Some downtown leaders and gallery owners surprised by the announcement that the monthly Art Walk there was put on hiatus say the statement was premature, with some indicating the show could go on in any case.

Downtown Art Park, an event held in connection with the walk, for example, stated over the weekend that its next event will continue on the night — Oct. 14 — that would have seen the next walk.

Tom Gilmore, developer of the Old Bank District and arguably the founder of the area's wave of gentrification, commented at LA Weekly that, “The announcement was premature. Meetings with stakeholders are scheduled for the coming week. Stay tuned.”

Gilmore told Blogdowntown that “I guarantee Art Walk will happen as usual every second [Thursday].”

An Art Walk board member confirmed to Blogdowntown what we reported Friday — that the board did not actually vote to shut down the walk: Wicks Walker told the site that group staff members might have “jumped the gun” in announcing that the walk would cease until January, when it would convert to a quarterly Sunday event held during the day.

A representative of Crewest gallery off Main Street commented at the Weekly that, “As far as we were aware, a second quarterly event is in the works but nothing about Artwalk being cancelled has ever been approved by the galleries.”

“We will continue to be open on the 2nd Thursday of every month as scheduled or not,” the commenter stated.

A source told the Weekly the event was a victim of its own success, with throngs of crowds on the second Thursday of each month meaning extra police and trash pick-up that has to be covered by organizers.

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