December 19, 2006

By Jim Balow
Staff writer

Gallery owners pump new life into Art Walk

Newspapers covered the first Art Walk in 2003 with great fanfare, with preview stories and at least one follow-up review the next day.

Months later, the Gazette deemed what was then called the Art in the Heart downtown gallery walk a “Best bet, an event worth noting.”

“The first year, we had a lot of traffic,” recalled Angie Mullins, director of the Annex Gallery at Taylor Books on Capitol Street, one of the core participants.

But as months turned into years, interest by both the public and the media dwindled. “It did seem to fizzle,” Mullins said, “but I think that was because we weren’t meeting and coming up with ideas.”

When photographer Steve Payne closed his gallery this summer, taking along his partner, Art Walk founder Callen McJunkin, some other gallery managers decided it was time to take action.

“Traci [Higginbotham of Art Emporium], myself, Amy Williams, we got another group together,” said Sandy Eads, manager of Showcase West Virginia on Quarrier Street.

One of the group’s first goals is to get more participants. Eight shops were open for a successful walk Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiving, and each plans to join in for the next monthly walk from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Roger Lucas, an early participant, has rejoined, Eads said.

Others will join next year. “Like the Consignment Shop next door, they can’t do it until next year. The cigar store — he’s putting in a gallery. Cilantros’, they’re starting to show photos by Steve Payne.

“There are so many neat places downtown. People need to know about them.”

Part of the problem is a lack of publicity, Eads said. “You’ve heard that the city is offering free parking downtown on Saturdays? They don’t advertise it. So we have people coming downtown, parking their cars and putting money in the meters.

That’s where Susie Salisbury might help. Salisbury, a vice president with the Charleston Area Alliance, has offered the business group’s help in finding corporate sponsors for advertising dollars.

“We’d like to have some new fliers printed up that we could put in hotels for people visiting,” Mullins said.

Participating galleries once considered, then rejected, the idea of forming a nonprofit group, she said — too much paperwork. “Susie explained we could fall under the umbrella of the Alliance. They could hold our funds and apply for grants for us. That was quite eye-opening.”

During summer months, theater groups or roving musicians could be an added draw. (If you see caroling Girl Scouts or church choirs on Thursday, you can thank Salisbury.)

Already, each store tries to offer something special for each Art Walk, Eads said. “Our store, we do sampling of West Virginia wines and foods. We’re also trying to get the release of the new Mountain Thyme CD Thursday. They’ll be here that night.” Performing? “We hope.”

At Art Emporium down the street, General Manager Traci Higginbotham plans to bring in folks from Allied Artists, as usual. “They set up easels and paint, and we have food. Sometimes we have musicians.”

She and owner Peter Bramberg have been working to improve the Art Walks. “We sit down once a month,” he said. “We come up with a game plan. In some cases, we’ve gotten some restaurants to offer discounts to be part of the Art Walk. The thing I’m surprised at is about the businesses are eager to join in. You don’t see that in big cities.”

Art Walk is not a big moneymaker, at least not immediately, Bramberg said. “We don’t do a lot of sales because people don’t want to carry things around, but it plants a seed in a relaxed atmosphere.

“There’s a core group of around 40 people. They come to see new items. They’ve discovered the secret of Art Walk. And you get newcomers who learn how neat downtown is. Usually it’s families — families and couples.”

To contact staff writer Jim Balow, use e-mail or call 348-5102.