After a quiet winter season, Moab Art Walk is back, and it’s bigger than ever before.
The first Art Walk of 2016 will be held in downtown Moab on Saturday, April 9, and event organizers plan to spice everything up with live music, performance art and other activities that engage participants.
“We’re trying to get things a little more interactive and a little more exciting, so when folks are walking downtown, they’re not just popping in and out of art galleries,” Moab City Arts and Special Events Manager Meg Stewart said.
The highlights include a live performance from the Fiery Furnace Marching Band, a New Orleans-style group that is planning to lead a parade of Art Walkers to the Moab Arts and Recreation Center between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. that night.
“They’re just fantastic, super-great musicians,” Stewart said.
Elizabeth Jimenez Ross will also lead fire-spinning and fire-dancing performances in front of the MARC, which is located at 111 E. 100 North.
Inside the MARC, Art Walkers can check out the new exhibit “Zero Latent Habitants” from local artist Tim McCallister. The artist who goes by the moniker MIK Allister creates assemblage sculpture art from upcycled objects he finds in and around Moab.
“He has a bunch of new and really amazing pieces that he’s going to be showing here,” Stewart said.
Moab artist Sean-Paul Schulte will be selling original artwork at the MARC, including greeting cards that he’ll make on the spot.
For those who’d like to make their own art, the MARC will be setting up a do-it-yourself crafting table. Once they’re done with their creations, they can take everything home with them. Art Walkers who stop by the MARC can also find wearable art for sale, and Andrea Grace of Grace Wellness will be offering chair massages at the MARC from 6 to 8 p.m.
“So if anyone wants to swing by and get a little healing art, you can get that too,” Stewart said.
In addition to the MARC, returning Art Walk participants include Triassic Industries at 7 N. Main St.,Tom Till Gallery at 61 N. Main St., and Gallery Moab at 87 N. Main St. Off Moab’s main drag, Moonflower Community Cooperative at 39 E. 100 North, the Framed Image at 59 E. Center St. and the Museum of Moab at 118 E. Center St. are also joining the event.
This year, event organizers are welcoming two Art Walk members: Lema’s Kokopelli Gallery at 70 N. Main St. and Moab Made, a new store in the Moab BARKery’s former space at 82 N. Main St. that features local arts and crafts.
April 9 also happens to be Moab Made’s official grand opening, although the store is already open for business.
“It’s so creative, the way the shop is set up,” Stewart said. “It’s got this incredible artistic vibe. The way that everything is laid out is so tasteful.”
To promote the event, participating businesses will be handing out punch cards to Art Walkers; anyone who stops by all nine locations can redeem the cards for the chance to win a gift certificate from Zax Restaurant.
Event features live music, fire-spinning and new MARC exhibit
“We’re trying to get things a little more interactive and a little more exciting, so when folks are walking downtown, they’re not just popping in and out of art galleries.”
When: Saturday, April 9, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Downtown Moab
Cost: Free
For more information, go to moabartwalk.com. If you own a business and would like to join Moab Art Walk, call Meg Stewart at 435-259-6272, or email mstewart@moabcity.org.
