Friday Art Walks returning to downtown Greenville

GREENVILLE — For the first time since 2019, residents and visitors alike will be able to check out locally made arts and crafts and meet the people behind the handcrafted works at more than a half dozen businesses all within walking distance of one another. 

The second annual Friday Arts Walks are scheduled for 3-7 p.m. on Friday, July 22, and Friday, Aug. 19.

Event organizer and sponsor Robin Gardella, whose Galleria Gardella & Imagine Lamps, is one of eight businesses taking part in the July 22 art walk, said the first such happening was held in 2019, but it was not brought back for several years as a result of the pandemic.

“It really did bring a lot of people into town. Everybody enjoyed themselves so much they decided ‘we’re going to do it again, we might as well do two,’” Gardella said about the plan for two art walks this summer.

In addition to Galleria Gardella & Imagine Lamps, 2022 participants will be Crazy Moose Fabrics, Gallery on the Lake, Joe Bolf’s wood carvings, Leslie’s Backyard Bloom, Maine Mountain Soap & Candle, Moosehead Market Place and Peace of Moosehead.

Gardella said she took part in a number of art shows for more than two decades before she opened her Greenville shop on Washington Street. She said a number of coastal towns hold art walks with attendees traveling on foot to visit various shops and displays.

“After opening my gallery, I realized we have a lot of talent in Greenville,” Gardella said. “I thought if the coast could do it, we could do it here in Greenville as a way to get people to go (from) shop to shop and meet with the artists.” 

She said three years ago she needed to explain the art walk concept to her fellow artisans. 

“It’s kind of like a big party, people go from shop to shop,” Gardella said. She said each participating business may do something slightly different or unique in terms of demonstrations, raffles and refreshments, but they all are excited about the art walks.

“The idea is for people to pick up the map and go from shop to shop, to meet the local artisans and to see what we do and to kind of have a good time,” Gardella said. She said she hopes art walk attendees will appreciate the skills and talents of the Greenville artisans and what they contribute to the local economy.

“People want to see local crafts and they want to take home local art,” Gardella said.

“(Galleria Gardella) is pretty much going to be headquarters, so if people need maps or more information they can come to my shop,” she said, saying maps will be available at the other seven participating businesses.

“I’m hoping next year to maybe expand it to some studios outside of downtown,” Gardella said. She said the 2023 art walk could include the addition of musicians or other performers.

For information on the Friday Arts Walks, please see events Galleria Gardella Facebook page for digital copies of the event flyer and map.