First Friday Art Walks Resume in Olde Town Spirit Lake

After a four month hiatus, this evening, Friday, May 7, is the first of the First Friday Art Walks for 2010. The First Friday Art Walk kicks off each May and continues through December, taking a break during winter and early spring, from January to April.

Depending on the advertising source one looks at, the First Friday Art Walks begin at 5:00 or 5:30 and continue until 7:00, 7:30 or 8:00 p.m.; however, most sources indicate the event is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

A First Friday free open house was the brainchild of Hank and Sheryl Hall. They hosted their first one in May 2007, shortly after they opened Hank Hall Art on 16th, www.hankhallarton16th.com.

Here's the text of the latest email reminder sent out by Sheryl Hall, shhall@mchsi.com...

<< Please join us for the start of the 4th season of...
First Friday at Art on 16th
May 7
5:30-7:30 pm

See Hank's expansion of the gallery area
Find remarkable art from 15 area artists
Enjoy complimentary refreshments
Visit with artists and friends of art

Mother's Day is May 9.
Mom's love art, too!
Price range: $3 - $1,500

Thank you for your support of local arts!

Art on 16th
709 16th Street -- Olde Town Spirit Lake
Customized youth & adult art classes
Remarkable art for sale
Gift certificates available
712.330.6007
www.hankhallarton16th.com >>

Exactly one year later, in May 2008, Ken and Diane Lockard opened A Piece of Work, Inc.: Emporium of Original Art in the old Walker Motor Company building at 1619 Hill Ave., 712-336-1077, http://apieceofworkinc.com. Diane and Ken started hosting a free monthly open house the same day and time as Art on 16th, and a First Friday Art Walk between the two galleries was born.

For each First Friday Art Walk, both galleries usually offer complementary drinks and food, anything from hors d'oeuvres to light dinner fare. Sometimes they have special events in conjunction with their open houses. For example, a visual artist, such as a painter, might be working on site, allowing visitors to view a work in progress, or a performing artist, such as a musician, might be performing in the gallery or on the sidewalk out front. There have also been drawings for door prizes of fine art and art classes.

A Piece of Work, Inc. usually has an exhibit opening in conjunction with each First Friday Art Walk. This evening, there's a reception for "The Enchanted Forest" watercolor series by Avis Davis from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., with an Artist Talk by Davis around 6:00 p.m. Davis is the May 2010 Piece of Work Artist of the Month, and her paintings are currently on display in the Exhibition Cove.

I've been enjoying the First Friday Art Walks since summer 2008. Noting how many artists, art enthusiasts and other people the monthly event brings to Olde Town Spirit Lake, I've often asked why some of the other Olde Town merchants, especially the dining establishments, don't join in by staying open later on the First Friday of each month. It's seems like a natural opportunity to make money and increase awareness of other Olde Town businesses.

A couple of days ago, on Wednesday, May 5, I received an email regarding an Olde Town Street Market being initiated on Thursdays, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., beginning June 3, 2010. The new event is being sponsored by the City of Spirit Lake, www.cityofspiritlake.com, the Spirit Lake Mainsail Chamber of Commerce, www.slmainsail.com, and the Olde Town Merchants.

While I think this is a great idea, and I hope it will be a big success, I also think the organizers "missed the boat" by not initiating this event earlier and in conjunction with the First Friday Art Walks.

Here's the text from the aforementioned May 5th email I received from Jen Johnson, Executive Director of ArtsLIVE, www.artslive.com...

<< Come Join Us!
Olde Town Street Market
City of Spirit Lake, Iowa
Thursdays, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Vendors with produce, arts & crafts, baked goods, and other hand-crafted items are invited to come to Spirit Lake. We are starting a Street Market and vendors with home grown or small scale production items are welcome. We're also welcoming musicians and other street performers to join us. Musicians & performers should feel free to put out your hats or guitar cases for contributions.

The Spirit Lake Mainsail Chamber of Commerce, City of Spirit Lake, and the Olde Town Merchants are sponsoring a Street Market every Thursday evening, 5:00-8:00 p.m., from June 3 through September.

This is an informal market coordinated through the Spirit Lake Mainsail Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact: Blain Andera, Mainsail Chamber of Commerce at 712-336-4978.

Spirit Lake is in the center of the Iowa Great Lakes. As a lake recreation area, Spirit Lake and nearby Okoboji & Arnolds Park have a tremendous influx of seasonal residents and visitors. Downtown Spirit Lake (Olde Town) is a vibrant retail area with a wide mix of shopping, eating and drinking establishments. A Street Market will enhance our community and we will support the vendors who participate. >>

After the First Friday Art Walk this evening, the people I'm meeting and I are going from Olde Town Spirit Lake to Olde Town Arnolds Park to hang out at the Wine Bar and Art Gallery, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arnolds-Pa....

Olde Town Arnolds Park is the historic area of the City of Arnolds Park that includes the Central Emporium and the businesses along W. Broadway St. from the stoplight at US Hwy. 71 to Preservation Plaza (formerly the Green Space) of Historic Arnolds Park, www.arnoldspark.com, plus a couple of businesses on Allen Ave. near the intersection of W. Broadway St.

This business district was known as Olde Town Arnolds Park long before the City of Spirit Lake decided to rename its downtown to Olde Town; however, the business owners in Olde Town Arnolds Park have yet to work together and come up with the kind of special events that the merchants of Olde Town Spirit Lake have devised to promote and bring people to their business district.

Maybe the success of efforts in Olde Town Spirit Lake will inspire merchants in Olde Town Arnolds Park to organize some similar events.

Thank you for your time! Please support the arts!