Natalia Rodriguez
Staff Writer
On Saturday the Downtown Pomona Arts District hosted the Lunar New Year celebration the same day as their monthly art walk.
The Lunar New Year festivities took place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the art walk starting at 5 p.m. and ending at the same time. Many people visited to usher in the Year of the Horse.
The event featured a series of live performances such as a traditional lions and dragons dance and their Shaolin Kung Fu Show, among many more, which were split between daytime and nighttime performances.
Red lanterns and stringed lights decorated the outdoor stage. There were also a series of food stalls people could buy from as they enjoyed the festivities and browsed the vendor tables at the art walk.
“I feel like it’s a perfect introduction to Pomona,” Lola Akingoye, an event-goer, said.
Akingoye, who was in Pomona to see a concert, mentioned it was her first time visiting and was curious to take a look around once she knew there was an event happening. She particularly liked seeing the vendors at the art walk.
“It was really nice to just see everybody all at once instead of having to, like, hop from shop to shop and just being able to walk through,” Akingoye said. “I really like markets in general, so this was like my sweet spot.”
Helen Truong, one of the vendors, stated that she liked the overall ambiance of the Pomona Art Walk. Truong tabled for the event six times previously and briefly spoke on the number of people who take the time to attend the art walks.
“It’s always great seeing new people, and familiar faces,” Truong said. Her table featured an assortment of stickers, acrylic keychains, and acrylic phone charms from various fictional media.
Another highlight of the art walk was the “31 Flavors” event hosted by the Alley Gallery, in which artists painted live on large canvases.
Samantha Lujano, another event-goer, stated she spent around three hours working on her piece as she listened to the music and clamor of the festivities around her. She mentioned that while this was only the second time she had visited during the Lunar New Year celebration, she has been going to the art walks since 2022, trying for at least two or three times a year.
“I like coming back to this area because I feel there’s a freedom to truly express the way you feel, especially in terms of art,” Lujano said.
In a similar vein, the Galeria Yasmin hosted its inaugural art exhibit titled “Amor del Pueblo.” Some of the artists featured included Margaret Garcia, Rick Ortega, Chris Escobar, Juan Thorp, Tina Arroyos, and many more. The exhibit showcased many pieces of Chicano art.
One of the people promoting the exhibit, Rafael Galvan, explained that it was his first time helping out at the art walk in Pomona. He handed out flyers as people walked around the event.
“Seeing and talking to a bunch of different artists and vendors, it’s been really nice,” Galvan said.
He mentioned he enjoyed his time at the event and would be open to helping out in the future as well.
The Pomona Art Walk happens every second Saturday of the month. For more information, visit downtownpomona.org/artwalk.
Natalia Rodriguez can be reached at natalia.rodriguez@laverne.edu.
Natalia Rodriguez is a senior creative writing and communications major. She is a member of ULV's The Blank Page Writer's Club and has served as a staff member for the school's literary magazine, Prism Review. She is currently arts editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and previously served as a staff writer.
Marina Bravo is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is arts editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times, and has previously served as a staff writer and photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She enjoys going to live shows and everything spooky.
