Wed, 06/06/2018 - 10:30am

Kim Traina

ArtWalk Volunteers meet at River Arts: Kristy Battles from Newcastle Realty (treasurer); Rob Jones and Barbie Mazurek from Wooden Alchemy; Patti Brown from Newcastle Realty (brochures and poster distribution); Linda Morkeski from River Arts; Will Kefauver, artist, (Ad committee); Marnie Sinclair, artist; Roz Welsh, artist; Grace Goldberg, Savory Maine; Kim Traina, Jumpstart Creative (design and marketing chair); Kathleen Horst (organizational chair). Photograph by: Rebecca Norton.

Twin Villages ArtWalk, celebrating its sixth season, will bring a festive atmosphere, celebrating art and artists, to Damariscotta and Newcastle, Friday, June 15, 4-7 p.m. Nineteen galleries and businesses, hosting local artists, will open their doors to the public to enjoy collections of paintings, pastels, crafts, sculpture, jewelry and pottery. Many venues offer refreshments and opportunities to meet the artists, along with demonstrations and hands-on activities.

This year, partnering with Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce has given the Twin Villages ArtWalk a new boost of marketing collaboration. In April, 12 artists and representatives from local businesses met to organize a huge volunteer effort to bring the ArtWalk to fruition once again. Kathleen Horst, organizational chairman, Kim Traina, design and marketing chair, and Kristy Battles, treasurer, approached the Chamber about joining forces to help both the ArtWalk and the Twin Village communities, have more visibility through joint marketing efforts. The board of the Chamber voted to take the ArtWalk on as a sponsored event for this season.

Yellow ArtWalk flags will be hung to mark participating galleries and businesses, which this year, include seven new venues. Among the 19 locations open this year, participants include Stars, Art & Jewelry; Wooden Alchemy, Gallery; Newcastle Realty, Local Artists; O Cha, Local Artists; Twin Villages Church, Local Artists; Gifts at 136, Fine Art and Craft; Damariscotta River Grill, Local Artists; Aboca Beads, Live Demonstrations; Skidompha Secondhand Book Shop, Local Artists; Legacy Properties, Local Artists; Savory Maine, Local Artists; Stable Gallery; Firehouse Center Gallery, Joseph Fiore Paintings; Kefauver Studio & Gallery; Jan Kilburn Art Studio; Sinclair Gallery; Kathleen Horst Gallery; YMCA, Jane Dahmen Art; and River Arts Gallery.

Colorful brochures with maps are available at each participating venue, along with sponsor venues: Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce, The Lincoln Home, Milling Around, King Eider’s Pub, Weatherbird, Damariscotta Pottery, Artsake Framing, Cherry Gallery, Newcastle Realty, Phelps Architects, Salt Bay Art Supply, Salt Bay Framers and Round Top Ice Cream.

Follow us on facebook.com/TwinVillagesArt Walk. For more information, or to get involved with the ArtWalk, please contact Kathleen Horst, kathleenmhorst@gmail.com. To exhibit in the artist tent rental space for any or all of our third Friday ArtWalks, contact Hollie Fleming at hollieland@hotmail.com. The rental cost is minimal, but artists must provide their own tent and display table.

The ArtWalk, a free, self-guided event, increases community awareness of diverse local art, makes shows more inviting to the general public and fosters the creative economy. Art will also be displayed in tents set up at Damariscotta River Distribution, an oyster raw bar, at 68 Main St. in Newcastle. ArtWalks are on the third Friday of each month through September - July 20, Aug. 17 and Sept. 21.