Hidden treasures - Bergamot Station, Los Angeles, California

Sunset, June, 1999 by Peter O. Whiteley

Bergamot Station is the geode of the Los Angeles art world. This complex of squat, metal-clad warehouses contains an unexpected array of diverse and sophisticated art. The concentration of galleries, which also includes the Santa Monica Museum of Art, is both an embarrassment of riches and a time-saver: rather than gallery-hopping from one neighborhood to another, you park the car once and stroll for hours, grabbing a cup of coffee and a nibble or two from the outdoor cafe for sustenance.

Part of Bergamot's charm is its humble, unpretentious appearance. "Most museums and galleries are intimidating enough, and we wanted art to be friendly and accessible," says Wayne Blank, who developed Bergamot Station. (The name bergamot comes from flowering plants that once flourished here; station derives from the site's first use as a trolley stop.) Opened five years ago with 20 galleries, the complex has grown in the last year with the opening of the art museum and nine more galleries.

The excellence of the works presented here is as remarkable as it is diverse; Bergamot has become a regular stop for serious art collectors. Most of the work has a contemporary, cutting-edge quality, but you'll also find more traditional pieces, as well as a Japanese handmade paper shop, Korean and Chinese galleries, and a custom frame shop. Not all of the art is destined for walls. You'll find furniture, light fixtures, table settings, and even jewelry here.

Area code is 310.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR JUNE

Santa Monica Museum of Art, installation by Australian artist Callum Morton, June 18-August 21. $3 suggested donation; 586-6488.

Gallery of Contemporary Photography, platinum prints by Joan Almond and Mariana Yampolsky, June 6-July 7. 264-8440.

Gallery of Functional Art (above), sculpture and furniture by David Rudolph, May 22-July 11. 829-6990.

Rosamund Felsen Gallery, installation and videos by L.A. artist Glenn Kaino, June 5-July 3. 828-8488.

Shoshana Wayne Gallery, paintings by contemporary L.A. artist James Richards, June 12-July 24. 453-7535.

Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica; 453-7535. From Santa Monica Fwy. (1-10), exit at Cloverfield/26th St., turn right, and make immediate right onto Michigan. Admission to complex and galleries is free. Santa Monica Museum of Art and most galleries are open 11-6 Tue-Sat.