New activities featured at Art Walk

By Kat Bryant

The Daily World

Downtown Aberdeen’s 19th annual Art Walk will offer something for everyone this Saturday, including several new elements.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors will be able to browse the wares of more than 90 artists and vendors from all over Western Washington. Booths will be set up along several blocks in the area of Broadway and Wishkah streets.

“I’m so excited, for the second year in a row we can offer free booths for the artists, showcasing the best of Western Washington artists in all mediums, from fine art to music,” said event chairwoman Tawni Andrews.

As always, admission is free. “We don’t have any proceeds,” said Kathi Prieto, who serves as the event’s artist and vendor chairwoman. “We get a nonprofit grant and vendor fees, (and) that all goes to craft supplies, insurance, porta-potties, T-shirts, advertising.”

This year for the first time, walking tours of Aberdeen’s downtown murals will be offered throughout the day, talking about the stories and artists behind them. Sylvia Dickerson, who has been involved in locating several of the murals, will host the tour. A schedule will be posted at the information booth, at the corner of Broadway and Wishkah.

Also new will be a pet costume contest at noon on the main stage. Registration deadline is 11:30 a.m. at the Dennis Co. booth, next to the main stage. Prizes will be awarded for best overall costume and most creative costume. All household pets are eligible — not just dogs.

“Not only has this event grown by leaps and bounds these last two years, but we also made it more interactive for public involvement in hopes that people are excited to join in,” said Prieto. “It’s our goal to add more activities each year.”

The Kids Corner, on I Street near Anne Marie’s Cafe, will offer sidewalk chalk drawing, various crafts, and face painting by Teresa Maria from Olympia.

Local “Artists in Action” will be showing off their talents at several booths, creating various kinds of artwork for all to see and answering questions about their crafts.

Music for the main stage is being managed for the first time by Wil Russoul’s nonprofit Stone Soup Artists. Prieto said they brought on Stone Soup after experiencing problems last year: Despite their request for strictly family-friendly acts, she said, the manager booked “a couple of really loud bands that were confrontational with staff … which upset several people, including us.”

She’s confident things will go more smoothly this year. “Stone Soup is a great group of people who adjust to their audience and are dependable.”

Main-stage acts scheduled for this year range from Ty Wulf (of Rebel Skum) to Lisa Ramsauer.

In addition, local musician Michael Aronson will be playing at Alder Grove Gallery in the Aberdeen Art Center during the event.; and at Tinderbox Coffee Roasters, Ken Albert and Christine Hill will perform at 1 p.m., followed by Amanda Ranson.

Miscellaneous features will include roving costumed characters posing for photo opps, as well as a 10:30 a.m. performance by the Kaleidoscope Belly Dancers on Broadway.

Steam Donkey Brewing Co. will host a beer garden in front of its business at 101 E. Wishkah St. Food options will include Sgt. Brand’s BBQ, Simply Kettle Corn, and the Grays Harbor Democrats’ onion burgers.

Finally, if you’re not too tired from walking around all day Saturday, the related Art Attack Fun Run will be held Sunday at the Bishop Athletic Complex. It will include 2 -mile, 5K and 10K runs.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and the race at 9. The fee is $15 per person, and the proceeds will help support Grays Harbor Search and Rescue, a nonprofit volunteer organization.

For more information about both events, visit aberdeenartwalk.com.