Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade Becomes Outdoor Digital Art Gallery

SANTA MONICA, CA — The giant digital billboards overlooking Third Street Promenade are becoming something more than advertising space, as Santa Monica turns two busy downtown intersections into an open-air gallery showcasing contemporary video art.

The city's new Art in Motion Program is bringing short films and digital artworks to screens near Wilshire Boulevard and Arizona Avenue, with pieces appearing at the top and bottom of every hour.

The initiative, announced Wednesday, Nov. 11, features works by Nancy Baker Cahill, Ranu Mukherjee, Maggie West, April Banks and Sarah Rara, alongside contributions from Arte Museum and Dance Camera West.

Organized through the city's Recreation and Arts Department, the program is designed to make contemporary art part of everyday life downtown, allowing visitors to encounter the installations while shopping, dining or strolling along the promenade.

The displays will also host specially curated monthly screenings, beginning Saturday, Nov. 14, when the digital artwork will be accompanied by live dance and music.

According to the city's event schedule, the celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. with two video works from Arte Museum, an immersive digital art museum planned for Santa Monica Place.

At 6:40 p.m., choreographer DaEun Jung and a group of dancers will perform "Tarae" on the Arizona Avenue stage, followed at 7 p.m. by a half-hour selection of short dance films.

The screening features works by artists including Lita and Jasmine Albuquerque, Ryan Heffington, Nina McNeely, Mukherjee and Banks, with live musical accompaniment from Dublab DJ whydog.

The evening continues at 7:30 p.m. with "Ordena!," a street dance performance by Heidi Duckler Dance, presented through the city's Art of Recovery initiative. The performance is scheduled to run until 9:30 p.m.

Saturday's activities are part of Downtown Santa Monica's monthly Block Fest, running from 5 p.m. to midnight, with the Art in Motion presentation centered on a closed section of Arizona Avenue.

The program's video art is curated through a partnership involving the city's Cultural Affairs Division, Place Base Media and 18th Street Arts Center, with additional organizations contributing to the special screenings.

Art in Motion also builds on Santa Monica's Local Canvas initiative, which brings artwork into commercial districts. Existing installations can be viewed at 1402 and 1403 Third Street Promenade, just south of Arizona Avenue.

The city plans to expand Art in Motion to Santa Monica Place, although no date has been announced.

For now, the regular half-hourly screenings are already underway, offering visitors a new way to experience downtown Santa Monica long after Saturday's performances conclude.

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