Downtown continues the Art Walk series

To celebrate the art culture of the glass city, the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT) hosts an "Art Walk" every fourth Thursday each month this summer.

"This is the first walk I've been to and I'm having a blast, such a large variety of art and very accessible," said Toledo Resident Lisa Keller.

Nestled between Fifth Third Field, the Spaghetti Warehouse, and the Maumee River is a street that is much more than it appears.

North St. Clair Street has the biggest concentration of art galleries on one stretch in downtown Toledo. ACGT Programs Coordinator Michelle Carlson hopes the community will realize how many artists live and work in Toledo.

"We are starting to see a lot of neat stuff happening here. Coming downtown hopefully people will feel comfortable walking around and witnessing the restoration of this street," said Carlson.

The ACGT is a strong supporter of the visual, performing and literary arts and has many programs centered on these talents. This nonprofit organization is the longest standing arts commission in Ohio.

Jazz music floated through the air as Jesse Coleman blew into his brass saxophone Thursday evening. He has been playing for 39 years and has lived in Toledo even longer.

"I'm happy I can lend my art form to this event," states Coleman.

Next week he will be at the University of Toledo's Music Fest, with Alexander Jonjic.

Another Toledo native is Scott Ziegler, also known as "Hunter Wolfe."

"Folks you are now entering my gallery," exclaims Zielger, every time pedestrians pass by.

His oil on board paintings range in size from 4 x 6 to 8 x 10 and line the walls adjacent to the sidewalk. Wolfe loves to paint places in the area. On the end of his open air gallery, is the quickly recognized covered bridge at Wildwood Park.

"Toledo doesn't realize how many beautiful places there are in this area," said Wolfe.

This the first night he has displayed his art along St. Clair Street. He is currently unemployed, however, one of his lifelong dreams has been to paint for a living.

On the opposite end of St. Clair is the oldest fine arts studio in Toledo, 20 North Gallery, established in 1993. The current exhibit is "Chapman & Stone: Lifelong Legacies of Art." To highlight the exhibit, Walter Chapman, 98, did a watercolor demonstration in front of a sizeable group of awestruck faces.

"These two artists are icons of the Toledo art scene," said owner of the gallery, Eric Hillenbrand.

Outside the tall windows of the gallery, Ian St. Clair, also known as, Ian the Incredible, rode his unicycle down one side of the street and up the other. He does this for fun and has been to every Art Walk this year.

"This is the most artists and people I've seen yet," St. Clair, said.

Since its start in 2008, the walk has been increasing in both artists and community participation.

The weather was great and the street performers and artists only made the night out more enjoyable. The final Art Walk of the season will be held on Sept. 23. Don't miss your last chance of the year to experience all that Toledo artists have to offer.