Art + Design Walk #2

We’re excited to present a vibrant lineup of events, installations, and workshops as part of the Downtown Long Beach Art + Design Walk, produced by the DTLB Alliance. Taking place on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 2–7 PM, the event celebrates creativity, innovation, and community spirit.

The Design District’s activations will run alongside the DTLB Alliance’s signature Celebrate Downtown event, held at the iconic Acres of Books. Locals and visitors alike are invited to experience the intersection of art, design, and urban culture in the heart of the city.

Highlights of the DTLB Design District’s participation include: 

• “What Do You Make in Long Beach?”
  Location: Mosaic Promenade (200 N. Waite Court, Long Beach, CA 90802)
  Time: 2-7pm
  Organized by: DTLB Design District 

What Do You Make in LB? returns to the DTLB Art + Design Walk, transforming the Mosaic Promenade into a vibrant, interactive showcase of Long Beach’s talented designers, makers, and innovators.

Bringing creativity out of the studios and onto the streets, this pop-up event invites artists and creators to share their work with the community through displays, hands-on activities, and immersive experiences. While not a marketplace, it offers a unique opportunity to see local talent in action.

Featuring work by Susie Chang, Jennifer Tran & James Shen (People’s Architecture Office), Napoleon Merana (Design Burrow), the LB Public Library Seed Project, KLBP Radio and Long Beach Post, Fourth Space Collective, the CSULB Human Experience Design Interactions Graduate Program, and Renaissance High School, among others.

Pre-Launch of CSULB Immersive Design Research Lab at Mosaic

• Location: Former Gold’s Gym, Mosaic Promenade (200 N. Waite Court, Long Beach, 90802)
  Time: 3–6 PM
  Curated by: Prof. Heather Barker, Aleyna Akkan, and Louis Santos

As an experimental testing phase for the upcoming CSULB Immersive Design Research Lab (IDRL), this pop-up exhibit serves as a dynamic preview of the lab’s future explorations. Featuring cutting-edge Creative Immersive Technology Experience (CITE) projects from IDRL researchers and CSULB graduate design students, the space will function as a living laboratory—inviting visitors to engage with interactive, forward-thinking solutions that reimagine the intersection of technology, people, and their environments.

This pre-launch activation offers a rare opportunity to test, refine, and iterate immersive design concepts in real-time, fostering dialogue between researchers, creators, and the public before the full lab launch.

Studio One Eleven presents: “Community” — A Multi-Sensory Reflection on the DTLB Design District

• Scent Design by: Kristin Flores of Muse Apothecary
  Photo Exhibition by: Monica Nouwens
  Hosted at: Studio One Eleven (245 E. 3rd Street, Long Beach, CA 90802) Time: 3–6 PM

Experience Community, a multi-sensory exhibition that encapsulates the essence of the DTLB Design District through scent and imagery. Featuring a bespoke fragrance crafted by Muse Apothecary and a compelling photographic series by acclaimed artist Monica Nouwens, this installation reflects on over a year of creativity, collaboration, and cultural activation within the district.

The exhibition not only showcases a scent inspired by Downtown Long Beach’s unique energy but also presents a visual narrative of the people, places, and experiences that have shaped the Design District’s journey. Through Nouwens’ evocative lens—previously showcased at LACMA and the Stedelijk Museum—visitors will encounter the faces, moments, and artistic expressions that define this evolving community. Join us as we celebrate the intersection of scent, photography, and urban life.

Creative Class Collective Presents “Music to My Eyes”

• Location: Edison Theater, 213 E. Broadway, Long Beach
• Time: 2pm – 7pm
• Curated by: Creative Class Collective

A multi-disciplinary art initiative involving music, painting, and photography.  26 LBUSD students, inspired by pre-selected music tracks and speeches, serve as catalysts for their artistic creations. The tracks include diverse genres and influential speeches such as those by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Mozart, and Martin Luther King Jr., exposing students to a broad spectrum of cultural and historical influences.

Students interpret their selected music tracks, which aim to evoke a personal emotional response, resulting in a variety of artistic expressions. The creative process will be documented in black-and-white photographs, capturing the visual narrative of the students’ artistic journey.

Studio One Eleven presents: “Shifting Tides: Evolution of Long Beach’ Waterfront”

• Concept and Production Design by: Nathan Amondson
• Hosted at: Studio One Eleven (245 E. 3rd Street, Long Beach, 90802)
• Time: 3-6pm
  

Dive into Long Beach’s unique relationship with its waterfront through this compelling exhibition. Shifting Tides explores the city’s historical, current, and future connections to its coastline, offering visitors an immersive visual and narrative journey.

The DTLB Design District’s programming reflects its mission to foster a vibrant hub of creativity and collaboration within Long Beach’s urban core. These events highlight the district’s dedication to honoring the city’s heritage while inspiring future possibilities through art and design. Free transportation within the Design District will be provided by Culture Cart.

RSVP here!

For more information visit DTLB’s Instagram, LinkedIn, and website!