This time last year, we were knee-deep in the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdowns, shutdowns and masking-up that came as a result of trying to keep everybody safe. One of the consequences of that was the annual Spring Gallery Walk moving its event online.
Now that things are easing bit by bit, this year’s walk will take place tonight in person, albeit as a more mellow affair: Participating galleries are keeping their doors open later to show off new work and to welcome people back after a long year.
“The degree to which the different galleries are participating is entirely up to them. There’s no coordinated itinerary that everybody has, they’re all on their own,” said Frank Comisar, nature photographer and owner of Scenic Aperture. “Normally, we have live music ... but this year, we’re staying open late, we have some in-gallery-only specials – the only way to participate in those specials is to come in to the gallery. We’re maintaining all the required COVID precautions that are still in place. It’s going to be low key to the extent that it’s not going to be the big party that normally we try to make it. We just want to get people downtown, we want to share our new art, it’s kind of a celebration of spring and taking another step back to normalcy.”
Holding its first opening reception in 11 months, Studio & Gallery, 1127 Main Ave., will celebrate its latest exhibit “Through,” which features the work of 29 artists who were invited to interpret the theme “Through.”
The reception will run from 5 to 9 p.m. and will be held with safety in mind: According to a news release, eight patrons will be allowed into the gallery at a time, and as they view the art, they will work their way to the back of the gallery, where they will exit into the parking lot. Once outside, they will find wine and music by Badgoat.
The gallery requests that all patrons wear masks.
Down the street at Toh-Atin Gallery, 145 W. Ninth St., the gallery doors will be open to show patrons new art – and a new setup. Rather than featuring one specific artist, it will be more of an open house welcoming everybody back. There will also be refreshments on the porch, and all patrons are asked to mask-up when heading inside to check out the art.
“I love gallery walk, it’s just a fun thing. ... It gives people the chance to come by and see what you have, reconnect with old friends and customers, and for people to meet artists,” said Toh-Atin owner Jackson Clark. “People can come in, see the gallery – they haven’t been here in a year and a half and it’s changed a lot. We’ve actually made some pretty big changes during this whole COVID thing.”
People enjoying an evening out is a long time coming and way overdue, he said.
“I think people are just restless. I think they’re anxious to get out,” he said. “Most adults have had the vaccine or the opportunity for the vaccine. ... and when you see people out at restaurants, they’re having a great time. The gallery walk is wonderful because you’re walking outside, and then when you go in the galleries, you’re walking around looking at art and things like that.”
And for Comisar, whose gallery will be open until 8 p.m., this is a welcome step back to where we were pre-pandemic.
“I’m excited for anything that resembles normal,” he said. “We’re very optimistic for the future.”
katie@durangoherald.com
