The Asheville Downtown Gallery Association's Art Walks don't come with the most exciting of names. "Art Walk" is serviceable, but it's no swanky "studio stroll," no adventure-laden "Art Safari," no (perhaps) indulged-to-excess "gallery crawl." And still, each April when the couple dozen downtown galleries open their doors for the season's first TGIF after-hours gallery hopping event, people come out in droves.
Miles Bender, owner of two-level art glass showroom The Bender Gallery, also compiles exhibition updates for the ADGA Web site. He points out that "The weather doesn't really permit an art walk prior to April," so this year's April 2 stroll not only launches the art tour season for downtown Asheville, but for the WNC region. Worth noting — while many events follow, some with biannual happenings (The River District Studio Stroll and the Toe River Arts Council studio tour, for example), ADGA's walks will sandwich the season with a newly added first Friday in December (Dec. 3) event.
Though the ADGA is nearing a decade as an entity, in truth the collective formed simply to promote its walks and to publish an annual brochure listing participating galleries. The lack of internal organization may come as a surprise, especially as other area tours — started in the wake of an likely inspired by the success of the downtown walks — are fast picking up steam and popularity. There there are other events, such as West Asheville's West Walk, that have fallen by the wayside and are sorely missed missed. There are art/tour themed happenings, such as the excellent if not regularly scheduled Urban Loft + Art Tour and several annual garden tours that borrow from the downtown art walk's impetus. And, following ADGA's lead, seasonal festivities like Asheville's well-attended Downtown After Five series and numerous Art After Dark programs scattered around WNC have found ardent fan bases.
But what else hits quite the right note of culture plus socializing plus wine and cheese plus hoofing it through downtown during the rush and energy of a Friday evening? Really, masterminded or not, the ADGA art walks continue to be highly anticipated and happily embraced as both a symbol of spring and a reminder of all that Asheville has to offer. Additional walks take place on Fridays from 5-8 p.m. on June 4, Aug. 6, Oct. 8 and Dec. 3.
who: Asheville Downtown Gallery Association's Art Walk
what: First gallery stroll of the season
where: Downtown Asheville on Haywood, Spruce, Broadway and College Streets; Biltmore, Patton, Lexington, Page, Battery Park and Biltmore Avenues; Wilson Alley and Pack Square.
when: Friday, April 2 (5-8 p.m. Free. ashevilledowntowngalleries.org)
Art with heart — and Andie McDowell
by A.M.
Here's what's different at April's art walk: The Asheville Area Arts Council's collection of galleries (11 Biltmore Ave.) will not be part of the wandering/perusing-wine drinking/cheese nibbling taking place throughout downtown. And that's a major break with tradition, as the AAAC usually hosts three new exhibits and a memorable hors d'oeuvre spread.
But rest assured that space is being put to good use: Friday, April 2 marks the opening reception for HEART WORKS: The 10th Annual Survivor's Art Show & Benefit, held by Buncombe County rape crisis center Our VOICE. The event honors April as Sexual Assault Awareness month. Actress Andie MacDowell (known for her advocacy work for women in the Congo) serves as honorary chair; Jonas Gerard is the featured artist.
An exhibit of art by the survivors of sexual violence will be on display in the gallery throughout April, but opening night promises some special happenings, from food and beverages to live music by Night's Bright Colors and James Richards and a silent auction. (Action items include original art, such as Gerard's "Nature's Dance," and gift baskets from businesses like Pampered Pets, Out and About and The Great Outdoors).
HEART WORKS is held from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance (purchase online at http://ourvoicenc.org or by calling 252-0562), $25 at the door.
Return the the AAAC gallery on Saturday, April 3, for Surviving the World, poems read to the backdrop of the Our Voice Survivor's Art show and held loosely to the theme of survivorship and strength. Participating artists include queer poet Corinne Schneider, Jenna Weston (whose poems explore the idea of connection) and Lisa Morphew, whose work has appeared in The Asheville Poetry Review among other publications. 8 p.m., free.
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