Last year’s Art Walk was successful for Ridgefield Guild of Artists and this year’s arts festival beginning Aug. 21 will be a bigger event, adding The Marketplace/Copps Hill Common areas to the downtown district. Painter Tina Sturges outside Books on the Common last year. —Mary Harold photo
The streets will once again come alive during Art Walk Ridgefield 2015 running Aug. 21 to Sept. 12. Sixty-two restaurants, businesses and cultural venues will showcase the work of 80 artists in windows and on shop walls during this free, three-week festival, transforming the downtown and Copps Hill/Marketplace areas into a strolling art gallery.
Art Walk kicks off on the evening of Friday, Aug. 21, from 5 to 8, when the merchants will host opening receptions with their featured artists. Live music will showcase local talent from RMAC. The celebration will spill onto the sidewalks on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 12 to 4, with more live music and demonstrations from participating artists.
Information tables will be set up in front of town hall and at Ross’s Bread on Friday and Saturday where maps will be available. Maps are also at all participating shops.
About 30 of the 80 artists call Ridgefield home. The rest come from all over the region, including Fairfield County and New York. A variety of media and artistic styles will be showcased including paintings, photography, printmaking, multi-media, fiber and sculpture. All artwork is for sale.
“Last year’s Art Walk event was so successful we decided to make it an annual event. In fact, we had an outpouring of so many artists who wanted to participate that this year we will expand our event to The Marketplace and Copps Hill area of town, in addition to the downtown merchants and restaurants,” said Pam Stoddart, executive director at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists. Stoddart is the driving force behind Art Walk 2015. “Local artists and merchants collaborate for this fun arts event. It’s a wonderful way to draw visitors to our beautiful town and highlight amazing local talent at the same time.”
In addition to the Art Walk, there will be a special festival-long exhibit, “Walk on Down,” at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists’ gallery barn at 34 Halpin Lane, featuring one piece of art from each of the participating Art Walk artists. There will be a closing party at the gallery barn exhibit for artists, merchants and friends of the Guild on Friday, Sept. 11, from 5 to 7.
Art Walk Ridgefield 2015 is presented by the non-profit Ridgefield Guild of Artists. A portion of all sales comes back to the guild. Visit the guild website at rgoa.org or call 203-438-8863 for more information.
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