Bakersfield Life

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Don Martin
By Cory Smith    Photo by Greg Nichols

Downtown insiders certainly know Don Martin, even if he’s not a household name in Bakersfield.

Martin owns Metro Galleries Inc., a contemporary art gallery at 1604 19th St. in Downtown Bakersfield. He’s also a center-city advocate and a leader within the Downtown Business and Property Owner’s Association. He’s spearheaded the monthly First Friday downtown events for the last year and sponsors monthly downtown cleanup days.

“He’s been kind of a cheerleader for the area,” says DBA President Cathy Butler.
Martin, a 41-year-old Los Angeles native, moved to Bakersfield when he was in high school. He’s lived downtown for 14 years and has operated Metro Galleries for three years.

He says he enjoys downtown’s eclectic, unique lifestyle.

“It’s that ability to be able to walk outside at night and go to a bistro, go to an art gallery or go to a coffeehouse,” he says. “It’s that sense of community.”

Martin ended his first run as a business owner in 1993 when he took a gig as gallery director for the now-closed C.L. Clark Galleries. After two years, he decided to become self-employed again, this time opening his first art gallery – MOMAS, which stood for My Own Modern Art Studio.

MOMAS, which was on 20th Street, went belly-up after a year because downtown was “dead,” according to Martin.

“It was just too soon in Bakersfield for a small, contemporary art gallery,” he adds.
In early 2004, he decided to take on business ownership once again with Metro Galleries. Martin, of course, chose the vibrancy of downtown for his latest venture.
Metro Galleries, which relocated in January 2007 to its current 4,000-square-foot home, has roughly 300 pieces of exclusive artwork from 25 artists, some of whom live in Kern County. His pieces range from $60 to $10,000, he says.

Some months Martin sells a dozen pieces, while other months he doesn’t sell any. Overall, though, he says he’s pleased with sales volume.

“It’s an education process to get people to understand that it really isn’t about matching your furniture or your carpet or your walls,” he says, refering to a piece of art. “It’s about if it touches you.”

In the next few months, Martin plans to open a coffee and wine bar in adjoined space. He also rents his gallery space for special events, and he hopes to grow that part of his business.

One the side, he’s handling marketing for the 1612 City Lofts project above his gallery. Realtor Eydie Gibson is developing the condos and serves as Martin’s landlord for Metro Galleries. She also owns a small stake in Metro Galleries, as do six other hands-off investors.

“Wherever Don is, there’s a lot of activity,” Gibson says. “He’s a great friend, too.”