Throughout September, Ely’s downtown business windows will be transformed by the display of more than 400 pieces of art created by 52 local artists.
Beginning Sept. 1, paintings, stained glass, photography and more have filled the windows of 36 participating businesses.
The walking tour takes viewers on a loop around Sheridan Street, Chapman Street, Central Avenue and First Avenue East.
All participating creators live in the area or maintain direct connections to Ely. Six of this year’s artists are firsttime ArtWalk participants.
“I personally love being able to offer display space for artists that don’t necessarily have a studio space in town,” Herrera said. “You get this window exposure for an entire month of the year, which is really valuable.”
This year’s efforts represent the first time the show has been held in the fall rather than winter — a change Herrera said could further boost the ArtWalk’s visibility.
“I’m excited for the artists to get more support and have more exposure, and to hopefully make more of an impact than we did in the dead of winter,” Herrera said.
The ArtWalk originated as an Ely Winter Festival event in 1998, and the display usually runs throughout February.
“It was originally a way to encourage people to get outside during the heart of winter,” Herrera said.
With temperatures often dropping to -30℉ or below, Ely’s late January weather posed a logistical challenge for those assisting with display set-up. Less-than-ideal sidewalk conditions posed a safety risk and the winter months generated less foot traffic.
This September’s show yielded art sales on the very first day, Herrera said, and the set-up experience was much improved over prior years.
“It was a little bit of an experiment, but I do think this might be a permanent change,” Herrera said.
Preparations for the event begin approximately three months in advance, and this year’s work was accomplished with a team of fifteen: Herrera, two contracted set-up managers, six volunteers and six board members.
Following artist registration, organizers must determine which storefront windows fit best with each creator’s artwork.
“It’s a race to get everybody assigned to a store,” Herrera said. “That is a really fun puzzle to put together.”
Window size, display requirements and various artist preferences come into play throughout the assignment process.
Most artwork displayed is up for sale. Interested buyers can view the informational label attached to each piece and reach out to individual artists, who coordinate their own sales.
Contact information is listed on each artist’s bio, posted alongside each display.
All proceeds go directly to artists. The Ely ArtWalk does not take any commissions.
“The ArtWalk is a small but consistent support for artists who are living and working in the area,” Herrera said. “I would love to grow in any way we can.”
