These Days
The intersection at Los Angeles and Winston feeds you visual slices of downtown’s gnawing grit and inevitable growth. It’s a snapshot of the downtown that was and the downtown that’s on its way. When you arrive at 118 Winston Street you’ll notice it’s part of the historic Indian Alley, a 1800s building that has lived many lives from piano shop to brothel. These days its latest incarnation is in the form of an artistic nest for husband and wife, Stephen and Jodi Zeigler. They own the These Days art gallery and shop up on the second floor.
Black and white sketches lead you up to their airy and bright space. Since 2008 the Zeiglers’ have hosted creatives in their gallery space, a perfect landing spot for artists such as the elusive Wild Life. The space is a marriage of interests. Stephen is an accomplished photographer and Jodi’s a beautifully polished prop stylist. Last October both decided to expand the gallery into a shop. The shop holds a careful collection of California makers such as F.IEL ceramics and Alexes Bowyer jewelry.
The most eye-catching pieces belong to artist Jim Olarte. His large-scale macrame spirals cling to the ceiling while his beautiful shipwreck mobiles hang in the windows allowing the sunlight to highlight the pieces of fiberglass still frosted by the ocean’s salty residue. Jodi says picking what pieces to carry is organic, "Artists that we follow, that we like, that we want to encourage."
But the main attraction anchoring the shop is Stephen’s obscure and signed photography book selection. The rarity tucked away in the pages inspires research and a quick conversation with the two will have you jotting down names to look up later.
At the end of the day Stephen and Jodi value the community they’re helping to build through art, “We've always envisioned this as a community space, for people coming together.”
HOURS: Thursday & Friday 12:00PM - 7:00PM Saturday 11:00AM - 7:00PM Sunday 11:00AM - 5:00PM
Written by:
Linda Hosmer
Photographed by:
Alyse Gilbert