June 2010 - Summer ArtWalk

DTown Summer ArtWalk - Thursday 24th
By Michelle Smythe

Celebrate Summer in DTown by attending ArtWalk Thursday, June 24, 5:30 to 9 pm. ArtWalk is a fun and entertaining way to check out the Coastal Bend’s bustling and diverse art community, as well as the Downtown shops, restaurants and bars. Over the past year, the event has grown from five participating businesses to twenty-four.

Enjoy fine art by local and national artists, tours through artists’ studios, art demonstrations, multi-cultural performances, delicious samples from great restaurants and drink specials at area bars. Many of the venues will have live music and other entertainment.

The event is held next to the beautiful Corpus Christi Bayfront in the evening when the breeze is nice and temperatures are pleasant. Walk from one venue to the next or catch the colorful DTown tram and enjoy a Honk-a-delica serenade by HOBO who play onboard as you ride. Maps can be picked up at any participating business. Key venues are Art Center of Corpus Christi, K Space Contemporary, Texas Surf Museum and Produce Gallery, Studio and Shop. Other participating venues include restaurants, office buildings, antique shops, unique boutiques and coffee shops.

The evening kicks off at K Space Contemporary with live alternative music by “Newman”. Opening exhibits include “The Dog Show” an exhibition of clay sculpture by Art Star Day Wheeler in the K Space Contemporary gift shop. The featured show is “Carriers, Panels, and Culm Piles”: new works by Dennis Kemmerer. “Faux’s and Schmoe’s” a series of finger-painted portraits by new recruit Rebecca Jordan Glum will open in Hot Spot Gallery in K Space Art Studios.

Aria Sky Terrace & Lounge joins ArtWalk with an exhibition of works by the Coastal Bend Artists. Aria will feature drink specials. Business Interiors will feature their permanent display of works by Dinah Bowman. Other venues include The Gold Bug, Gigi’s Intimate Apparel, and Whetstone Graphics.
The event concludes at the Art Center of Corpus Christi with the drawing for door prizes at 8:30 p.m. The Art Center of Corpus presents the South Texas Art League’s 76th Annual Exhibition
 and the Southwest Sculpture Society 52nd Annual Exhibition juried by Greg Reuter, Professor of Art at TAMUCC in the Meadows Gallery. In the Kucera Gallery is Sculpture by Dave Regier. Local favorite Chispa Bluntzer will be showing beautiful paintings in the Lockett Gallery.

For a complete list of participating venues & events visit www.dtowncc.com or join us on facebook.com/artwalkcc. There is plenty of nearby free parking, and easy access to local hotels or famed Corpus Christi eateries. Admission is free.

ArtWalk continues to grow and draw community involvement and interest. More merchants and restaurants are involved and more arts related activities are available to enjoy. Please contact individual venues for specific exhibition and special event information.

The June event is the final ArtWalk of the season and there are big changes planned for the 2011 season which will kick off on August 6th, so be sure to Save that Date and come on Downtown to find out what the new ArtWalk has to offer.

ArtWalk is presented by the Corpus Christi Downtown Management District and K Space Contemporary. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of or a participant in the Artwalk, or have any art related business, suggestions or ideas in regard to the Art Walk, contact Alan Albin, Downtown Management District (alanalbin@dtowncc.com, 882-2363) or Michelle Smythe with K Space Contemporary (info@kspacecontemporary.org, 887-6834)