Bloomington Gallery Walk hosted its monthly event, Arts Mile, on Nov. 1. Arts Mile features local artists at 14 galleries that the community can view after regular hours on the first Friday of every month.
The 14 galleries and locations were: Backspace Gallery, By Hand Gallery, Cook Center for Public Arts and Humanities, Engraving and Stamp Center, Gallery B at Bloomingfoods, Bloomington Fine Art Supply, Juniper Art Gallery, John Waldron Arts Center, Lotus Firebay, Monroe Convention Center, Pictura Gallery, Rainbow Bakery, The Vault at Gallery Mortgage and The Venue Fine Art and Gifts.
Constellation Stage and Screen Gallery Manager Sarah Nichols hosted three galleries at the John Waldron Arts Center. She said Arts Mile brings the community closer together through art.
“It feels incredible to have an art space that is available for our community,” Nichols said. “Part of our mission statement is to showcase local or regional artists, which I feel proud to be able to do here.”
This event allows local artists to display their work, which builds a strong community of support for the arts in Bloomington. According to Nichols, many businesses and gallery owners were excited to host this event in order to continue spreading art throughout downtown Bloomington.
“It makes it accessible for people to be able to not only come out and see really great art, but to be able to support artists in their community as well,” Nichols said.
Walking through the different galleries in downtown Bloomington from Jackson Street to Woodlawn Avenue, visitors got the opportunity to learn about the different art mediums as well as the artists’ backstories. Local fused glass artist Anne Brahaum showcased her work at Monroe Convention Center and discussed her fulfillment in teaching classes at Bloomington Creative Glass Center, which Arts Mile gives her the chance to gain more clientele. She also sells her fused glass home decorations on Etsy, apart from the gallery.
“I really like that people can see all the different ways that you can work with different mediums,” Brahaum said. “It gives me a chance to talk to people about how I make things and getting them to come do classes.”
Local artist Andrew Polk hosted his gallery at Bloomington Fine Art Supply. He explained his personal favorite piece, Cemetery Dogs highlights the overlap of life, death and its remembrance. He based the drawing off his own two rescue dogs, Jack and Jill, and their playful fights that can turn aggressive by capturing a photograph and montaging it together with an image of a local cemetery.
“I thought I liked this juxtaposition between the dogs sort of playing and fighting to this scene that was about remembering people who have passed on,” Polk said.
Polk was able to share this experience with his daughter and wife, who joined him in interacting with guests at the gallery. His daughter walked around explaining each of the processes and stories behind the art, while his wife sat down with Polk while they greeted their friends and visitors.
Visitors can see more galleries during next month’s Arts Mile on Dec. 6.
