Saturday, May 14, 2011

Arts Commission of Greater Toledo Announces the 2011 Art Walk Series May Kick-off Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT) is pleased to announce that its popular Art Walk series will continue again in 2011, kicking off on Thursday, May 19. Art Walk is held each summer, on the third Thursday of each month, May through September. This is the Art Walk’s fourth season.

The 2011 Art Walk dates are May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, and September 15.
Hours are 6 – 9 p.m.

The program is presented as part of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo’s Live Work Create Toledo initiative, embracing economic development and revitalization through the arts. Under this umbrella, Art Walk is the sister program of Artomatic 419! and The Gallery Loop.

The Art Walk has grown exponentially in its previous three short years, growing from featuring less than 10 venues in its first year and a slim attendance, to finishing the 2010 season with a peak attendance of over 700, and featuring an average of 20 venues each month.

The Art Walk offers Toledoans an opportunity to come out and explore their Downtown, visiting great locally-owned galleries, businesses, artist studios and other venues while perusing and purchasing unique, locally-crafted one-of-a-kind art work and gifts – all while enjoying the fresh summer air and getting a little exercise, be it walking, biking, or otherwise.

This year, ACGT will continue the 2010 implementation of sponsoring local performers with “busking” (a.k.a. street performing) licenses from the City of Toledo, allowing them to perform legally on city sidewalks during the event while collecting tips.

May’s sponsored street performers will be musicians Meaghan Roberts and Lucian Townes (both solo acoustic guitar players) and performance artist Katie Komuniecki.

Also up-coming this season will be the installation of nearly 20 more “Art Benches” installed in the Arts Zone/Warehouse District. Ten of these colorful benches were installed during the 2010 season to help spruce up the streets of the neighborhood and increase its identity and visibility as an arts district. The benches were painted by youth apprentices in the award-winning Young Artists at Work program, which employs diverse and at-risk teens for six weeks in the summer, exposing them to an intensive multi-media arts training and long-lasting job training skills.

Also continuing this year will be the use of ACGT’s teal Live Work Create Toledo flags, which Art Walk-goers can use to identify participating venues during the event, and creative-based businesses throughout the season.


August Art Walk Venues:

Maps and venue/artist details are available for download from www.acgt.org. Maps will also be available at participating venues the day of the event.

ST. CLAIR VILLAGE / WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

1. Shared Lives Studios
20 N. St. Clair St.
Shared Lives Studios, a division of Lott Industries that provides a creative outlet for its employees with developmental disabilities, features its spring show, “What's Blooming: A celebration of Flowers,” featuring two and three dimensional work.

2. 20 North Gallery
18 N. St. Clair St.  419.241.2400
20 North Gallery presents the latest incarnation of their Emerging Artist Exhibition, ARTOLEDO 2011, the commercial gallery debut of three rising regional artists: Molly Corfman; Daniel Steck, Jr. and Guy Sutherland. The show features a dynamic combination of mixed media, pop art, sculpture and digital photography. The exhibit will continue through June 3, 2011.

ARTOLEDO 2011 gives 20 North Gallery the opportunity to promote the professional development of promising new talent in the Toledo art landscape.  All three of the artists selected for the show have been establishing their artistic identities in the community, but have not yet been featured in a major commercial gallery setting.

3. Sur Saint Clair
1 S. St. Clair St. 419.241.7100
Sur Saint Clair Gallery will be featuring Jelise A. Roberts.  She comes from a family full of musicians.  At an early age she realized she had another passion besides music and that is ART!  Jelise decided to pursue her passion and received a scholarship and earned her degree at Columbus College of Art and Design.  She has started a movement called “My Music is Major”.  This movement was put together to help raise awareness about the importance of music and music education.  Today the arts are in danger of being stripped from our schools which would leave our children without a way to express themselves creatively.  Jelise is preparing to showcase her love of art and music.

Mindy Czech is a musician from Toledo, Ohio who has been creating jewelry on a loom.  Her unique bracelets come in many different designs, colors and sizes.

4. Jack Wilson Gallery
19 S. St. Clair St.
Gallery entrance is up the stairs in the rear of the building. 
The gallery above metal-worker Jack Wilson’s first-floor work space displays his unique, and often droll metal art, along with pottery by Red Stanley.

5. The Office of Paul R. Sullivan
23 S. St. Clair St.
The Office of Paul R. Sullivan is pleased to feature functional and decorative pottery by Shine Ceramics and unique steel sculptures by H & H Metalsmiths.

6. Homeslice Pizza
28 N. St. Clair St.  419.724.7437
Homeslice features work by Quest for Fire Studios Artists Jerry Gray and Kerry Krow, as well as pieces by Jason Vahle, Yusuf Lateef, Nathan Masternak and Helen Grubb.

7. Downtown Latte
44 S. St. Clair St.  419.243.6032
The current exhibition, Easel & Tripod: Interacting Paintings and Photographs by Jim Seaman & Don Cellini explores the relationship of two different types of media interacting with one another.

8. Swank Gifts
48 S. St. Clair St.  419.241.9340
Swank Gifts boutique shop specializes in unique, affordable gifts. View a large selection of one-of-a-kind jewelry, and an array of products from talented local artists.

9. Bozarts Fine Art & Music Gallery
151 S. St. Clair St.  419.464.5785
Exhibition will feature Note Books & Sketches. ALL ARTISTS ARE WELCOME TO BRING WORK for "pin up" display or passing around. Bring it with you OR make it there and be part of the show (some tables and materials will be supplied). Free gifts for all currently and previously licensed buskers (license required). Live Painting. Live Music & Performances, and a movie following the Art Walk (visit Bozarts on Facebook for details).

10. Secor Studios
425 Jefferson Ave.  419.514.7496
The Secor Artists host Open Studio Night. Visitors are encouraged to roam the studios of more than 15 artists located on the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th floors.


UPTOWN / OLD WEST END

 11. Space 237
237 N. Michigan  419.255.5117  www.space237.com
“Flamingos, Dust Bunnies & Decay”, Space 237’s current art exhibit features 14 national & regional artists exploring contemporary social problems & ominous natural disasters. The range of media and technical styles are unique and runs the gamut from charmingly sweet to seriously dark. The art is in the 1st & 4th floor galleries. Show runs through June 24th.

12. Zyndorf Glass & Arts
320 N. Michigan St., 2nd Floor (across from library)
Presents unique and creative expressions in glass, chic and unique women's clothing as well as many other art forms from an array of talented artists. Wearable, functional and decorative art at affordable prices.

13. Toledo City Paper Offices
1120 Adams St.  419.244.9859  www.toledocitypaper.com
The City Paper is opening the doors of its fun and funky offices. Stop by to view unique, vibrant paintings from Mr. Atomic and stick around to check out a few acoustic acts. Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.

14. Glass City Café
1107 Jackson  419.241.4519  www.glasscitycafe.com
The Café stays open late with live music, great, homemade food and its amazing collection of historic Toledo memorabilia on display, along with the best collection of locally-based merchandise, including Toledo-themed T-shirts and hoodies.

15. Truth Gallery
1811 Adams St.  www.thetruthtoledo.com
The Truth Gallery features a fine collection of African art works in its latest exhibition, “Art of Ghana.”  The exhibit features striking wood carvings, traditional masks, wall profiles, shadow statues, and more. This evening also features a live jazz band.

16. Collingwood Arts Center
2413 Collingwood Blvd.  419.244.ARTS www.cactoledo.org
John Walz Photography: If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the Collingwood Arts Center’s latest exhibition is sure to have local shutterbugs lined up around the block. The solo exhibition by renowned photographer John Walz is currently on display now through the end of May. There will be a free public recption on Friday, May 13, from 7-10pm.

CAC Resident Artists Exhibition: If you’ve ever been to a local arts event in the city of Toledo, then chances are you’ve seen work by a Collingwood Arts Center resident, either past, present, or future. The Center’s latest exhibition is a celebration of some of best work its current residents have to offer.
The CAC Resident Artists Exhibition is set to open on May 6, at 7pm and will be showcased throughout the building’s many gallery spaces. The reception is free and open to the public and will feature both visual artwork and live performances until 10pm. Light refreshments will be available. The show will remain on display throughout the month.


The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo is the longest standing arts commission in the state of Ohio that develops and promotes the arts in the community, serving Northwest Ohio since 1959.
www.acgt.org. 419-254-ARTS

2 comments:

  1. Glad to see they are doing so well. We have a similar thing in here in Eris, PA. A few times a year a special trolly goes through a number of galleries all day long. It's a great idea, helps artists, helps local businesses, helps the city. Every city that got a good artist community has much lower crime rates, so it only makes sense for the city to put some money into it.

    Abstract

    ReplyDelete
  2. Armada, I agree- we have a low crime rate in Toledo and I am sure it is in part due to the vibrant art community that thrives out here. Supporting the arts is vital to all communities!

    ReplyDelete