Posted on April 16, 2007
It’s not every day that one can experience a live musical performance outside a courthouse. But this past Saturday, this was a welcome sight to many Harrisonburg residents taking advantage of other similar attractions all around the downtown area.
This opportunity is a product of the biennial Museum and Gallery Walk, put on by the Harrisonburg Arts Council and funded by Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance.
The event provides a venue for individuals from all over the Valley to present their art, as well as a great attraction for Harrisonburg locals to experience everything the town has to offer.
Executive Director Eddie Bumbaugh hoped that Harrisonburg residents would come out to the event.
“Among the goals of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance are to attract more people to downtown in order to appreciate the arts and to enjoy the vitality of a community event,” Bumbaugh said.
It would appear that the Museum and Gallery Walk did just that. All of the participating shops and offices were within walking distance from each other, starting at JMU’s own Sawhill Gallery and ending at The Little Grill on Main Street. Attractions included live music, photography, dance performances and a variety of other events and exhibits.
Tina Owens, the business manager of Court Square Theater, was part of a committee that coordinated the entire event.
“I think the Museum and Gallery Walk is a celebration of the arts that is accessible to all,” Owens said. “It’s a free, informal event that showcases the wealth of talent that is here in our own community.”
The type of art showcased in this event was not limited to strictly visual art. Those who partook in the walk had the opportunity to view a quilt competition at the Virginia Quilt Museum, live folk and blues music by Alex Albrecht at The Daily Grind and even got to try their own hand at creating art with “make-it and take-it” crafts at Oasis Gallery.
The event is one that attracts all types from around the Harrisonburg area. Families with small children, elderly couples and JMU students spent their afternoon going venue to venue chatting with the artists and socializing with other participants over free coffee and bagels.
“The Museum and Gallery Walk helps develop a sense of community for Harrisonburg residents and JMU students,” Owens said, “It’s a time for all of us to come together to experience the arts in our area, and to have a little fun doing it.”
One of the highlights from the walk was a poignant and powerful Sexual Violence Awareness exhibit at The Collins center Center might be capitalized but I’m not familiar with this venue. This included photography, collages, paintings and poetry all focused on the theme of sexual violence and its effects on the victims.
Music provided by Jan Goff-Lafontaine added to the ambiance.
The Oasis Gallery also opened its doors to the public. It is an artist’s cooperative, providing a place for local artists to exhibit and sell their art. About 40 to 50 artists volunteer at the gallery, selling their work and cultivating a thriving artistic community.
The Museum and Gallery Walk is an event that truly benefits all involved. Even for those who do not have an artistic background or extensive knowledge of the visual arts, the Harrisonburg Arts Council provides an opportunity to expand horizons and create new bonds between Harrisonburg citizens and the ever-growing artistic community.
