What was supposed to be a seasonal event has become monthly due to popular demand.
The Oxford Art Crawl kicked off this past March and was set to return in August, but requests have brought it back sooner than expected.
Wayne Andrews, executive director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, said that the event got a lot of positive feedback and the sponsors and hosts received multiple requests to bring it back early.
“The venues that were participating got calls, we’ve gotten calls and people have said, ‘Hey, that was a lot of fun, why can’t we do it in the summer?’ So we’re going to give it a try and see what happens,” Andrews said.
The Art Crawl will start back up Tuesday and will be held from then on every fourth Tuesday of each month.
It will run through November, and the pieces and artists will change every month.
This month’s Art Crawl will showcase art work at The Powerhouse, Gallery 130, Southside Gallery and the University Museum, along with one night-only shows at fringe locations like Cicada, Dovetail, Amelia’s and the Ford Center.
Each venue will provide free drinks — both alcoholic and non-alcoholic — and food. The Double Decker buses will provide free transportation to and from each venue. Andrews said the format of this event will help students change their ideas about art galleries.
“I would think probably the average student thinks an art reception is a dull, stuffy thing,” Andrews said. “This is changing that. It’s informal, it’s fun. It’s a rolling party with art and food and beverages. You get to go, you get to look at art, you get to have some drinks, you get to have some food, meet some new people.”
UM graduate Jillian Pecoraro, who majored in spanish during her time at the university, attended the first Art Crawl and plans to attend this month’s as well. While Pecoraro enjoyed the professional artwork, what caught her attention was the students’ work.
“It’s impressive,” Pecoraro said. “People younger than I, doing something that I can’t do. Art itself, I appreciate, but when I think of artists, I always think of someone older than myself. To see someone who is 21 years old doing something impressive, I can appreciate that.”
The aim of the Art Crawl is to highlight artists in the Oxford, Lafayette and Mississippi area while bringing the community together in a non-intimidating, accessible way.
“You’re seeing art influenced by this region at varying levels from people that are just learning their own style to people that have exhibited and sold around the world,” Andrews said. “People are not going to realize how many artists are in Mississippi that are really well-known outside Mississippi.”
The Art Crawl covers the university, the art galleries and the town center, making it a community-wide event appealing to anyone, from families with children to students to professionals.
“Everyone recognizes how sports in the university impact the community,” Andrews said. “And I think the Art Crawl helps people realize that the cultural events are also very important.”
Shemetria Rodgers, a senior in broadcast journalism, is working as project coordinator for the Art Crawl.
She said the planning has kept her very busy but all the work she has done so far has been really interesting and she is excited about the event.
“I want 1,000 people,” she said. “I just want a lot of people to talk about it. I don’t want after it’s over for people to say, ‘Well we didn’t know. We wish we could have come.’ I’m just ready for the night of it. I want it to be a success.”
For those who are interested in learning about art, each location will have someone knowledgeable to answer questions.
Also, much of the art will be available for purchase.
“There’s definitely something for everyone,” Andrews said, “It’s a little bit playful but it’s somewhat serious in that we do have really exceptional artists that represent Mississippi.
“It is a great way to see the culture of the region. And it’s a casual thing.”
from DM by Natalia Burgos
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