Find Your Way in Downtown Alameda for the 2nd Friday Art Walk

When is a Friday night better than any other Friday night in Downtown Alameda? When it’s a 2nd Friday Art Walk! (By the way, this month’s 2nd Friday is just a few days away.)

2nd Fridays are a monthly celebration of the arts and worth the experience. Whether your interest is in paintings, photographs, printmaking, sculpture, or mixed media, there’s something for everyone to enjoy while in Downtown Alameda on a 2nd Friday. Best of all, 2nd Friday Art Walks are totally free and guests can go from venue to venue at your own pace.

Local galleries and businesses throughout Downtown Alameda work hard to make 2nd Fridays an exciting and relaxing evening for the community. Studios throughout the district take the time to open their creative havens to the public. Artists make huge efforts to show fresh, new, and exciting works.

You’ll want to visit multiple galleries on 2nd Fridays to view amazing visual art alongside performance art, live music, DJ’s, and/or film screenings. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists and to learn about their creative process.

Most venues serve wine and light snacks; some provide live music or other entertainment. Local restaurants, shops, and coffee houses in Downtown Alameda also participate in 2nd Fridays by featuring changing art exhibits, special guest appearances, or creative dining experiences.

The 2nd Friday Art Walk is held every second Friday of the month. Activities are typically scheduled from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, but times may vary slightly at some locations. Be sure to check the event website for locations and schedules: http://fridayartwalk.com

You can also find official art walk maps at a number of Downtown Alameda businesses.

Artists Supporting Community, Local Business, and Local Art
Studio 23 is a small independent art studio and community gallery space located just off Park Street. You’ll find it on the corner of Encinal and Oak, behind the old Lock & Glass building. The gallery is run by Wesley and Jessica Warren (aka Wes and Jess), two artists who have been creating art together for over 20 years.

Opening an art studio and starting the art group Alameda Artists in 2013 has led to several reoccurring group art shows happening in conjunction with 2nd Fridays: February’s “Eat Your Heart Out”, June’s Alameda Summer Art Fair, and October’s Black Light Art Show.

This September, prompted by Vintiq’s Steve Gray Digilio, they will be promoting “Art For Animals” where a portion of proceeds from the 2nd Friday art walk will go to Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS).

The monthly 2nd Friday Art Walk was first initiated in 2009 under the name Estuary Art Attack but the event took place sporadically over the years. To continue on the path formed by the original organizers, Wes and Jess have been working hard for the last three years to keep 2nd Fridays going every month.

“All our extra time and money has gone into 2nd Friday shows and art events,” explains Jessica. “We love art, Alameda, and artists so there is no other way we’d rather spend our time.”

Several galleries in the area have now joined forces to make this happen, including The Alley, Vintiq, Redux, 3 Dot Art Gallery, Autobody, Starbaby Studios, Tiger’s Blood Social Club, Twirl, and Julie’s Tea & Coffee.

“We feel blessed and excited to be a part of such a great town,” says Jessica. “There are just so many amazing people here!”

Join the 2nd Friday Art Walk!

The 2nd Friday Art Walk is held every second Friday of the month, rain or shine. Being a part of 2nd Fridays is easy! Any local business in Alameda or Jingletown can participate.

How to participate:

1. Hang the 2nd Friday sign up in your establishment, preferably your storefront window.
2. Be open 2nd Fridays between 6-9pm.  Times may slightly vary.

It’s really that easy!

Other ways to get involved

• Create a 2nd Friday Special.  (Example: Buy one ice cream get two or 10% off drinks.)
• Create a unique 2nd Friday appetizer or cocktail,… 2nd Fri Mai Tai, 2nd Fri-tinis!

Get on the map
To be included on the website map you must do the following:

• Register at http://fridayartwalk.com to add your location.
• Agree to be open from 6-9PM on 2nd Fridays. (To appear on the online calendar you must enter events!)

To be on the printed maps
New maps are continually printed throughout the year. There is a small fee to be included on the printed map – this helps pay for the printing and marketing costs. You can find maps at various locations in Alameda and Jingletown.

For more information, email Wes and Jess at art at alamedaartists dot com (Sound it out)

Article Source:

Find Your Way in Downtown Alameda for the 2nd Friday Art Walk