Add to your summer to-do list: Downtown GalleryWalk

Did you know Bloomington’s downtown area is host to nine different art galleries?

All nine exhibits differ in style and medium of art, and each serve as an outlet for local and regional artists.

Although many of the galleries are open to the public every day of the week, the city of Bloomington and several local arts and entertainment organizations came up with the idea for Downtown GalleryWalk.

The Downtown GalleryWalk happens every two months and invites patrons to explore the diversity of Bloomington through original artwork. All of the featured galleries are within walking distance from one another and stay open late for the occasion.

The galleries featured on the Downtown GalleryWalk include Bellevue Gallery, Gallery North on the Square, The Venue Fine Art & Gifts, By Hand Gallery, Glorious Moments Fine Art Gallery, The Waldron Galleries & Gift Shop, gallery 406, Pictura Gallery and the Wandering Turtle Art Gallery & Gifts.

It is my opinion that the Downtown GalleryWalk was created in order to revive the arts community in Bloomington after a few financially tough years for local organizations like the John Waldron Arts Center. The move to push Bloomington back into the limelight as an arts destination has taken effect throughout the community already.

The first Downtown GalleryWalk took place Feb. 5, and the next is on Aug. 6. But don’t wait until then to experience the rich talent of Bloomington’s artists. Be it crafts, paintings or jewelry, you’re sure to find a unique gift or an arousing spark of the imagination.

More information on the galleries mentioned in this column can be found at www.visitbloomington.com/galleries and www.gallerywalkbloomington.com.

Walk this way

Here is a list of the galleries featured on the Downtown GalleryWalk. These galleries will satisfy your artistic cravings with their varying atmospheric styles.

Bellevue Gallery
107 W. 9th St.
349-4242
www.bellevuegallery.org

By Hand Gallery
101 W. Kirkwood Ave.
109 Fountain Square Mall
334-3255
byhand@bloomington.in.us
www.bloomington.in.us/~byhand

gallery406
Spectrum Studio of Photography & Design
406 S. Walnut St.
333-0536
www.spectrumstudioinc.com

Gallery North on the Square
The Wicks Building
116 W. 6th St.
339-5729
www.gallery-north.org

Glorious Moments Fine Art Gallery
109 E. Kirkwood Ave.
287-8212
www.gloriousmoments.com

Pictura Gallery
122 W. 6th St.
336-0000
www.picturagallery.com

The Venue Fine Art & Gifts
114 S. Grant St.
339-4200
www.thevenuebloomington.com
venue.colman@gmail.com

The Waldron Galleries & Gift Shop
122 S. Walnut St.
334-3100
www.artlives.org
www.flickr.com

Wandering Turtle Art Gallery & Gifts
Inside the Wicks Building
116 W. 6th St.
330-1990
www.wanderingturtle.com