic Wild West,” recalls John McCullough, who now leads the ESAW with El Segundo local George Renfro. “There were art parties popping off all along a trail of various venues from downtown El Segundo out into the Smoky Hollow industrial district.”
Since 2015, there have been many of those events, as well as a fair share of breaks, but the party carries on. The one-day, end-of-the-summer event attracts over 8,000 attendees but still manages to keep the town’s old-school sense of independence that made it so special to begin with.
“The city loves it, which is why our city council supported it from the beginning,” shares El Segundo City Council member Drew Boyles. “We believe in it as a real driver of bringing people into town and getting more visitors and more people to experience the uniqueness of El Segundo, because it’s such a cool enclave of a little town.”
Drew credits the growth of the ESAW to John and George, who took the helm of the event nine years ago and have found ways to keep reinventing it annually–minus the lost pandemic year.
“El Segundo Art Walk’s fusion of old and new is part of what sets it apart from other art walks–it’s grown naturally out of what El Segundo already is, and so it carries an authenticity with the community,” says John. “Real estate offices, restaurants, advertising agencies, the local library and even the dental office open their doors so artists can display their work. If you’re a business operating in El Segundo, you can graciously host an artist and invite in the masses.”
On August 23, the ESAW will feature over 50 venues, a new “augmented reality” piece, and an eclectic range of 90+ artists and musicians. This year there will also be two music stages, including one at the art walk’s headquarters downtown near the El Segundo Fire Department (sponsored by The Nicol Real Estate Group) and a new stage on a blocked-off section of Richmond Street in Smoky Hollow (sponsored by Chevron). Attendees can walk the full circuit of all 50 venues or park their strollers at the fire station and enjoy a handful of artists. There’s something for everyone.
Debuting its fifth augmented reality piece in 2025, the ESAW pairs the 100-foot El Segundo welcome sign with new Snap Inc. technologies for a unique digital experience. “Imagine each letter coming to life, seagulls flying above the sign, waves gently moving, butterflies floating,” says John. “The augmentation breathes life into a piece of art so people can experience it while sitting in their living room.”
Learn more about the upcoming El Segundo Art Walk at elsegundoartwalk.com.
