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Fertile ground for spring 'Walk'
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It seems that art walks are all the rage: Ventura, Calif. has them as does Birmingham, Ala. and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, so why not Northport? That's what Lisa Harris, owner of Caffè Portofino, is asking her fellow shopkeepers as she coordinates a pedestrian-oriented arts fair for the village.
Harris envisions Art Walk 2010 as a monthly event the first or second Sunday of each month from April to June. Though she has not finalized details, she expects that the events will take place from 4 to 7 pm.
"If it's an event that really draws a lot of people, then we may extend it to the summer or — for the following year — run it through the entire summer," Harris said.
Harris is working with Northport Arts Coalition to try to get artists on board for the fair. NAC's executive director, Lauren Paige, said she has at least 100 artists who could participate but she cannot approach them until she receives Harris's proposal and the coalition board's approval.
The businesses are wholeheartedly behind Art Walk, said Business Development Committee President Tom Kehoe. "It's going to bring more culture and more people into the village and business district," he said. Kehoe, who is also a village trustee, said Harris would not need any permits to put on the fair.
To help promote the Art Walk, Harris said she will develop a Facebook page and distribute postcards depicting a map of whose art is on display where. Participating vendors would display flyers in their store windows and be encouraged to provide snacks and beverages at no charge, in the hope of enticing passersby to stop in and browse. Since all the artwork would be indoors, no street closings are necessary.
Indicating their desire to be included so far are about 12 different vendors, including LaMantia Gallery, the Northport Tasting Room & Wine Cellar, Harbor Trading, Veronica Rayne Boutique, Artisan House, the Northport Historical Society, the John W. Engeman Theater, First National Bank of Long Island and Caffè Portofino.
Matthew Spirn, owner of the Northport Tasting Room & Wine Cellar, said he supports the Art Walk because it's good public relations for the town, good exposure for the artists and a good way to merge commerce and art. People could come in to look at the artwork and while they're there, drink a cup of coffee at Caffè Portofino, have a glass of wine at his establishment or buy merchandise at the local shops.
"Especially today, with the way the economy is, businesses need to work together in an effort to get people to not only come to Northport but to stay in Northport," Spirn said.
Lisa Harris asks anyone interested in volunteering for Art Walk 2010 to email her at caffeportofino@gmail.com.
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