The Playhouse District Association presented its 11th Annual Art Walk Saturday, when many people made their way to the city of Pasadena.
Visitors enjoyed and observed the art that surrounded them — from visuals in the streets, to painted murals and hands-on activities such as canvas paintings and friendship bracelets. White tents occupied by vendors, chalked up sidewalks with games on display, and smell of roasted almonds filled the air. The entertainment never stopped, with live music from McKinley School of Arts and the 7 Jazz Trio.
“The purpose for the Art Walk is to promote art in the district and create awareness for public art value in the Pasadena community and surrounding areas,” said Brian Wallace,
executive director of the Playhouse District Association. “Many of our artists are handpicked. We have an annual call log for artist alongside of many years in building reputational relationships with all types of artist in the local community.”
All the artists were diversely focused on visual arts, tactile, jewelry, pottery and paintings. The distinction is a juried art fair, not an arts and crafts show.
“The biggest visual change for the art walk is location change,” Wallace said.
The art walk for the past 10 years was located on Madison Avenue, but this year it migrated to Colorado Boulevard.
The six-hour event hosted 72 artists, several vendors participating in activities and sponsors. Families surrounded the community to take pictures, purchase art pieces along with meeting the creators.
Jennifer Duran, a Redlands native, was contacted through a director who saw her work from another fair and asked her to participate in the Art Walk this year. Duran has been an artist her whole life, with unique watercolor paintings and a very descriptive style she uses her work to capture the inward look of the souls. Such as using characters from popular TV shows “The Walking Dead” and “Stranger Things.”
“My style is to evolve and revolve heavily around human emotion,” Duran said.
Esau Andrade is an artist from Mexico who has been living in Los Angeles for 23 years.
Focusing on acrylic oils and watercolors, his pieces are inspired by childhood memories he wishes to recap. “My memories are all I have and I want others to see things as I did,” Andrade said.
Art allows the viewer to witness a glimpse of how people really feel and what they want to express. Many artists with different stories and passions came together to create an atmosphere of art and love.
To participate in the 12th Annual Art walk contact the Playhouse Association at 626-744-0340 or visit playhousedistrict.org.