FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 8, 2024

PETOSKEY, MI — Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) is proud to present Art Walk, an annual celebration of art, music, shopping, and community in Downtown Petoskey on Thursday, August 29, 2024 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, with select activities beginning at 5:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public.

Art Walk invites guests to enjoy Downtown Petoskey’s galleries, design studios, and creative spaces for a lively and communal evening. Participating shops, including Somebody’s Gallery, RANDOM, KLK Design, Flora Bae Home, Northgoods, Malted Vinyl, and Crooked Tree Arts Center - Petoskey, will welcome the public after-hours with small bites and refreshments and distribute raffle tickets throughout the evening. The following shops will also feature an artist on-site during Art Walk: Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts (Andy Backus Photography), J.W. Shorter & Son Mercantile (Jennifer Shorter), and The Katydid (Molly McCarthy, Emma Johnson, Karen Mazzoline).

“People are always asking me, ‘When’s the Art Walk?’” says Julie Stoppel, co-owner of Somebody’s Gallery. “Crooked Tree Art Center’s Art Walk is such a wonderful way for the community to get together, see beautiful art, and have a great time!”

Leading up to the Art Walk event, regional plein-air artists will be participating in a week-long Paint Out event, depicting the charm of the Petoskey region's many field, harbor, and downtown scenes. These original paintings will be on view and available for purchase during the Art Walk Wet Paint Sale from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, where attendees can mingle with the artists on Bidwell Plaza. In addition, artists from The Kitchen Painters will give live demos in CTAC’s Atrium Gallery and on Bidwell Plaza from 5:00 to 8:00 pm to celebrate this summer's exhibition, A Full Circle: Summer Up North, Paintings by The Kitchen Painters & Photographs by the Crooked Tree Photographic Society.

Adding to the lively ambiance of the Art Walk event, there will be musicians and working artists showcasing diverse art forms throughout downtown. Special musical guest Jelly Roll Blues Band will perform on the main stage outside CTAC’s Bidwell Plaza throughout the evening. 

Following the main Art Walk event, all are welcome to join the free Art Walk After Party at CTAC with live music, a cash bar, and an 8:30 pm raffle prize drawing, offering attendees the chance to win curated gift baskets generously provided by each participating gallery.

"A core part of our mission is to build connection through the arts. Partnering with our local shops, artists, and musicians for our annual Art Walk is a fun and uplifting way to achieve this," said Michelle Horn, Development and Events Manager at Crooked Tree Arts Center - Petoskey. "Art Walk is about creativity and community, celebrating our region's tremendous talent and artistic diversity."

For additional information, please visit crookedtree.org/artwalk or call (231) 347-4337.

Art Walk is organized by Crooked Tree Arts Center - Petoskey with the generous support of Downtown Petoskey and the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau. For lodging information while attending Art Walk, visit www.PetoskeyArea.com.

Event Details: 

• Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 

• Location: Crooked Tree Arts Center - Petoskey (461 E. Mitchell Street) and Downtown Petoskey

• Time: 

  • 5:00 to 8:00 pm - Wet Paint Sale on Bidwell Plaza

  • 5:00 to 8:00 pm - Live Demo with The Kitchen Painters on Bidwell Plaza and at Crooked Tree Arts Center’s Atrium Gallery

  • 6:00 PM - 9:00 pm - Art Walk in Downtown Petoskey, Jelly Roll Blues Band on the Main Stage

  • 8:00 PM to 9:00 pm - Art Walk After Party at Crooked Tree Arts Center

  • 8:30 pm - Raffle Drawing at Crooked Tree Arts Center

• Cost: Free

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About the Crooked Tree Arts Center: The mission of the Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) is to create ways for people to connect, learn, and grow through the arts. CTAC offers exhibits, concerts, classes, lectures, special events, and so much more, from its campuses in Petoskey and Traverse City. For more information, please visit www.crookedtree.org.