Scan the walls of many West Seattle venues - restaurants, coffee shops, shoe stores and more - and you'll find that, more and more, art abounds in our eclectic little neighborhood. In fact, much of the art you'll see displayed here is also created here, by local painters, sculptors, jewelry makers, photographers and other talented folks who are inspired by the Westside.

With all this creativity in our backyard, artists, art enthusiasts and merchants have joined forces to start a new tradition.

Introducing the West Seattle ArtWalk, a celebration of art and community scheduled for the second Thursday of each month. The event kicks off tomorrow, Nov. 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting at Divina (the vibrant green boutique on the corner of California and Genesee) with shop owner and art walk organizer, Julie Mireille Anderson.

Here, ArtWalkers will begin with light hors d'oeuvres and wine while taking in the likes of local sculptors Randy Bolander, Art Donnelly, and Karin Richardson; painters Kelly Rae Cunningham, Brian McGuffey, Carla Davis and Deana Plymale; illustrator Jeanette Piper; Seattle Lutheran art teacher Jacob Dahlke, and Colombian artisan Clara Obregon.

Then, event goers will be handed a walking map of other participating venues such as Clementine, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, Coffee to a Tea with Sugar, 8 Limbs Yoga, Cupcake Royale, and more (all within comfortable walking distance).

Clementine will feature works from local artist (and artwalk organizer) Kelly Rae Cunningham along with sculpture and jewelry by Rachel Alber (who created the fabulous metal shoe sculpture at the store's front entrance). Hotwire will be featuring painter Mary Enslow, and walk down the street and up the stairs to 8 Limbs Yoga to see oil paintings by Lauren t. Kistner. And this is just a taste of what you'll experience this Thursday night (not to mention the crisp glass of complimentary champagne that West 5 Lounge will be offering any folks identifying themselves as official ArtWalkers).

"It's time to get the art scene going in West Seattle," says Cunningham. "I'm an artist living here and am involved in other art walks around town, but I wanted to bring it a little closer to home-West Seattle is ready for it."

Cunningham and 8 Limbs manager Brenda Bryan surveyed merchants from Divina (north junction) to Uptown (south junction) on the idea of a monthly art walk and got an overwhelmingly positive response as it not only exposes West Seattle to great local art, but it also offers local businesses a chance to participate and help bring the community together to celebrate our unique neighborhood culture.

"We live in a manufactured world nowadays," explains Anderson, who has a similar philosophy for her store Divina as she does for the ArtWalk. "And while manufactured goods serve a purpose, as we grow and evolve it's important to not loose sight of handmade things and individuality-what we call art. Our motto is 'saving the world one piece of art at time.'"

People appreciate unique, one-of-a-kind things, so Anderson, Bryan, Cunningham and the gals from Twilight Artist Collective (along with so many participating artists and local merchants that the names of all are too extensive to list), created the West Seattle ArtWalk to make these special works of art accessible to the community.

"It's about art, beauty, and community - bringing them all together," says Anderson.

So, if you're up for an evening of art, hors d'oeuvres, and a little bit of fresh air in between, consider stepping out for "second Thursdays" in the junction at the West Seattle ArtWalk.

What:

West Seattle ArtWalk

Where:

The ArtWalk starts at Divina

4160 California Avenue SW

206.938.9388

When:

The 2nd Thursday of each month

from 6-8pm

Followed by complimentary champagne at West 5

Have column ideas or comments?

Please send e-mail to:

WestSeattle101@yahoo.com