Artists and performers will pack Montana Avenue on Thursday evening as the ten-block strip between 7th and 17th streets is transformed into a sprawling outdoor art gallery hosted by the Montana Avenue Merchants Association.
The first of what is hoped will be an annual event, Montana Avenue Artwalk will run from 5-9 p.m. and will feature more than 50 visual artists and live musicians.
The Montana Avenue Merchants Association regularly sponsors similar events like the Holiday Walk and the Sidewalk Sale, but the Artwalk will have a different focus than those previous events.
“We realized we wanted to do something cultural, something that was not sales related,” said Mark Wain, Chairman of the Montana Ave Merchants Association. “We have a lot of designers on Montana so we wanted to focus on the artistic side of the spectrum.”
The featured artwork will cover a range of mediums from photography and jewelry to tapestries and fine art. An interactive component to the evening will allow visitors to watch art being produced and to create pieces of their own. Despite the focus on art and not sales, many of the items will be available for purchase as well.
Many of the shops and restaurants lining Montana will also offer dinner specials and discounted merchandise.
If the evening proves to be a success, Wain says he will to try to make the Artwalk an annual event.
“This is about community building,” Wain said. “ If once a year we can get artists and designers to bring their stuff and create a great fun environment, we’d love to have that.”
The following business are participating in the Artwalk:
17th Street Café: 10% off dine-in, 20% off all bakery take-out
Aura: Peter Fetterman Gallery – Prints, Refreshments & 60% off merchandise
Blue Plate: Glitter tattoo artist, for kids & adults. Champagne.
Cafe Montana: 10% off dining in, 20% off take-out
Citron: Refreshments
Darylle B: Barbara Stashower – Artist; Sylvia Chait, Sculptor, & KAy Chapman, Wearable Art.
Dermalogica: Snacks & refreshments, specials & discounts
Drkrm/gallery/west: Ryan Herz – Photography
Engels & Volker: Ana Gibert, George Deloache, Angel Burns, Astor Morgan. Appetizers & beverages
Every Picture Tells A Story: Alex Ross, Marvel ArtWorks: Signed, fine art prints from Marvel Comics
French Lessons: Sexy, French music, wine & sweets
Golden Wellness Rx Pharmacy: Music & tea
Hemisphere: Viva Hoffman – California paintings
Inner Gardens: Art/Jewelry
Jane Smith: Peggy Anderson – Handmade fanciful jewelry, LA Cat
Janie & Jack: Painting table & book reading
Jonathan Adler: Rex Ray – Paper collage and paint on birch plywood, Carter Kustera – Personalized Pop Portraits, C Jere- Metal sunbursts
Jurlique: Augustus Harper – Painting. Snacks & refreshments
Kiehl’s: Kathleen Keifer
Kovan Jewelers: Avak Shirinian, signed, one of a kind hand woven oriental silk rugs. Champagne & chocolates
Kreation Kafe: Gus Harper, Laila Salartash – Painting live at the Café
Language of Flowers: Paintings by Herb Kornfeld. Floral landscapes by Jude
Leona Edmiston: Laura Killian – Treated photographs, Ariana Hall 6:45-8pm
Lisa Norman: Stephanie Trachtenberg – Artist
Locanda Portofino: 15% off
Marcia Bloom: Collages and special one of a kind art skirts. Music
Margano: Margokay Designs (hand knit handbags)
Margaret OLeary: Marie Du Petit Thouars. Snacks
Mattias: Wine & cookies, 60% off merchandise
Michael Stars: Refreshments. Annual End of Season Sale
Mom’s the Word: Amy Weber. Live jazz band, 5-7pm. Wine & cupcakes. 25% off all merchandise
Montana Eyes: Kenny Harris – Fine artist, Judy Nimtz – Fine artist
Montana Mercantile: Painting & Sculpture by Anne Baxter, Amber Guerrera, Tom Tatum: Jewelry by Nora Nicosia. Guitarist, Eric Brinkley. Refreshments & 60% discounts off select merchandise.
Moondance Jewelry Gallery: Renee Garvey – Jewelry Designer. Offering food from Café Con Leche Catering
Only Hearts: Designs by Yas. Wine
Pilates Place: Jill Stein. Thomas Nicholas Band
Platino: Samantha Reilly – Abstract Artist. Live jazz band, 7-9. Serving Italian Prosecco & chocolate truffles
Ponte Vecchio: Marcie Forest Garden Rose Candles – Candlemaking
Pradeep’s Indian Cuisine: 20% discount
Purple Poppy: Elizabeth Saven- Illustrations of Owls
Quilted Monkey: Rita Ross – Creator of Pocket People
Roseark: Alison Van Pelt, Robbie Conal, Martin Wolf, Laura Ball, Matthew Heller
Rosti Tuscan Kitchen: Art of local children
Scribble Press: Create your own collages and turn them into placemats and notecards
Semi-Precious: Gisele Lubsen – Conceptual underwater prints. Serving sangria & munchies
Shabby Chic, Lisa Dirkes, Naomi Yamada, Angel Denny, Paige Bowen
Souliers: Ellen King – fine artist
Stefan’s on Montana: 2 artists
Step! Shoes: Refreshments
Subtle Luxury: Richard Chambers – Figurative, impressionism. Serving wine & cheese
Sun Precautions: Anne Oreck – Sculptor
The Blue Jeans Bar: Ron Klotchman
Three Bags Full: Niki Lambro – Impressionistic portraiture and abstract landscapes. Joe Gaeto jazz ensemble, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
To Wag For: Custom cartoon art pieces created from doggie photos. Snacks & refreshments
