10th Annual Gresham Art Walk

Last month, the Gresham Art Walk turned 10! What a huge milestone for this volunteer group that began with a handful of artists and that has now grown to well over 150 artists this year.

On Saturday, July 16th, gray skies and billowy clouds produced a soggy start to the 10th Annual Art Walk but didn’t dampen the spirits.  Mayor Shane Bemis kicked off the day’s festivities followed by a surprise “flash mob” of choral singers twirling handmade umbrellas with the words “Art Walk 2011” festooned on the outside.  The mood picked up and so did the crowds. Thousands filled the streets on Main Avenue from 1st through 5th Streets.  Many brought their families while others had a solo dog in tow.  Hardly a child passed by without a painted face. Music & entertainment filled the air on every major block including Jazz, Blues, Rock & Roll, Afro Pop and Mexican Folklorico dancers.  Artists from all over the region displayed their art for all to see and buy.

It took nearly 50 volunteers, more than 150 artisans from Oregon and Washington, and a volunteer Board committed to making this Art Walk better than the last to make it all happen and come together.  Not only was art purchased and appreciated but visitors witnessed first-hand Gresham’s community that has heart and soul.  The feedback I heard constantly from folks was that the art was first class, the music provided a good vibe and the sense of community provided a friendly, personal touch to our artists and those strolling the streets.

As Mark Garber stated in his July 9th editorial in the Gresham Outlook, “Community festivals (like the Gresham Art Walk) not only provide for a great quality of life for local residents, they also offer a tremendous marketing opportunity to showcase the community.”  Business owner Kevin Conard of Jazzy Bagels said his busiest sales day of the year, by far, is the Gresham Art Walk.  While the Gresham Art Walk is about art, it’s also about community and giving Gresham a time to shine.  I can’t think of a better winning combination for our community than art, music, kids, dogs, smiles and sheer fun.

Thank you Gresham for coming out to the event, supporting local artisans, and enjoying the ambience of Historic Downtown Gresham.  Please mark your calendars for the 11th Anniversary next year on the third Saturday, July 21, 2012.  Hope to see you all then!

Judy Han
President of the Gresham Art Walk Board

- From a letter to the editor…

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