Celebrating a community’s creativity

Moscow’s 21st Artwalk season concludes from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 26, with a finale on Main Street, featuring a free celebration of creativity and community.

This year’s Artwalk finale showcases a diverse array of visual, culinary, literary and performing artists at locations throughout downtown and features a street fair with food trucks, live music from Bart Budwig and Zachary Degler at Friendship Square and artists demonstrating their work.

A Kidwalk for families and children, with vendors, performers and street chalk painting, will be located between Fifth and Sixth Streets on Main. And the city of Moscow Public Works Department will be set up on Fifth Street, providing an opportunity to create art and experience the creative tools used by public works staff in their daily work.

An exhibit of Moscowan Bill Voxman’s black-and-white photography will be showcased at Remax Connections, 318 Main St., alongside Moscow artist David Gressard’s wildlife paintings. Voxman’s images are inspired by his travels across the Northwest and abroad, where he has explored while backpacking, fly fishing or wandering through cities in Cuba, Mexico and New Zealand. Both artists will be present to discuss their work, and local musicians Jim Boland and Kristie Matton will provide live music throughout the evening.

Teri Skiles, the broker at Remax Connections, said Artwalk showcases how art and commerce can coexist, making Moscow a more vibrant place to live.


Just down the street, Farmers Insurance, 205 S. Main St., hosts works from 4:30-6:30 p.m. by Maggie Keefe, Ernie Weiss and Cheryll Root, a watercolor artist whose story mirrors the spirit of Artwalk. Other watercolor works by members of the Palouse Watercolor Socius will be on display from 4-8 p.m. at the Moscow Food Co-op, 121 E. Fifth St.

Root began drawing in her mother’s music books as a kid, stepped away from art for a business career, then returned to watercolor after early retirement. Her nature-inspired paintings, rich with animals and natural scenes, will be featured during Artwalk, with proceeds from her sales supporting the Humane Society of the Palouse.

Megan Cherry, the city’s arts manager, credits the 21-year success of Artwalk to one thing: the community’s enduring enthusiasm.

Simpson writes about the culture, art and the stories behind small-town life for Inland 360. A retired woodworker and lifelong learner, he can be reached at will@kestrelcreek.com.


IF YOU GO

Moscow Artwalk Finale

When: 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 26, times vary at individual venues.

What to expect: Artwork at more than two dozen downtown Moscow locations, with street vendors, a public works fair, live music, an artwalk passport program and kids’ activities; a link to the event flyer/map is at ci.moscow.id.us/189/Artwalk.

Cost: Free admission.