ArtWalk: best little intercontinental party in the world

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Alpine loves celebrations, and ArtWalk is our favorite. Every year for 15 years, under the direction of Keri Artzt of Kiowa Gallery, art galleries, retail venues and restaurants have come together, also vying for top spots.

This year, featuring artist Tom Curry on the program, it began Thursday night when the sign at the old Granada Theater on Highway 90 was re-lit. Purchased by Karen Travland a year ago and renovated, the Granada offered champagne, with fajitas cooked before your eyes with all the fixings, and a silent auction benefiting the Alpine Public Library.

ArtWalk is sweet, like a county fair that brings fun and money, bringing everybody in West Texas out and about, but resources come from all over the world. “Earth and Fire Imports” came from Terlingua, and rug vendors arrived from Turkey this year, plus patrons from Austria buying paintings and blown glass platters.

Folks, we’re intercontinental.

All your favorite weavers and jewelry makers in town showed up - Ellen Stevens, Shelley Atwood, Palma Beckett, etc., plus fine artists Jan Moeller and Carol Fairlie at CatchLight. Curva Grande, the consignment store that carries furniture and wearable art, etc., was packed.

And if the Met can show medieval armor, and the MOMA can show Marshallese navigation charts, who’s to say what fine art is anyway?

If you wanted to eat free, this was your chance. Bill Ivey at Ivey’s Emporium served up free Terlingua coffee plus his own homemade chili, while outside he screened the Texas Tech-Oklahoma football game. For sale: Wine, beer, coffee and Terlingua Chile Mix. NotForSale: His best Native American jewelry in the window. Also NFS, the Ivey boys behind the counter.

If you wanted to feel like Christmas was already here, Amy and Julie were dressed up to match the store at Front Street Books.

In fact the whole downtown was alit. You could watch James Bond at the Rangra, or buy a beer with buffalo burger at Kiowa Plaza.

So where was Tommy Lee Jones? Playing polo or hanging out at the Reata, out of my price range. But I saw people I hadn’t seen in years, and venues open that I didn’t know existed.

ArtWalk benefits everyone, from the Big Bend Arts Council — whose members-only show at Bread and Breakfast offered punch, cookies and sandwiches plus Tahitian Dancers — to Desert Sun tanning salon, showing artists.

“The T-shirt and poster money is donated to the Sul Ross scholarship program and the Tri-County Art Program,” Keri told me. “Every school gets a check.”

When Keri started ArtWalk with John Davis, they wanted to stage it early in December.

“It’s more fun during the holidays and we do live in Alpine, where we are used to cold weather, and so are the tourists. But the change helps get merchants ready for Christmas and jump-start the buying season.

“It takes a community that loves the event and feels like they own it to make it happen. City employees volunteering, and the love of all our supporters, at my shop and all over the city, and then the next day cleaning up. Mostly I’d like to say thank you,” Keri said.

Well done, Keri. You‘re welcome.

Time to help our neighbors

For the next few months, you’re going to hear a lot from Larry Johnson, pastor of the University Baptist Church.

If you want to help

Folks who want to help, donate time or money or simply want more information can email University Baptist Pastor Larry Johnson at ubc1707@sbcglobal.net and reference the Food Pantry

ArtWalk: a great bash

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ArtWalk: best little intercontinental party in the world

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Avalanche staff

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