ArtWalks are a celebration of artistic expression that bring together artists, enthusiasts, and curious souls, fostering a dynamic atmosphere of creativity. The events offer a unique opportunity for artists to showcase their work, often showcasing many different mediums.
“The ArtWalk is a free community event that takes place Saturday evenings in downtown Moab,” Kelley McInerney, the arts and special events director at Moab Arts, said. “Participating locations welcome you in to view the rotating exhibit of artwork on display, talk with the creators, and visit with your community members.”
Moab Arts and Gallery Moab have organized ArtWalks for more than 15 years, McInerney said. Participating locations have changed, but the core of the event has stayed the same.
This year includes four locations: the Tom Till Gallery, Moonflower Community Cooperative, Gallery Moab, and Moab Arts. ArtWalks take place on the second Saturday of the month throughout the year; the next event will take place on June 10 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Moonflower will feature artist Holls Walck, also known as PineBones. Their bio reads: “Inspired by the environment & ecology around them, Holls Walck delves into connections rooted within the natural world. The Moab-based illustrator’s work is fueled by wilderness and isolation. Originally a northeast transplant, Walck relocated to the West to focus on artistic exploration. Focusing on elements such as hydrology, selenography, desert textures, and native flora & fauna, Walck’s illustrations are a personal reflection of their experiences & relationships with the sacredness of the natural spaces they encounter & dwell.”
Gallery Moab is featuring two artists this month: Whit Richardson, a landscape photographer, and Deborah McDermott, an acrylic painter and linocut printer.
“Richardson captures light, weather, and seasons in his landscape photography,” the Moab Arts website reads.“Known also for his real estate and magazine photos, Whit Richardson shows his artistic work, born of his outdoor adventures, during the month of June.”
McDermott is a gallery member who specializes in acrylic painting and linocut prints. She will display work inspired by lichen—“colorful and complex micro inhabitants living on sandstone.”
Moab Arts will feature Samantha Metzner, a fine art photographer who specializes in alternative printing processes such as Vandyke brown printing. Her name may be familiar to Moabites, as she was last year’s “Community Artist in the Parks,” meaning she spent the summer months creating art in the Southeast Utah Group of National Parks.
The theme of her Moab Arts show “seeks to explore connection with place and what it means to develop a sense of place,” according to the Moab Arts website.
“Through showcasing various portraits within the landscapes of southeastern Utah, I am to illustrate the emotive qualities of place and what it means to be immersed within a landscape that creates and sustains solace, a broader connection with the land and ecosystems, and a sense of awe.”
Metzner will also be hosting a workshop, “The Vandyke Brown Print + the Magic of Alternative Processes” on June 24 from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. Registration is $45 and all materials will be provided. More information can be found on the Moab Arts website, moabarts.org.
If you miss the ArtWalk, don’t worry—art at each location will be on display throughout the month.
The June ArtWalk will take place on June 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. More information can be found on the Moab Arts website, www.moabarts.org.
