ArtWalk is back and a good way to describe it is that it's starting to burst at the seams, much to the delight of many outside of the art world. Businesses are noticing too.
The eighth annual ArtWalk season takes its first steps on the scene tomorrow and by all accounts it has found its legs. The cultural festival, spurred by the corps of arts enthusiasts in the downtown core, is enjoying a healthy growth spurt with two new locations added to the same roster of 11 from last year. As the list grows, the range expands outward both geographically and philosophically.
This is the first time on the map for La Crema Caffé and Auvigne & Jones, both new retail stores that replaced similar operations. The proprietors of each have come to an early recognition that when it comes to doing business in St. Albert, art attracts people, people become customers and customers are creatures of habit. They come back.
Matthew Auvigne, one of the proprietors of the shoe store that is partly named after him, indicated that it was practically inevitable to become a new venue. It didn't even matter that his store is a non-traditional location for art displays. He couldn't ignore the opportunity.
"That's partly why we're doing the ArtWalk too … just so that more people will discover us who maybe aren't reading the paper and seeing our ads or just the word of mouth hasn't reached them yet."
Coincidentally, the history of the business is practically linked by fate to the festival's schedule and that of the whole downtown too. Auvigne & Jones opened on Sept. 26 last year on the last day of most regular exhibits supporting the last ArtWalk of the season and also the last day of the St. Albert Outdoor Farmers' Market for 2009.
He remembers that day vividly.
"We actually had people who saw us and we wondered what was going on. There were lots of people walking on the streets and we thought, 'Well, this will be a good time to be open'."
That was more than six months ago. Now that show time is upon him, he expects approximately 150 to 200 people walking through his store just tomorrow night alone. That's the kind of foot traffic that goes a long way to taking fledgling businesses to 'established' status. He does what he can to be subdued about his anticipation but there's a tone in his voice that speaks volumes about great expectations.
"We're excited to be a part of it."
The Perron District – culture and economics tied together
The key is that while there's a lot to be said about the cultural impact of both art and events that bring people out of their homes to interact, this is still a financial proposition. Maybe it wasn't that way at the beginning but it can't be denied now. For a revitalization zone that has seen more than its fair share of struggles over the last decades, the ArtWalk is now a quick and easy bandwagon to jump on. Businesses that aren't even official venues can still stay open later on the first Thursday of each ArtWalk month and reap the benefits.
It is all becoming more cohesive, especially with a recent rebranding co-ordinated by the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce. In the past if you mentioned Main Street or even the word downtown, people might have understood what area you were referring to. By calling it the Perron District, there is now an added level of historical significance that still focuses on business promotion.
Lynda Moffat, the president of the chamber, sees how far cultural events can go to infuse an area with life on specific occasions but with positive ripple effects that continue on afterward.
"One of the ideas was if we could create an area that would have some charm to it, it will take on a life of its own over time. You think 'Oh yeah, that's where they've got all that wonderful art and murals and sculptures downtown and the cute little shops and the fine dining.' Everything just pops in. We're just trying to get that sense of community there as its own little place."
She called the ArtWalk and other area-specific cultural events to be major economic generators, even for businesses not directly affiliated with each event.
"Anything that draws people into the Perron District is an economic generator, regardless of what it is. If we're drawing the people there then they're likely to spend money and then they'll come back. The ArtWalk … is very much loved."
The bottom line about art
One of the non-traditional exhibit locations is Concept Jewelry, the art gallery jewelry boutique located in the Gaffney & McGreer building, one of the four corners of the intersection of Perron and St. Anne Streets. Concept is at the back though, facing the parking lot and somewhat hidden from street traffic. Owner Carmen Bokenfohr said that it has presented some challenges in drawing in browsers but this is her fourth year with the ArtWalk so there's no denying the benefits. She gave the example of a substantial sale last year that was the result of ArtWalk but it didn't come on that night.
"I'm a believer that all exposure is good. As much as I'm hoping to be profitable from it, I enjoy just being a part of it because it's a good thing for our city. The more we do for the city to make a difference, the better off we're all going to be as residents."
She considers herself to be an ArtWalk ambassador too. She talks to other businesses about it to show them the benefits.
"I think the ArtWalk is one of the most positive things for our downtown and this city that I'm aware of."
ArtWalk 2010
Runs from 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow and on the first Thursday of every month until September, with exhibits remaining on display for the rest of each month
Locations in the Perron District include:
1. W.A.R.E.S. • St. Albert Place
The store operated by the St. Albert Place Visual Arts Council sells 'Works that Are Representative of Every Studio' meaning all of the member guilds (painters, potters, quilters, paper arts and floral arts).
Contact: [email protected]
2. Meese Clothing • 31D Perron Street
Info not available by press deadline.
Contact: 780-418-1388 or www.meeseclothing.com
3. Gemport • 11B St. Anne Street
Info not available by press deadline.
Contact: 780-458-7499 or www.gemport.net
4. Art Beat Gallery • 26 St. Anne Street
Elements of Secrecy by Sophia Podryhula-Shaw. Runs until May 29.
Contact: 780-459-3679 or www.artbeat.ab.ca
5. Profiles Public Art Gallery • 19 Perron Street
High Energy XV: Reveal & Conceal by artists from all four local high schools. Runs until May 29.
Contact: 780-460-4310 or www.artsheritage.ca/gallery
6. Art Rental & Sales Gallery • 19 Perron Street (Upstairs)
High Energy XV artists will auction off 32 works with proceeds going to the St. Albert Food Bank.
Contact: 780-460-4310 or www.artsheritage.ca/gallery
7. The Studio Gallery • 11 Perron Street
Landmarks of St. Albert by members of the Visual Arts Studio Association (VASA). Runs until May 29. This is the first of a two-part project to produce a book on the subject as a contribution to the celebration of St. Albert's 150th anniversary in 2011.
VASA will also have guide Susan Rogers lead a one-hour walking tour of the sculptures and murals in the Perron District as the last event in its popular series of lectures and discussions.
Contact: 780-459-6298 or [email protected]
8. The Bookstore on Perron & Gallery • 7 Perron Street
Info not available by press deadline.
Contact: 780-406-4674
9. La Crema Caffé • 44 St. Thomas Street
Info not available by press deadline.
Contact: 780-458-8225
10. Crimson Quill Gifts • 8 Perron Street
Believe by G'Kucy. Runs until June 2.
Contact: 780-418-7803 or www.crimsonquillgifts.com
11. Auvigne & Jones • 14 Perron Street
Info not available by press deadline.
Contact: 780-418-3323 or www.auvignejones.com
12. Roche's Fine Things • 20 Perron Street
Info not available by press deadline.
Contact: 780-459-4095
13. Concept Jewelry Design • 20 Perron Street (access from parking lot)
Jewelry collection by Saundra Messinger.
Contact: 780-458-4660 or www.conceptjewelry.ca
Many of the artists will be in attendance on opening night. There will also be live music featuring local performers.
More ArtWalk events will take place this summer on June 3, July 8, August 5 and September 2.
Visit www.artwalkstalbert.com for more info and updates.
