When there are monumental moments in life, our culture(s) celebrates these milestones, rites of passage as defining moments — becoming. Ceremonies by all cultures mark the significance of events that we experience. We have banquets and bar mitzvahs, coronations and christenings, weddings and anniversaries, birthdays and graduations, namings and funerals. We give out promotions and awards, and for events we have opening and closing ceremonies.
During my life, I have become many things. I have become a mother and grandmother. I became both an employee and an employer, but now I have become disabled. I became a walker and a volunteer. Of all the things I have become, the one that still surprises me the most was becoming an artist.
When I moved up here in 2010, I did not consider myself an artist. I had been painting for a year but no one other than friends or family had ever seen my work. Artwalk changed all that. I had shown some of my work to Terry (a woman I met while walking), who works at Hi-Way Cabins. She asked me if I was going to go in the Artwalk that they had over the summer in the Creston Valley. Since I had only been here a month and did not think of myself as an artist, I had no idea what it was. She gave me the paper that had contact information and I went home and worked up the nerve to call. By making that call and registering with Artwalk, I had become an artist.
I look forward to participating in 2012’s Artwalk. It will be my third Artwalk, with my work being displayed in the windows of the Advance.
Andrea Revoy, the new director of Artwalk, is committed to its becoming a must see experience for Creston Valley residents as well as visitors to the region.
Some changes are in the wind for the Artwalk opening ceremonies. As always, there are two openings for Artwalk, one for the Creston Valley and one for the East Shore. The East Shore opening is June 23 and the Creston Valley opening is the following Saturday, June 30.
The East Shore opening on June 23 will be held in conjunction with the second annual Crawford Bay Paint-A-Thon. Dan Silakiewicz and Leah Wilson want to give everyone an opportunity to experience the event and interact with the artists. There will be a gallery in the front room of the Crawford Bay Hall showcasing the participants of the East Shore Artwalk. Both the paint-a-thon and the art gallery will be open to the public from 2-6 p.m., with gourmet pizza at 5:30 p.m. and an auction of the paint-a-thon creations at 6:30. A ticket can be purchased if you wish to participate in the auction.
The June 30 Creston Valley opening will be held in Spirit of Creston Square from 2-5 p.m. Along with an exhibition and sale of art by Artwalk participants, there will also be an art creation station for children with their art going on display. Howlin’ Dan will provide great music to listen to. Body art in the form of temporary tattoos by Val Van Der Poel and face painting by me will be available for everyone. There will even be cupcakes!
Brochures for ArtWalk that list the various venues and their artists will be available, which includes a map to make your walk or tour as simple and pleasant as possible. You will be able to enjoy and purchase art at any of the 27 venues that comprise 2012’s Artwalk.
I walk through town every day. During the summer, I love to go into the various venues in town to admire the work of the local artists. I’m amazed at how great the variety of art is and how talented the local artist community is. I am always inspired by it — and honored to be a part of it.
Whatever your taste, Artwalk is sure to entice you and whatever your pocketbook, you’ll find something just right on your Artwalk or studio tour.
There is a Mexican proverb that says, “Works, and not words, are the proof of love.” Come out and see the proof of how much we love our art.
Lori Wikdahl is a Creston Valley artist.