By JENNIFER K. BAUER
LEWISTON — In four years the response to Lewiston’s Art Walk has transformed it from a three-hour event to, starting Thursday, Sept. 25, one spanning three days.
“It’s been really encouraging to see how the community has embraced this event,” says Breanne Durham, executive director of Beautiful Downtown Lewiston, which spearheaded Art Walk’s formation.
At Art Walk’s core are downtown businesses that become galleries showcasing work by area artists Friday night. It can be difficult to see all the art in one night, Durham says, which is why this year events are being added Saturday with a focus on families.
“We hope to grow Saturday as more of a family art day,” she says.
A map of this year’s tour can be found in Inland 360’s print edition Thursday. Additional copies will be available Friday night at the Lewis-Clark State College Center for Arts & History, 415 Main St.
Six highlights of the 2014 Art Walk
For those yearning for creativity
Pacific Northwest designer Von Glitschka will give a free lecture at 5:30 tonight at the Lewiston City Library on overcoming the fear associated with being creative. The Salem, Ore., designer’s talk, “Creatively Recalculating Your Daily Design Routine,” will focus on ways to unlock creativity.
The Friday night stroll
Fifty local and regional artists will be featured in 25 downtown Lewiston businesses opening their doors from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday for tours, wine and beer tastings, hors’doeuvres and live music. Photos taken and posted to Facebook with the #BDLartwalk14 hashtag will be displayed live at the Lewiston City Library. Prizes will be awarded for Best Artsy Shot, Best of Downtown Lewiston and Best Art Walking Selfie. Winners will be announced Tuesday, Sept. 30, on Facebook.
For late night art lovers
The Art Walk After Party, now in its second year, is from 9 to 11 p.m. Friday at 609 Main St. It features live music by Wanigan and food and beverages by Brock’s. Tickets are $10 and available at the door and the LCSC Center for Arts & History.
For artists tired of starving
Visual artist Robert Tomlinson will offer free professional development workshops from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the LCSC Center for Arts & History. The Portland, Ore., artist will explain how to create a simple business plan in order to build a financial foundation. Next he will explain how to find exhibition opportunities. Tomlinson’s work will be on display at the center.
Capture the scene
A Quick Draw Competition starts at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. People are invited to bring a blank canvas or paper to the LCSC Center for Arts & History, get it stamped and then paint or draw something downtown. Work must be returned to Brackenbury Square no later than 5:30 p.m. to be put on display during the final Farmers Market and Sound Downtown from 5 to 9 p.m. Prizes will be awarded after voting ends at 7:30.
Especially for kids
At 4 p.m. Saturday kids and parents will be able to try rhythm instruments from around the world at the Shake, Rattle and Drum workshop at Brackenbury Square. The free-flowing musical class is led by Maureen Mould, director of Kaleidoscope Konnections, a nonprofit education organization based in Yakima. From 4:45 to 6 p.m. kids will be able to make their own shakers and other instruments to take home.
