Spotlight: Fort Pierce Art Walk
Written by: Willi Miller
The art explosion in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce might seem like something very new, but Art Walk has been happening for more than a decade. Granted, it was a shorter walk when it was started by the artists of Art Mundo, a cooperative by 40 independent artists in an old bank building at 111 Orange Avenue. Many of the artists scattered when the rent was raised by new owners of the building, with some of them establishing their own studios or galleries downtown. An artist friend from Seriously Mixed Media, Janet Bird Fuller, told me there are still more than 20 artists and a printing business in the Art Bank.
Art Walk participating galleries, as well as artists, can vary in number from month to month, but some things never change. Fuller said, “Art Walk occurs 12 months a year–on the 3rd Friday of every month from 5-8 p.m. Rain or shine. In the decade-old history of Art Walk, we have never canceled an event–except, for a hurricane.”
Fuller described a typical Art Walk as the only time in the month when all the artists are in attendance to visit with Art Walkers. “Light refreshments are served. There is live music and performance art on the Downtown sidewalks. Periodically, there are live art demos. In season, galleries host guest artists’ exhibits.”
Art Walk does not have a website but is very active on Facebook, where a map and a list of the galleries are posted for download a few days before Art Walk evening. Some restaurants and retail shops keep extended hours during Art Walk but for the most part, do not host related events or promotions. Except, Fuller said, for “Notions & Potions at 116 2nd St. Beryl Muise, the shop owner, is very active in the Downtown Business Association and hosts local artists’ exhibits and monthly promotions that include our art galleries, such as Christmas in July. Last Art Walk, she hosted a free paint party, whereby anyone could paint wooden fish for the Main Street Fort Pierce Edgartown Fish on a Fence Project. Swig of Color frequently hosts paint parties during Art Walk.”
Fish on a Fence? “Main Street Fort Pierce is hosting the most extraordinary community art project. Local artists are painting and decorating three different fish and a Manatee—over 100 in all—that will be displayed on a fence across the street from their office at the Platts/Backus House.
The next Art Walk is Friday, August 16, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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