8 galleries team up for group exhibit

The Downtown Gallery Walk will display exhibits from eight local galleries Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.\nThe free Gallery Walk, open to IU students and the public, celebrates the beauty and diversity of visual arts in Bloomington. Those attending can walk through the new exhibits while meeting the featured artists. All the galleries are within walking distance of one another in downtown Bloomington.\nMiah Michaelsen, executive director of the Bloomington Area Arts Council, said the goal of the walk is to “get people downtown, and get people walking and looking at great art.”\nMichaelsen said she hopes people come with the intention of “experiencing everything downtown has to offer, while supporting the local arts scene.”\nThe featured galleries will be the Bellevue Gallery, By Hand Gallery, Gallery North on the Square, John Waldron Arts Center Galleries & Gift Shop, Prima Gallery, Textillery Gallery at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Tutto Bene Gallery and Wandering Turtle Art Gallery & Gift Shop.\nThere are four gallery walks each year, on the first Friday of April, July, October and December. Each of the chosen galleries submitted an application at the start of the year. Once a gallery is chosen, they are qualified to display an exhibit at all four of the Gallery Walks.\nHeather Lynn, an intern and special-events assistant for the John Waldron Arts Center, expects a large turnout because each of the eight galleries appeals to certain groups and each has its own support group. \nLynn said the John Waldron Arts Center has chosen exhibits that “align with the mission of the gallery and the Bloomington Area Arts Council.” Lynn added that the walk will strive to “challenge, educate and stimulate the public.”\n“I have not heard of the Gallery Walk until now, but I am definitely considering going this weekend,” sophomore Jordan Smeltzer said. “There are not many events like the Gallery Walk where there is such an eclectic group of artwork being displayed within walking distance from one another all at once.”\nLynn said that beyond the actual art work, she is “excited to see people out and about.” Overall, she hopes everyone can “enjoy great artwork and a wonderful evening.”