2016 Laramie Pop-Up Art Walk at the Studio
With over 50 participating locations and over 100 artists, musicians, and performers, the 2016 Laramie Pop-Up Art Walk is an example of how to throw the biggest exhibition of local creativity you can in only one weekend. Each location all around town, whether an established fine art gallery or a local business or shop with a pop-up exhibition, featured local artwork, music, dance, and theater for two days only. We each put one BIG red balloon out from Poppy’s and opened our doors to the community ready to turn downtown Laramie, Wyoming into a dynamic space celebrating the entire creative community.
Our new fine art gallery and portrait photography studio was pop-up location number 8 on this year’s Pop-Up Art Walk, put on by the Wyoming Art Party with support from the Wyoming Arts Council, Wyoming State Legislature, The National Endowment for the Arts, and Laramie Main Street Alliance. We were lucky enough to have Melinda Cummings of Vivé and Visions as our featured artist and she filled up our back wall with a small exhibition of some of her gorgeous paintings of aspens. Her use of color and light really is spectacular and she is a true master of perspective!
For the opening reception Friday night, local Wyoming musician Timothy John serenaded us with some of his original songs on piano and acoustic guitar. Listening to his unique fingerpicking and smooth ballads really set the mood and filled the room with music just as beautiful as the art hanging on the walls. The back chalkboard wall was decorated and ready to go for the weekend of art, music, dance, and theatre!
After a wonderful Friday evening full of guests and music, the art walk continued for most of the day Saturday as well. The weather was beautiful and the sun was shining warm for a mid-September weekend. On Saturday, we had The Cluster Plucks play an absolutely delightful acoustic set at the studio. This soulful and fun group played some original songs mixed with some old folk classics.
Their energy and talent totally captivated the room as everyone sat back and enjoyed just listening to the band play.
Sharon Martinson wailed away on her unique and alluring fretless banjo like a musical siren while Shaun Kelley blended in perfectly keeping the beat going with his electric bass. Kelli Trujillo added the perfect mix of rhythm guitar and harmonies while Jon Gardzelewski mixed it up by adding some classic fiddle and guitar solos as well.
It was a real treat seeing how many people were out walking around holding artwork maps and going in each mini-gallery and artistic space mingling with the community. Each location was different and unique in it’s own way and was a great representation of how much talent can be hiding out in your town without you even knowing it!
Thanks so much to everyone who came to our studio or purchased artwork during the art walk. Your support really matters and is felt directly by the local art and music community, and for that, we thank you! Thanks especially to Melinda for taking over our studio for a few days and lighting up our world with your vibrant outlook on life and art. If you missed it this year, get on our mailing list here and we’ll let you know when the next one is. You can purchase Melinda’s work online here or follow her on Facebook here and see her latest projects like her new color pop series. Stop by our fine art gallery and portrait photography studio in historic downtown Laramie, Wyoming to see our latest landscapes and starry metal prints, although we might not have all the cookies and donuts out like we do for special receptions 🙂 Thank you so much again to everyone who helped to bring the 2016 Laramie Pop-Up Art Walk to life. It really was an special event and is a beautiful sight to see artists and community working together, supporting each other, and lifting up and celebrating each of our unique creative spirits together, and for that, we tip our hats! We really enjoyed meeting everyone and participating in this event!
