19D - CMD_Downtown_Inc_Exhibit - Laserfiche WebLink

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Kathie Warren, Green Door Gallery Owner in Santora Building — "1'm an artist and an 18 year participant in the artist village, and for 10 years I've had my gallery in the basement of the Santora Building. 1 have observed the changes over the years. Vicky and the team of Downtown Inc. has removed the grey film, the disintegrating aura, that laid over the redevelopment area. The streets are clean, 1 don't feel like I'm passing through a dump any more, or attacked with mounds of paper flyers, or smells of urine. The beautiful buildings almost shine in the day time. The doors smile with an invitation to enter. 1 see friendly alert security. 1 see police on horses, they give a feeling of safety yet family friendly." "Where there was no communication before, we, the artists are embraced and empowered by DTI. They come to the ortwolk, they BUY art, they care. They maintain consistency in organizing the art walk. They oversee the bureaucracy in holding events, handle permits, reach out to other businesses to generate cross promotion. They promote and facilitate, making the Santa Ana Art Walk the envy of other cities. The fruit of their efforts is apparent when people come into my gallery. They come from Laguna, Irvine, Fresno, the bay area, San Diego, Riverside, New York, Texas and so many other places. Local people come back with visiting relatives and friends." "The recent DTI May mixer was a great example of how the community now comes together. Artists, politicians, 4th street businesses, SAC event planning students, a racial mix. It was a picture of how DTI has brought everyone together to work together. Black, white, Hispanic, Asian. This is not only Santa Ana it is America." 21