Tourists and locals peruse the Artwalk display at Casa Etnika in Centro Historico.
‘Open Studio,’ ‘Camino del Arte,’ ‘First Fridays,’ and now simply ‘Artwalk’ all refer to the free self-guided tour of artist studios and galleries in Mazatlán’s Centro Histórico which has evolved over the past 10 years becoming one of the favorite cultural events of ‘the Season.’
Initiated as a once a year event based on my experiences in the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically San Jose and Oakland, the first Open Studio tour in Mazatlán had 12 locations and 22 artists. Although it was attended by just a handful of expats and even fewer locals, we were encouraged to continue for two more years as the number of participants and visitors gradually increased. Over time, however, we realized that Mazatlán’s tourism could support this event once a month versus once a year which led us to inaugurate First Friday Artwalk (Camino del Arte in Spanish), November through May.
In her studio, artist Glen Rogers explains her technique to interested art lovers.
Artwalk is a visual feast, a roving street party from studio to gallery within a 10 block area of Mazatlán’s Old Town with its colorful ‘tropical neo-classical’ architecture. During the tour, visitors have a rare opportunity to see inside these historic buildings while visiting artists in their homes, studios, shops and galleries. Paintings, prints, sculpture, photography, stained glass, fine art jewelry and mixed media works in every style imaginable await behind each door. This is an opportunity to talk with the artists about their work, learn about their technique and inspiration, purchase an original to take home, or just enjoy the moment. At most locations, refreshments are offered and sometimes music or special events.
Friends make a night of it, choosing which locations to visit and strolling the streets with map in hand, perhaps visiting 5 or 6 locations then having dinner and drinks at one of the local restaurants. From an artist’s perspective, the exposure is priceless – I’ve had some of my best commissions and sales through the contacts that I’ve made. And I always enjoy meeting folks and sharing my art and my passion about prints and printmaking.
The arts are notorious for bringing a city to life and Mazatlán has undergone just such a revival over the twelve years that I have lived here. Artwalk, with its focus on the visual arts, has contributed to an exciting lineup of cultural activity. With support from Cultura and local businesses, coverage by the New York Times, Alaska Airlines’ Nextstop.tv, a Value Award by Westjet’s Up! Magazine, mentions in travel blogs and cruiser magazines, Artwalk continues to attract good artists, galleries, and art lovers to the area.
This year’s tour features 23 locations (marked by colorful banners and balloons) and represents 48 artists including Mexicans, U.S. Citizens and Canadians. The dates are: November 7, December 5, January 2, February 6, March 6, April 10 (2nd Friday due to Semana Santa), and May 1.
To celebrate our 10th year anniversary, Artwalk will be hosting an exhibition and party at Casa Haas on Tuesday March 3, 2015 and will feature artwork by over 100 artists who have participated over the last 10 years!
Visit the website: www.artwalkmazatlan.com
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