Winter might not offer the best weather for walking, but it’s good for spending time inside of a warm art gallery or museum, nibbling yummy food and seeing fine art. Those things are even better when you can do them for free. Local ArtWalks offer late-evening hours at galleries and free museums once a month in Seattle, Tacoma and Gig Harbor, plus a few other towns, too.
Getting into major museums such as Tacoma’s Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum, Washington State History Museum and the Seattle Art Museum for free is maybe the biggest draw of ArtWalk events, although you need to check individual museums for which hours are free. It also is worth checking museum websites to find special events on ArtWalk nights such as music and dance performances, workshops or films.
And while art galleries are always free, they often schedule their monthly opening receptions with nibbles, drinks and artists talking about their work on ArtWalk nights. It also is the one night they stay open later for folks with 9-to-5 jobs.
Other perks of ArtWalks are extra people milling around downtown, creating a party buzz. In Tacoma, there’s an Art Bus that for $10 will give you a guided tour of art venues.
Some cities such as Puyallup and Olympia do ArtWalk just once or twice a year, but go all out to make it a special experience, with wine tastings, street performances, parades and the like.
Some ArtWalk tips: If you’re headed to a popular venue, such as the Hot Shop at the Museum of Glass, get there early to avoid long lines. Check out gallery websites to see if an artist talk is scheduled for a particular time. Patronize local restaurants, many of whom also support ArtWalks. Finally – plan on riding in a car at least some of the way. Most ArtWalks cover way too much ground to be truly walkable – at least in winter.
DETAILS
Bremerton First Friday Art Walk: 5-8 tonight. All galleries in downtown Bremerton. ci.bremerton.wa.us
Gig Harbor Monthly Art Walk: 1-5 p.m. Saturday. Gig Harbor Downtown Historic Waterfront District, Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor. gigharbor guide.com
Tacoma Third Thursday ArtWalk: 5-8 p.m. Jan. 19. All museums and galleries in downtown Tacoma. artwalktacoma.com, tacomaartmuseum.org, museumofglass.org, washingtonhistory.org, tacomaartbus.com
Seattle First Thursdays: Noon-8 p.m. Feb. 2. All museums and galleries in downtown Seattle are free, with Seattle Art Museum free all day. firstthursdayseattle.com, seattleartmuseum.org
Also look for:
Annual Puyallup Art and Wine Walk every October.
Bi-annual Olympia ArtsWalk every April and October.
Rosemary Ponnekanti: 253-597-8568 rosemary.ponnekanti@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/arts
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