Liz Thomas
Co-Editor
Commons Photo by Liz Thomas

Carrboro continued the five-year tradition of the Second Friday Art Walk on Friday, January 12. The monthly event invites residents and visitors alike to view a large variety of artwork. The eighteen separate locations, ranging from University Mall to West Main Street, offer debut and veteran artists a chance to display and sell their work.

Emily Stewat, 24, visits Carrboro often for free events like the Art Walk.

“Carrboro’s nothing like Durham or Chapel Hill, for that matter,” Stewat said. “I can always justify my drive from Duke to come here with my friends. We always have an amazing time.”

Each location temporarily houses individual artists’ works from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors who arrive early have the first opportunity to buy works for sale. Late-comers know red stickers on the wall indicate a piece has already been sold.

All visitors can enjoy live music and other entertainment. The majority of locations offer food and refreshments ranging from wine and cheese to Mediterranean pastries catered by local restaurants.

Many visitors of Ackland Art Museum, the Chapel Hill location of the Art Walk, were unaware that the African mask exhibit they were viewing was part of the Art Walk. But in Carrboro, most visitors were aware of the wide-range of the event.

Rebecca Schenck, 25, learned about the Art Walk from posters hanging at the Carrboro Arts Center.

“I come to the Arts Center for dance classes,” Schenck said. “I always read the bulletin board so as to support other art expressions.”

Multiple artists use Carrboro for their point of inspiration. Charron Andrews uses scraps found around the town to create multimedia, mountable, three-dimensional works for her Shines exhibit.

“I don’t have a story that I’m conscious of,” Andrews said. “I work with how materials go together. I get them from thrift shops and dumpsters.”

The Art Walk provides an outlet for the wide array of art including quilts, landscapes, sculptures, abstracts and watercolors.

Artist Rachel Elliot displays black-and-white photography at Open Eye Cafe. “It took me awhile to figure out what the photographs portrayed,” Sabrina Murray said of Elliot’s exhibit. “I finally realized it was a close-up of bread - all textures of loafs and baguettes.”A small sign beside a table of baked goods and candies explained that Elliot photographed only Weaver Street Market bread.

The majority of locations for the Art Walk are galleries. But cafes, retail stores and offices also open their doors for the event. The Spotted Dog Restaurant donates 10 percent of art sales to local animal charities.

 Monthly walk showcases local art [3:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download