Jillian Knapp, owner of Rosewood Home & Gifts, welcomes James Johnson-Corwin, an acrylic painter/illustrator, to show his work and conduct a demonstration during the launch of ArtWalk Westfield.
WESTFIELD – ArtWalk Westfield, a free art and cultural experience that takes each month in downtown Westfield, will feature a unique mix of local and regional artists Friday.
The May ArtWalk is May 17 from 5-7 p.m. in pop-up art galleries located in the Gaslight Gallery District along Elm Street between Church and School streets.
Immediately following the ArtWalk experience, ArtWorks Westfield has partnered with Westfield On Weekends and Westfield Creative Arts to present ArtWalk After Hours at Westfield Creative Arts, 105 Elm St., one block north of the Gaslight Gallery District.
The “ArtWalk After Party,” a coffee house featuring live, local musicians in the intimate setting of the WCA Gallery, is free to the general public and those who have attended the evening’s ArtWalk to meet up and continue to enjoy local arts.
May ArtWalk Westfield will feature several artists who are making their Westfield gallery debuts while two Westfield-based artists will be back to showcase their new collections
Thomas Rickis, a Westfield artist who recently showed his work at the Articulture Westfield Art Show and captured the Best In Show-Third Place award, will be the featured artist at Blended Vintage Marketplace.
Dale Dicodemi, a Westfield –based oil painter who recently showcased her work in the Southwick Fine Art Exhibition and Articulture Westfield Art Show, will be featured at Mama Cakes.
Bob Bernardara, a Westfield-based photographer and owner of b3 Creative, will show his work at Two Rivers Burrito.
Ashley Cocchi, a 2007 WHS graduate and 2013 BFA graduate from The Art Institute of Boston, will make her Westfield gallery debut at Rosewood Home & Gifts. Cocchi works with alcohol ink on yupo paper.
Matt Talmadge, a Westfield -based photographer who made his gallery debut at the recent Articulture Westfield Art Show, will show his art work at Fast Feet.
Kamila O’Neill , a Westfield-based photographer who recently showed her work at the Articulture Westfield Art Show, will be a featured street artist.
All artists will be on hand at each pop up gallery location to answer questions and chat about their work. Most pieces of artwork will be available for purchase.
“ArtWalk Westfield is a free cultural event and the public is encouraged to experience some wonderful local art work and rediscover downtown Westfield,” said Bill Westerlind, ArtWorks Westfield president. “For the second consecutive month we have partnered with Westfield Creative Arts to bring another new cultural experience to the community with the ArtWalk AfterHours event at the Westfield Creative Arts Gallery immediately after ArtWalk Westfield. This is the first of many planned efforts to collaborate with local art and cultural groups to expand community access to free and enriching cultural experiences in Westfield. Make it a “Friday Night Out” in downtown exploration … dining, refreshments, shopping, art and culture experiences all within walking distance along Elm Street.”
ArtWalk Westfield is held on the third Friday of each month from 5-7 p.m. May through August.
