Arts Walk returns this weekend

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 23, 2008.)

Annual event features a variety of artists and artisans demonstrating their craft, beginning at Avery Beach.

The third annual Arts Walk, an outdoor demonstration event on the Hunters Bay Trail, takes place this Sunday, July 27, from noon until 3 p.m.

Presented by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the walk begins at Avery Beach and meanders west along the trail.

Arts and crafts people will be demonstrating a large range of creative techniques, including painting, printmaking, stonecarving, fibre arts, photography, jewellery-making, woodcarving, and more. They will eagerly share their skills and tricks of their trade.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: Bird carver Jack Slade works on a small wood sculpture during last year's Arts Walk. Slade returns to the Huntsville Festival of the Arts event on Hunter's Bay Trail July 27.

Greenbean Studio is a new addition this year. This is an eco-friendly business that is reducing the amount of plastic that enters our landfills. After collecting clean flexible plastics, they then turn them into one-of-a-kind pillows. A portion of their sales is donated to Canadian conservation programs specific to forestry and freshwater.

GREEN COMFORT: The eco-friendly Greenbean Studio showed off their pillows at the 2008 Arts Walk. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

Habitat for Humanity held a contest this year for an artist to create an image depicting its mission. Dale Durnan submitted the winning painting from which posters have been created. The sales from the posters will raise funds for Habitat projects, the next being a home that will be built in Huntsville. Durnan will be at Arts Walk to talk about her painting.

A big attraction for all ages will be bird carver Jack Slade. He is often surrounded by fascinated children as he carves numerous bird likenesses.

An Arts Walk favourite since its inception three years ago is Emilie Mimra, who will once again present the art of belly dancing.

Admission to Arts Walk is free, although artists may have items for sale.

What better way is there to spend a beautiful Huntsville summer afternoon than by taking a pleasant stroll along the Hunters Bay Trail? Your walk will be enhanced with creative activity and an opportunity to learn something more about the arts.