BRATTLEBORO — The first Friday of the month has come around again, so Brattleboro's Gallery Walk celebration of the arts will liven up the downtown and a few satellite locations within a short drive of Main Street.
There are 47 listed venues, some with meet-the-artist receptions or live music to enhance the experience for art lovers.
New or rejoining venues in the lineup this month include Brattleboro Historical Society at the Beal House, 974 Western Ave., West Brattleboro; Trinity Lutheran Church, 161 Western Ave., hosting a show of artwork and culinary delights by several members of the congregation; Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St., hosting a Holiday Book Sale during the Walk and on Saturday; Marilyn Buhlmann's Gallery 215 in the Latchis complex on Flat St.; Maple Leaf Music, 23 Elliot St., hosting an exhibit of paintings by owner Kate Spencer; Inferno, the former Weathervane Music Hall at 19 Elliot St.; the Book Cellar, 120 Main St., hosting a holiday guitar book-signing and sing- and play-along with singer-songwriter Lisa McCormick; The River Garden, 157 Main St., where the Asian Cultural Center is presenting some martial arts and calligraphy demonstrations, as well as a video installation; and Biologic Integrated Healthcare, 205 Main St., where photographs by Nathaniel W. Casey are on exhibit.
Official Gallery Walk hours are 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., though most venues are open earlier and several remain open later into the evening. Patrons are encouraged to begin their artistic explorations a little early and stop on the way into town from West Brattleboro at American Traders, 257 Marlboro Rd. (Rte. 9); the Tasha Tudor Exhibit and the Historical Society at the Jeremiah Beal House, 974 Western Ave., open till 7; C.X. Silver Gallery, 814 Western Ave., and Trinity Lutheran Church, 161 Western Ave. Or catch an early bite and enjoy the exhibit at Danielle's Sandwich Shop (formerly d'Angelo's), 648 Putney Rd, just north of town.
The 32-page December edition of the Gallery Walk guide and magazine contains complete descriptive listings and a map. This issue's cover story is about Brian D. Cohen, featured artist at the Catherine Dianich Gallery; he is showing watercolors rather than his renowned prints (though there's a holiday sale of prints on hand).
Another article offers information about an upcoming show and sale by five prominent area artists in a newly repurposed gallery space downtown. Gallery ads and samples of the art among the listings pages help patrons choose a route for their walking tour. Online explorers may also visit www.GalleryWalk.org for current listings, full-color photos of work featured in this month's exhibits, and an archive of articles published since April 2003.
The printed guide is available at each participating location, the Interstate 91 Welcome Center, the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce, and area lodging establishments, among other outlets convenient for visitors and residents alike. Since stopping at every venue in a single evening is virtually impossible, art lovers are encouraged to choose exhibits of particular interest on Gallery Walk night and then return for a personal tour of other shows later in the month.
More details and a map are found online at www.GalleryWalk.org and in this month's issue of the Gallery Walk guide and magazine.