THE SIXTH ANNUAL ART WALK
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2024
special thanks to the Sixth Annual Art Walk’s marquee and silver sponsors!
Artist Leo Jara at the Stonington Free Library
The Art Walk is an annual event held in mid-September hosted by the Stonington Borough Merchants Association. The one-day fair features the best of Southeastern Connecticut’s and Southern Rhode Island’s art scene, acoustic musical performances, the Borough’s shops, cultural assets, restaurants, and food vendors. The event is free to the public and attracts visitors from across New England and beyond.
The event has quickly become known as a mecca for great local art and art-loving patrons. The goal is quality over quantity — a well-curated assortment of less than 100 painters, illustrators, watercolorists, sculptors, potters, makers, and photographers — lining Water Street and charming courtyards with tents and tables, stretching down to Cannon Square.
Our entire community plays an important part in the annual Art Walk. Merchants, businesses, and non-profits are all encouraged to participate and they do — hosting hunts, exhibits, tours, tastings, pop-ups, and even theatrical performances!
THE SIXTH ANNUAL ART WALK ACTIVITIES
Park Place Artists, a group of 8-10 art students, exhibited at the residence of Sally Vail at 165 Water Street.
Cove Ledge Beer, Wine and Spirits hosted seven artists in its garden and offered tastings at 147 Water Street.
The Triad and the Map - A Play by Jessica Cerullo. Seated at a table overlooking the shoreline, audiences took cues from a performer as they collectively traced their relationship to the history and future of the land. The 30-minute performance took place in the air-conditioned second-floor gallery of the Stonington Lighthouse and was presented by Historic Stonington and Connect To Create. Showtimes were 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, and 3. Tickets were $10 and inclusive of admission to the historic Lighthouse Museum. Tickets could be booked in advance. Suitable for ages 14+.
Stonington Free Library was open 10 am - 3 pm on the day of the Art Walk. Artist Leonardo Jara popped up, a “Storywalk” created by Maggie Spadaro featuring images from her children's book, My Friend Doesn't Have a House, was on display in the Stairwell Gallery through September 27. Free take-away project kits were available for artists painting en plein air on Wadawanuck Square, and the Love Where You Read Art Contest will kicked off on September 16.
Jeffrey Earls of JWilderArt and Elizabeth Belliveau exhibited their work at the House of Randall at 145 Water Street.
The Glaze Vase Project returned to the Sixth Annual Art Walk thanks to local potter and Art Walk participant, Lyndsay Meiklem Dean of Glaze Handmade. Lyndsay hid tiny swirlvases throughout the Borough for seekers to find. Did you find one?
Marya Ursin of Mystic Paper Beasts, a theater troupe known for their extraordinary collection of expressive mythological masks and ingenious props, roved throughout the event, offering wishes to visitors.
Design enthusiasts enjoyed Fans and Clouds and Bats: The Story, on display at the Visitor’s Center of The James Merrill House at 107 Water Street, detailing the extravagantly weird, hand-printed wallpaper named “Summer Palace” installed on the third-floor parlor.
La Grua Center had an exhibit featuring artists from OUTCT which celebrated 10 years of Coming Out for Art! The exhibit featured local LGBTQ+ artists. Open from 10 am - 2 pm for a suggested donation of $5. The exhibit runs through the end of October. Image below by Guido Garaycochea.
The Velvet Mill exhibited “ON THE SPOT: Live sketches, studies, and quick mixed media” in its upstairs gallery, a show featuring works by current Velvet Mill artists. The show opened Friday, September 6 with a reception from 5:30 - 8 pm and runs through mid-November. Image below by Lisa Leach.
Music
12 pm — Jazz improv guitar/guitarist Rich McSweeney performed in the alcove at Water Street Café
1 pm — Skip McKinley and friends performed traditional Irish music at 146 Water Street
Skip McKinley (Irish flute), Greg Jonic (Irish Pipes), Mance Grady (bodhran and percussion), Jared Shrader (guitar)
2 pm — Ashley Jones Violin Student Orchestra performed on Wadawanuck Square
Skip McKinley and friends at 146 Water Street
Alexander McGrath photographed by Bergin O’Malley, at Grand & Water Streets
Food Vendors
THE SIXTH ANNUAL ART WALK ARTISTS
Click on the images to discover the artists and view the photo galleries
“Loved it! Met so many wonderful talented people!”
“We loved being a part of it! Wonderful shops...wonderful artists... wonderful organizers…wonderful shoppers!!! Thank you all for coming out the day was spectacular! One of our favorite shows this year!!!”
PRESS
Stonington Borough Art Walk Returns on Sept. 14 / The Day
An Avenue of Art / New England Living
Many thanks to our 2024 sponsors:
MARQUEE SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
“This will be my third year at the Art Walk. I’ll have a selection of street scenes of Stonington, Mystic, and New York City. I’m looking forward to another very good event.”
“We participated in the Stonington Borough Art Walk for the first time in 2021. It was our all-time best sales day so far, and it was so great to meet everyone who attended. Looking forward to this year!”
“What an amazing event in a fabulous community. Thank you to the organizers of the Stonington Borough, CT & The Fourth Annual Stonington Borough Art Walk for a lovely day and for having A Band Called PoP perform! We had a blast and loved seeing all of the artists in action!”
“So much talent in one event!”