Watch the Artisans at WorkArtisan Way was a C shaped loop off of the main Old Towne lane. Here, over 40 shops of handcrafted merchandise featured everything from Greg Quayle's metal sculptures, to macramé and pottery. Local artist Kris Wallace also sold nature paintings at his booth. It was very unusual to find a section in a mall that specialized in home made arts and crafts. It gave many young artists an outlet to express and display their artistic visions.
I don't know much about Artisan Way other than what I just wrote. How long did this section of the mall last? I can't remember ever seeing it when I was a kid in the 80's. In 1982 the mall allowed discount retailers in. Perhaps that was the end of Artisan Way. Maybe I just didn't care so much for "art" back then and never paid attention to that part of the mall.
Visit Greg Quayle's website and see his wonderful Fleas here. (you can see a picture of him at Old Towne in 1973 in the "Meet the artists" page)
Visit kris Wallace's website here.
Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California
7 comments:
oh wow I remember those fleas...they had super elaborate displays with all kinds of them doing different things, and many of them were animated. I remember a rather large zeplin that had moving parts. There was a pretty big window display at the Del Amo mall one time as well. How very 1970's.
Yeah, I don't necessarily remember them from his shop at old towne. (On his website he said he left socal in 79, which would have made me three at the time.) But I remember seeing those at various stores and offices, I think even in houses of people I knew.
I don't remember this....Interesting stuff! Great picture.
Looking forward to more....
-Bryan
If I had a time machine this blog would have nothing but Old Towne photos.
Boy that picture brought me back :-) However, that is a picture of the entrance to a place called "Backstreet"
I remember Greg Quayle's Metal Sculpture but as I remember he had a number of buddies creating with him. I think one of the others was responsible for the animated stuff.
There was a place to make your own sand art. I had a bird I made as a kid for years.
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