Downtown Gallery Walk spans 9 art venues

The Bloomington Area Arts Council will host a Downtown Gallery Walk from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday. The event, which is free and open to the public, will bring together more than 60 artists from five surrounding counties to display their work at nine galleries located in and around downtown Bloomington.\nThe Monroe County Historical Society is collaborating in this event. Managing Director Jill Lesh said it has been a common goal of the historical society to work more with the Bloomington Area Arts Council since both groups share a common goal of educating and involving the public in Bloomington art and history.\n"We wanted to try it and expand it," said Ed Vande Sande, director of development and marketing for the council. "It was a fundraiser for the history center, but it was just such a fun collaboration."\nThe historical society will have two displays -- one showcasing nativity scenes from around the world and another displaying more than 200 years of chairs, Lesh said.\n"We have over 60 chairs, including the chair that Bobby Knight threw," Lesh said. "Someone collected it after he threw it, and then they lent it to us to display."\nAdditionally, more than 70 artwork objects will be featured in a silent auction, each embodying the theme "the beauty of trees." The money from the auction will benefit the Monroe County Historical Society.\nThe event will also feature a chance for local artists to sell and display their artwork. \n"We'll convert all the galleries into shop space for local artists that don't often have the opportunity (to) sell," Vande Sande said. "This enables a lot more artists to exhibit, hopefully sell their work and develop skills to earn a living in the arts. The only things you'll find here, and we're very proud of this, is art from local artists.\n"All the work you're going to see here is work by IU students, faculty and a myriad of others," Vande Sande said. "You get to meet these people and learn more about the community itself. ... There are some incredible deals to get your Christmas shopping done."\nFor more information about the event, visit www.artlives.org or www.monroehistory.org.