I absolutely love this building whose tenants are mostly, if not all art galleries. We come here every Saturday evening for their DTSA art walk and it's not as big as the Oakland Art Murmur or DTLA art walk but it serves its purpose!
When my honey used to live right across the street, we would come here every time I come for a visit. Now that we live in the next neighboring city, we have the luxury to come check out the latest art exhibits!
I'm looking forward to the art walk tomorrow night!
It's an old building with bunch of mini-stores and art galleries inside. Â There is a second floor and a basement level--it's like a little maze of galleries and offices, all intricately decorated. Â
I came here for the Santa Ana Art Walk. Â It's like a whole another little world within a world. Â Who knew a place like this existed? Â It's like entering some underground village from Blade Runner. Â The buildings has an old 40's style look with an influence of 30's Spanish Baroque architecture. Â The antique interior and windowed office doors reminded me of something from a hard-boiled Phillip Marlowe movie. Â
The whole surrounding area has plethora of galleries and rooms full of installations. Things are even more lively during the Santa Ana Art Walk with the band playing outside, mimes, police vehicles, the food trucks, and people selling their artwork--an amazing experience with plethora of unusual work and people. Â
The event parking structure was about $4 after 8pm or so ($1 per hour before that up to $7 max). Â The street parking, if there are any, may be the way to go. Â Hip, little eateries are all around the block.
An interesting old building worth exploring, but not during the day, as we found only one gallery open. Â Santa Ana College has an exhibition space, and that also was open during the day.
So, best time to visit this building is Friday or Saturday in the evening, when all the galleries say they open.
im giving 4 stars because there used to be more artists in the building but I need to give 5 ***** Stars to the Great Joseph Atilano and his Gallery. His work is amazingly beautiful. The first time my wife and I stopped in we were overwhelmed by the bright colors and the various styles this artist creates. At first we thought they were all different featured artists but when we met the artist  A T I L A N O  he was so cool and down to earth about describing his different styles and why he paints what he feels. My wife and I have since purchased 2 of his paintings. This guy is different then most artists i have met. His creativity is beyond our imagination. He is a man that can succeed at anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm. Most of the time we meet artists who do not put there heart and soul in there work like Atilano does. The way I see it nothing great has been and nothing great can be accomplished without A T I L A N O. I encourage everyone to make a visit to his Gallery in the Santora Arts Building.
Review Source:This is specific to the building itself, as it was Sunday afternoon, about 3:00 pm and all was closed.
It is an old 1929 Spanish Baroque style building and it is beautiful. Â Make sure you go inside, up the stairs, look up and wow what a beautiful chandelier! Â Keep going. Â Look up again, skylights that are individual stained glass type. Â Kind of a neat building to explore.
A friend invited me to the Santora - after the hour long drive from Los Angeles, I parked on the wrong side of block and thought something was wrong because it was so quiet. Walked about a block and half and figured out what was up when I saw the fabulous architecture and funky little galleries.
I bought some cool limited edition art from an underground artist Jesus Cueva at a gallery that sells mostly street art, so it was a good trip!
Make sure you stroll thru the basement and Art Bar - I haven't seen anything like this up in Los Angeles!
Yes, the vibe is here today, we can feel it and unfortunately we didn't like it.
We still  love the building, but we are not crazy about the artwork.
We like to see more of the commercial art, more mature art pieces, ancient old sculptures, creature sculptures, urban art, graphic art and this place does have something that we like, but it's unprofessionally presented. Some of the artist have a lot of style, it was just too messy. It feels like watching the art piece that the artist is still straggle with his own style. Â
It feels more like a social event with artistic people.
Guy with a beard :" I truly like this painting, it has this great lighting".
The painting was abstract, it was yellow acrylic and some black spots.
I "admire" him that he can see the lighting in this art work, and not the shadow in this art piece(black spots). Wow, what was he saying? ;D
We don't want to come back ;(
I have been going to the Santa Ana Artwalk for a while, the first Saturday of the month. Santora Building is an important part of the Artwalk ritual : )
What I like the best is the energy:
you can feel it everywhere!
It's one of the few times that you can really see and feel Art Democracy: Art for everybody.
my favorite thing is that you can see the works for local artists from every discipline: photography, painting, sculpture, and everything in between and it really varies from month to month.
Also they have local musicians (some good some not so much....)
and sometimes free wine (well two buck chuck, Â but who cares)
On the party side, facing the street (Broadway) is Proof, and on the other side of the building it's Memphis, Lola Gaspar.
Impossible to get bored!
Good place to go on the first Saturday of the moth. Â Santora Arts Bldg. is part of the Santa Ana Arts Village artwalk. Â It's a notable art scene in Orange Countty. Â The artwalk is very compact, which is great because you don't have to walk around so much. Â The art is not to the level of Los Angeles, but you'll still find some cool things. Â It also includes the Cal State Fullerton grad studios. Â There's food, music, theater, and shopping. Â Good crowd and not overrun by hipsters. Â Best of all, parking is easy to find.
Review Source:This is a time capsule, opened up for all to experience and I do mean experience. Form the High textured ceilings, the transomed entries of the businesses inside, to the decoratie scroll work cast in concrete so long ago this brings the visitors to another time. A time that is slower, more relaxed and invites you in. Multiple levels and a labyrintian layout piques the mind to explore the halls and opaqued glass doorways throughout. This place has a coolness that is more than temperature, more than just "hip", I felt I slipped into a time eddy and had a hard time NOT imagining the History of the place. It felt like a comfortable cloak, slipped on as I entered the building. It had weight but one that up lifted- a good energy if you will; Come to see the building, come to shop, come to experience the History of downtown Santa Ana. It is bigger than it looks from the outside, the floors are magnificient in their haphazard parquetry, the walls standing straight and tall, the lighting and the smells of the History of theis place hangs bright and alive beneath  the Paintings hung in the shops. The exterior is like the frosting on a cake, inviting you try more. I was glad I walked in. I think you will be too.
Review Source:Most recent sweet fun vist for "Jumuku Letu Center for Children-Art walk Santa Ana-Fundraiser" event organized thru: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocvolunteers.com%2Fcalendar%2F13047100%2F&s=71d9c222057b04ee4331ec9b5a6d97ad32c62e207eb868612b778c32d8b3edeb" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.ocvolunteers.…</a> ...on 3rd Floor in Gallery by artist/owner & new sweet friend Moises. Coincided w/SA DTown monthly Artwalks too.
Also many more wonderful past events: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dreamincalifornia.com%2Fphotos%2Fall_photos%2F%3FphotoAlbumId%3D706997&s=d1d794ba3eeba77713d8f551190889dbd14893a2038966aa54ae8940b63c3bf9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.dreamincalifo…</a>
As a self-proclaimed Art Junkie & Charity Cheerleader, among the countless musuems/galleries/artwalks participated: LA, Long Beach, Laguna to Leucadia (San Diego area)...& so forth, the Santa Ana one & this central brings together so much creative forces unlike most any other.
Mainly b/c the art & culture infused by strong prominence of Latin flavors of surrounding areas/neighborhoods. Whereas...
Los Angeles - socially urban, contemporary, progressively futuristic
Long Beach - shipping & fishing themes, jazzy ports, Afro-centric
Laguna - beachy renaissance, pastel upper-crusty conservative, Euro/Mediterranean influenced
Leucadia - quite laid back, eclectic, color-drenched
All globally nomadic, multi-cultural, incredibly soul-enriching diversity, & always w/thin my heart... where home is when one feel most belonged.
My love for the Santora building runs quite deep. I lucked up and have a lovely view of the building from my balcony. But the architecture is not why I love this place so much. It's all the crazy and amazing people that live, work, and hang out here.
Art Walk on the first Saturday is your best chance to really see the inside of the building. Otherwise the building is home to Memphis at the Santora, Lola Gaspar, GCS, Proof, and a few other shops and bars.
This place is really what I consider my home away from home. The artists that live and work here are lovely and always interesting. And it's fantastic that we have such creativity and a place to display it in Central Orange County.
My absolute favorite building in Orange County. Â The architecture is so beautiful, elegant and classy. Â It saddens me to see so many vacancies, but I have high hopes for this place thriving again. Â It's still worth it to just walk through and take a step back in time. Â Â Â Make sure not to miss it the first Saturday of the month for the monthly Arts Walk. Â The whole building comes alive and the energy in the place is truly inspiring.
I bring so many people there that are visiting OC for the first time just so they can see that there is SOME class, elegance and culture in Orange County....
Came to the Santa Ana Art Walk which is held the first Saturday of each month. Although artists have their wares ready early, the hustle and bustle keeps on vibing through the entire evening. The Santora building houses several notable galleries -- my favorite being the Avant Garde -- including photography, pop art, impressionist and many more.
The building is absolutely classic -- beautiful architecture -- and it's the perfect place for artists to convene. Musicans also gather to play during Art Walk so your artistic excursion is made even more pleasurable by local musicians playing together.
Make sure you watch out for it because the entrance isn't very big and you might walk right past it if you didn't know it was there. Located between Memphis and Proof Bar.
The Santora Building was built in 1929 and currently is one of the anchors of the revitalized Artists Village section of Downtown. Â Galleries, Artists Studios, Boutiques, Restaurants, Bars.....The building has a little bit of everything in a very well preserved historic building. Â I work at Memphis in the Santora Building, and enjoy visiting the galleries and seeing what the resident artists are up to. Â I always bring out of town guests to Downtown and make it a point to stop into the Artists Village and the Santora Building.
The Building has a rich and vibrant history.  Visit <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.santoraarts.com&s=f8e1703833516ef256acc766de6b1b286397198a64e7d24152565673b40da26c" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.santoraarts.c…</a> and read about the classic architecture and other interesting Santora facts. Â
I would suggest visiting on a First Saturday for the Art Walk. Â It is the only time that everybody is open for business. Â Most galleries and studios are not open regular hours.
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