October 2010 - First Friday ArtWalk

First Friday ArtWalk
By Alan S Albin

 
Friday October 1st is the third ArtWalk in the new format and things are beginning to fall into place. It’s early days yet but the Downtown ArtWalk is showing signs of emulating the success other big cities have had  with their long running ArtWalks.

Our “First Friday” has been designed to be an “umbrella event” under which the Downtown community can organize not only the monthly ArtWalk but also add on any other activities to benefit from the branding and marketing associated with “First Fridays”.
The main reason for adopting this format is to make it easy for everyone to remember that something exciting and interesting goes on Downtown on the First Friday of every month. Visitors to Downtown, whether they be Corpus Christi residents or tourists, are guaranteed a warm welcome at up to 50 Downtown businesses which open their doors to ArtWalkers from 5:30 to 9pm on ArtWalk nights. Many of these businesses offer refreshments and entertainment and some also offer door prizes and ArtWalk specials.
(Some businesses may not be able to participate in ArtWalk every month due to scheduling conflicts but everyone on the map is an enthusiastic supporter of ArtWalk and will be open whenever possible.)

ArtWalk is based in La Retama Park, which is the triangular park between Peoples Street and Schatzell Street in the shadow of the Wells Fargo Building, and the fun begins at 5:30pm when a band begins to play and the DTown tram takes off on its’ first tour of the ArtWalk circuit.
The DTown tram has HOBO on board playing their unique brand of “honkadelic” music and they have become a major attraction on ArtWalk as they sing and play their, sometimes irreverent (but always family friendly) way, around Downtown. Many people simply ride the tram to benefit from this only one of its kind experience.
ArtWalk takes place come rain or shine and in the unlikely event of inclement weather The Art Center of Corpus Christi at 100 Shoreline is our alternate “Hub” where the La Retama Park vendors, band, and prize draw will relocate if necessary.

Maps of Downtown showing the ArtWalk venues, the tram route, and the RTA direct shuttle route are available at the following locations:
•    DMD booth in La Retama Park
•    On the DTown tram and RTA Shuttle
•    The Art Center of Corpus Christi
•    The Center on South Water Street (Tango Tea Room)
•    From First Friday Ambassadors and Volunteers throughout Downtown
(look for the orange polo shirts on Segways and orange T-Shirts on foot.)

In addition to a band in the park there are always a good number of vendors set up there to provide ArtWalkers with a selection of items to view and hopefully buy. We are always looking for new vendors to help make Artwalk more diverse, interesting, and entertaining so if you, or someone you know, would like to join us please contact Michelle Smythe of K Space Contemporary on 361-887-6834 for details of how to participate.
As we move into the winter season, from October 1st, we will have a light tower in the Park to supplement the City street lighting after dark. This will also enable us to provide power for the bands and maybe some decorative lighting for the vendors’ booths. If you have any thoughts on how to improve the ArtWalk experience either in the park or around Downtown please contact Alan Albin of the DMD on 361-882-2363.

Although there will always be lots of exciting things going on in the park please do make an effort to tour the other venues which are scattered throughout the Downtown area. Most of these venues can be comfortably reached on foot, it is after all, - ArtWalk. However to reach some of the outlying venues such as The Yachting Center on the People St T-Head, The Center at 505 S Water Street, and even the Art Center at 100 Shoreline, you may wish to take advantage of the DTown tram and the RTA shuttle details of which appear on the ArtWalk map or you could just ask an “orange shirt”.

Another fun and entertaining aspect of the First Friday ArtWalk is the Prize Draw which takes place in La Retama Park at 8:45pm. As you tour the various ArtWalk locations Downtown you can ask each vendor if they have raffle tickets available for the draw. Those that do have these tickets will give you one set of double tickets per person so, the more venues you visit, the more tickets you collect, the greater your chance of winning one of the great prizes on offer each month.

Prizes for the October 1st draw:
•    First Prize        -    Painting by David L Phillips         $500
•    Second Prize    -    DMD Downtown Gift Certificate    $50
•    Third Prize    -    SegCity 10 min taster for 2        $40
•    Fourth Prize    -    DMD Downtown Gift Certificate    $25
•    Fifth Prize    -    Morgan’s Sports Bar (Food only)    $20

The prize draw rules are very simple and finite:
•    One ticket per person per venue.
•    Only tickets issued on the night accepted.
•    Draw open to all ArtWalkers including venue owners and staff excluding organizers.
•    Tickets must have Venue and ArtWalker names written on them.
•    Must be present to win.
•    Disputes will be settled on site and DMD decision will be final.
•    Everyone should have a good time and enjoy ArtWalk!

Please do come on Downtown on the First Friday each month to show your support for the many people and businesses of this community that generously donate their time, effort, and resources to provide the public with an entertaining, enjoyable, and sociable experience on ArtWalk.

Specifically it is important to mention the ArtWalk sponsors each of whom contribute, in their own important way, to make ArtWalk a growing success:
Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation, Downtown Management District, House of Rock,

K Space Contemporary, Nueces County, David L Phillips,
Produce Gallery, SegCity Corpus, Whetstone Graphics.

FMI:
www.artwalkcc.com
www.facebook.com/artwalkcc.com

First Friday Downtown - December.

First Friday in December will be held in association with the Las Luces del Mar event and the Harbor Lights Festival and will be held over the two days Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th December.
On the Friday night ArtWalk will proceed as usual with the exception that the events normally held in La Retama Park will relocate to the Shoreline median between Lawrence and Starr in the “Harbor Lights’ tents and will integrate with their program.
On Saturday ArtWalk venues will have an “open day” from 1pm until 5pm and the DTown tram will tour Downtown offering free rides to all Festival goers until 5:30pm.