Read about the Jerome Art Walk on FEB 04, 2012
Jerome’s First Saturday Art Walk
Every first Saturday of the month, Jerome’s galleries and artist studios keep their doors open until 8 p.m. and create a party-like atmosphere for people who visit. They put out appetizers, desserts and beverages, and often bring in live music as a delightful complement to the art. When the weather is good, entertainers even take to the streets, and the entire town exudes a festive, celebratory mood.
Since the rediscovery of Jerome in the 1960s, artists have played a key role in the revitalization of Jerome. They have taken over abandoned buildings rich with history, reinventing them as working studios and galleries. During Art Walk it is possible to meet the artists, see their work and experience the colorful history of Jerome’s early days. The entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and many of the structures are 75 to 100 years old.
About 30 galleries are sprinkled around Jerome’s hilly streets. Near the base of the town is Old Jerome High School, an art deco cluster of buildings erected in 1923 and closed in 1972. Classrooms with lots of character and wood accents have been given a new, vibrant life as artists have made themselves at home to work and exhibit.
High up on Hill Street and adjoining the landmark Jerome Grand Hotel is Stahlkraft, an intimate gallery featuring hand-crafted, Prairie-style steel furniture and accessories, some with native woods.
In the center of town there are more than a dozen galleries. On opposite ends of Main Street are Gallery 527, an artist/gallery and sculpture garden in a beautifully restored 100-year-old building, and Made in Jerome Pottery, a decades-old open pottery studio and showroom. In between—and on Hull Avenue, Clark Street, School Street and Jerome Avenue—Jerome galleries feature acrylics, water colors, pastels, sculpture, pottery, functional art, jewelry, wearable art, photography, home accessories, mixed media, leather goods and glass, fiber, wood, metal and paper art.
The member-run Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery showcases the work of three dozen local artists. The gallery is located in the historic Jerome Hotel, which was built in 1917 and closed in 1953. Every few weeks the gallery’s featured artists change, and every six months there is a complete rotation of artwork.
The Art Walk, which began in September 2006, is an enjoyable way to experience Jerome’s thriving artist colony. There is always something new to see. In fact, the event has become an award-winning art destination.
A nicely designed map of Jerome Art Walk is available at the various galleries, making it easy to navigate the route. For those preferring to park and ride, a free shuttle service takes visitors from one location to the next.
Log onto JeromeARTwalk.com to learn more about this event!
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