Tyler ArtWalk expands to include music, art demos, more artists

by Piney Woods Live Staff

Houston's Fly Dance Company, who will perform a “Healthy Hip Hop” program, FlyKids from Tyler, and Tyler Junior College Academy of Dance members are among those who will perform.

TYLER — Saturday’s Downtown Tyler ArtWalk is being referred to as “mega-sized” by event organizers as the event expands in hours and format and moves to a new day of the week.

The third-quarter ArtWalk is set for Saturday, Sept. 22, 4-9 p.m., throughout the downtown area.

More than 20 visual artists of a variety of mediums will display their original art in businesses, on the sidewalk and at the T.B. Butler Plaza. Types of art include acrylic, oil, ceramic, woodworking, photography, tribal art and other mediums.

Diverse demonstrations will also be featured, from a spray-paint artist to “make your own” pottery tiles to a blacksmith artist. Among the demos will also be a caricature artist. Downtown’s own David Wallace, known for his “found art” assemblies, will do an installation that will remain in the downtown area for a short period of time.

For the first time ever, ArtWalk will feature a large stage with musicians and dancers performing from 4-9 p.m. Among the featured artists will be the Fly Dance Company from Houston, who will perform a “Healthy Hip Hop” program aimed at young people. They will be joined by FlyKids later in the program to entertain audiences. Also among the dance performances will be presentations by the Tyler Junior College Academy of Dance.

Poet Aaron Dunn will give readings during the event, and a spray paint artist will demonstrate his unique art form in a new ArtWalk venue, a basement location, throughout the event.

Musicians, including a Flamenco guitarist, will perform. The “Art of Peace” project will have a display in the conference room of Gallery Main Street, where Keep Tyler Beautiful will work with ArtWalk attendees to create origami peace cranes. Gallery Main Street’s 6x6@110 fundraiser exhibit will continue as well.

A newly formed fiber arts group will exhibit its creations en masse on the plaza. Another new addition will be a memorial to a late ArtWalk supporter. “Debbie’s Creation Station” is being organized by friends and fellow Heart of Tyler board members in memory of downtown revitalization volunteer Debbie Johnson Arredondo. Visitors will have the opportunity to create their own work of art at the Creation Station and commemorate Johnson Arredondo’s love of creativity.

Finally, teasers for the upcoming Downtown Tyler Film Festival will be shown in the gallery area. The Film Fest is set for Oct. 24-27 at Liberty Hall.

More information on ArtWalk can be found at www.downtowntylerarts.com or by calling (903) 593-6905.