When I wake up, well I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you. When I go out, well I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you. If I sell art, well I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who sell art right next to you.

Edmonton is well known for it’s festivals and it even hosts events like Nextfest and The Works to help out burgeoning visual artists. These events are fantastic for exposing artwork at a gallery and curatorial level, but what they don’t do is address the part of art making that is ALWAYS on the mind of creative professionals.

How are we gonna get paid?

Well truth be told, there are ways to achieve these results, but most of them require networking, whether that is through the traditional method of gallery representation, word-of-mouth, developing a virtual gallery online and pursuing networking opportunities through social media, or if you live in Edmonton, there is a special event every summer that serves as both sidewalk gallery and outdoors studio.

The particular festival is called The Whyte Art Walk. Sometimes known as The Art Walk by long-time fans.

With over 40,000 visitors Whyte Avenue becomes quite a sight to behold, catering to your production machine types to your contemporary subversives, Edmonton brings on the best and the brightest to show you a broad range of art. There is definitely something there for all of us.

Now for the hard part.

Unfortunately you just missed The Art Walk this year, as it already took place last weekend from July 8-10, but that doesn’t mean you can’t mark it on your calendar for next year! In 2017 The Art Walk will take place from July 7-9 inclusive, and it will run a 4km walk from 101 street all the way to 108 street and along Whyte avenue. Artists will also spill out into grassy areas like the Dr. Wilbert McIntyre park on 104 street and near The Station on 102 street.

It really is incredible to witness all of the hundreds of artists available to buy from and witness in the act of art making in the Old Strathcona area.

The event is organized by The Paint Spot, as it was cofounded by The Paint Spot and The Old Strathcona Foundation, this annual festival has now been running for over 20 years. And if YOU want to be part of The Art Walk, you should reach out to The Paint Spot team via The Art Walk website.

I hope you take a look dear readers, because The Art Walk isn’t just for you or me, it’s for the local community and a way to connect us all a little bit closer to the arts. But that’s just a theory. Have an excellent weekend and I’ll see you on Sunday for something rather stimulating.

Tim!