Cerritos College artists have been impacted greatly as the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk struggles to get back on its feet.

Nelson Leal, president of the Cerritos College Artists’ Society, says that Cerritos artists had just started exhibiting art on the walk last month.

“I’m disappointed with the whole scandal. The L.A. Art Walk is one of the finest events in L.A.

“Some members of the Artists’ Society are trying to organize an exhibit for the upcoming month, but are having issues, mainly because the event has not been finalized,” Leal said.

The Downtown L.A. Art Walk has been revived from obscurity after a week of confusion over whether the event will continue as planned on Oct. 14.

Former director, Jay Lopez, was fired by the board that oversees the art walk after Lopez announced, without their approval, on Sept. 24 that the walk would be suspended until Jan. 2011.

Lopez cited funding issues as the reason that the walk would go on hiatus and it would switch gears from a monthly to a quarterly event when it returned.

Galileo Gonzalez, a Cerritos College art student, voiced his concerns over the condition of the art walk.

“When [Lopez] announced that the art walk was canceled, it actually angered my friends, who are all artists.

“Then, with the announcement that the art walk will resume, there was relief, but there was also some confusion whether it will be a quarterly event or not, and we’re all just waiting for a definite answer from the organization,” Gonzalez said.

The art walk, which began in 2004, has had a surge in popularity, attracting as many as 20,000 people during previous events.

The revival comes courtesy of property owners who have promised $200,000 to keep the event afloat, along with the backing of the Los Angeles Police Department, who in a statement said that it would make sure that the event remains safe.

Currently, the organization still has not updated its website; its homepage still has Jay Lopez listed as director.

Another Cerritos art student, Lizbeth Rivera, watched the L.A. Art Walk’s popularity rise.

“Ever since I started going there weren’t many people, and then every other month I kept going, it started building up with more artists and locals,” Rivera said.

“Many people still believe that it’s actually postponed.

“I can’t wait to go in October to see how many people are not there, to see if it’s affected,” Rivera said.

Gonzalez stresses that there are many other venues for artists.

“One local place is the Cafe Studio on the corner of Pioneer Boulevard and 183rd. You can also go to other art walks in other cities, like the Pomona Art Walk [and the] Fullerton Art Walk,” Gonzalez said.

The Cerritos College Artists’ Society will show art in the Cerritos Regional Park on Nov. 20 from 2-9 p.m.

Leal said he encourages all Cerritos College students to get involved with art events.

“Both for local artists and for people who appreciate art, [the L.A. Art Walk] is a great way to bring the Los Angeles community together in a peaceful and entertaining manner.

“There are many ways to exhibit and display artwork; with a little organization and imagination anything is possible,” Leal said.

The Downtown Art Walk organizers could not be reached for comment.