Gulfport celebrated the 20th anniversary of its well-known Art Walk on Friday, November 1. A forerunner of similar events that are now common throughout Tampa Bay, Gulfport’s Art Walk now takes place on the first Friday and third Saturday of each month, year-round from 6 pm until 10 pm. Local and visiting artists and crafters line the sidewalks of scenic Beach Boulevard in Gulfport’s historic Waterfront District.
The first Gulfport Art Walk, originally referred to as “Gallery Walk,” took place on the first Friday, November 3, 1993. At that time, six recently-opened independent art galleries on a single block of Beach Boulevard banded together to draw attention to their burgeoning gallery scene. An advertisement in the local newspaper announced the first Gallery Walk, and participants put out paper bag luminaries to direct visitors to the galleries, each of which offered refreshments. Original participants were Sabal Palm Galleries (“tropical” & local art), Lynne Brown Fine Arts (Brown’s portraits & other art works), Troyka Art Gallery (Russian & European artifacts), Outta My Gourd (gourd and fiber art & basketry by Lisa Coopersmith), Kaleidoscope (stained glass work by Roger Turner), and Griffin Studio (paintings and pottery by Nan & Bill Griffin).
Gulfport’s Gallery Walk proved successful and drew increasing numbers of both locals and visitors to the first Friday event. As the event grew, a 1994 full-page feature by the St. Petersburg Times art critic highlighting the Gulfport art scene resulted in a “mob” of visitors that same evening, according to Roger Turner. Lines of people waited to get into galleries. As Turner recalls, “We felt like we had arrived!” By that time, additional galleries were opened, as others closed. A year after its origin, the terms “Gallery Walk” and “Art Walk” were often used interchangeably. Also at this time, gallery owners and locals began referring to the Waterfront District, particularly along Beach Boulevard, as the “Art Village.” The third Saturday Art Walk, originally called the “Saturday Night Stroll,” was added to the calendar in 1999. Now sponsored by the Gulfport Merchants Association, Art Walk expanded to include several blocks of outdoor exhibits by local and visiting artists several years ago.
Gulfport’s status as an “Art Village” has remained attached through the years, although the number of galleries has ebbed and flowed over time. An insurgence of restaurants to the same area in recent years has created an equally strong identity as a dining hub. Artists living and working in Gulfport continue to maintain a strong presence in the small, eclectic city. A handful of galleries and retailers that include original artwork in their mix add to the current Art Walk offerings. The combination of art and artists indoors and out, a variety of dining choices, live entertainment venues, street performers, and the “Old Florida” charm of the Gulfport Waterfront District combine to create today’s lively Art Walk scene. Free parking and free trolley service to and from offsite parking areas is available during each Art Walk.
The Industrial Arts Center of Gulfport (IACG) maintains quarters in Gulfport after a recent relocation to the “Alley of the Arts” off 29th Avenue South, near Beach Boulevard. Demonstrations and classes in hot glass-blowing and metal forging are offered at the IACG. The nearby City of Imagination at Gulfport Arts Center (2726 54th Street South), offers a venue for classes, exhibits and performances in a variety of visual and other art forms.
The Gulfport Historical Society will continue the celebration of Art Walk’s 20th Anniversary by organizing memorabilia related to the history of Art Walk, artists in Gulfport and the growth of the “Art Village.” Items will continue to be displayed at the Gulfport Historical Museum (5301 28th Avenue South) through the month of November. The Historical Society’s next monthly “Porch Party” on November 15 will focus on the history of Gulfport’s Art Walk, Artists and Galleries. The event begins at 6:30 pm and includes a speaker, as well as a social hour and hors d’oeuvre, with visitors invited to bring food of their own to share, as well as their own beverages of choice. Donations to the Society during their third Friday Porch Parties are encouraged.
More information, contact Daniel Hodge dan@igc.org or 727-366-4086.
Date: November 1, 2013