Third Saturday Art Walk Draws Crowd

Creativity comes alive along the streets of Roseville for the monthly 3rd Saturday Art Walks. That’s when artists, paintbrush in hand, come out of their studios and onto the sidewalks to showcase their creations.

“I think that we have a phenomenal number of very talented artists locally …it’s worth the effort to explore the different venues,” said Judi Nicholson who helps raise visibility of the local arts.

Nicholson said for June’s walk, the festivities spread to Old Town Roseville as Beatnik Books and the School of Arts Studio and Gallery, both on Lincoln Street, joined in to display art.

“There seems to be a growing enthusiasm from venues to be a part of the art walk,” Nicholson said.

What's missing in Downtown Roseville are dining options, which Nicholson said would attract more visitors to the art walk and downtown area. But that didn't stop the crowd from coming to May's 3rd Saturday.

Last month, the unpredictable spring weather cooperated and brought clear skies and warm temperatures to the 3rd Saturday Art Walk, held mostly in downtown Roseville. Small knots of people flowed in and out of ’s doors while the Jud Chapman Band provided some beats for the crowd inside. In another part of the reception space, an acrylic technique painting was coming to life at the hands of artist Maliheh Bartolomeo.   

Julie Hirota of Blue Line Gallery said Plates and Totems, which ran through June 1, brought lots of people out to the monthly art walk festivities.

Blue Line Gallery, the lead art gallery for the 3rd Saturday Art Walk, with its art reception, is a natural first stop before venturing out to 10 other venues located within a short walk or drive from the downtown area.

From 6-9 p.m., venues on Vernon Street and nearby keep their doors open for the crowd.

At hair salon Image Provocatuer, digital artist Kainan Becker set out art pieces on the sidewalk and hoped for more art cruisers than the April show when rain dampened the turnout at their location.

The 3rd Saturday Art Walk was created by the , which supports the art walk through their cultural arts department, the Downtown Merchants Association Inc., and the nonprofit foundation The arts group is dedicated to creating a vibrant art scene in Roseville and was the driving force behind the building of the Blue Line Gallery.  Its capital campaign raised the funds to create the 5,000-square-feet of exhibit space at the Roseville art gallery, which opened in 2008.

According to Jamie Carlson of the City of Roseville, the 3rd Saturday Art Walk organizers are “trying to support the arts and bring people into downtown in the evening.”

The event also complements the city’s and Downtown Merchants Association’s vision of a revitalized, vibrant, and walkable downtown with places to shop and enjoy morning to evening.

For Roseville Arts!, the event fulfills a desire to make the arts accessible to the community.

Each venue on the art walk chooses the exhibiting artists, creates a space for artists’ work, and provides entertainment or refreshments if they choose. At the Blue Line Gallery’s reception, light appetizers are complimentary and wine is poured for a fee.

There are three additional receptions held outside of the downtown grid at the , the Artists of on Del Webb Boulevard, and High Hand Gallery in Loomis. A more recent addition to the art walk is Shady Coffee and Tea on Douglas Boulevard.

Mark your calendars for the next art walk from 6-9 p.m. on July 16. For more information on venues, exhibiting artists and a printable map, go to www.3rdsatartwalk.com.

Don't miss these art walk stops:

• Beatnik Books - one of the newest additions to the art walk