The new will be celebrated with the old as the St. Paul Art Crawl marks its 25th year this weekend.
Here’s a look at five new venues, galleries and their artists at this year’s event, which takes place throughout St. Paul, from the Schmidt Artists Lofts on West Seventh to Raymond Station, Downtown, Lowertown, West Side, East Side and Midway.
LOWERTOWN UNDERGROUND ARTISTS
One of the new spaces is in the Northern Warehouse building, a block and a half from the end of the Green Line light rail. The Lowertown Underground Artists moved into the basement of the building that houses the Black Dog Cafe after they lost their spaces in the historic JAX building, which was sold to create lofts and apartments.
Metal seafoam-green stairs and an unfinished brick wall greet visitors to the new space, which features work from painters and photographers, as well as a dance studio.
Barbara Evan, one of the artists working in the gallery, says it isn’t private and was originally ugly, but she’s enjoying her new space.
“It won’t matter where I am,” Evan said about how she’s continued to create and sell her art after the move. “Development happens. We just got caught in the middle of it.”
THE SHOW GALLERY
Another former JAX occupant, The Show Gallery has moved to the corner of Fourth and Sibley. The gallery features art from artists with and without disabilities, side-by-side.
Winna Bernard, founder of The Show, wanted to create a place and a community where people of all abilities could show their art. The new space is more accessible to patrons and visitors, she said.
Bernard and Tara Tieso, a local artist and member of The Show’s board, attribute the success of the new space to the people who are involved. “The community comes first, and the art comes from that,” Tieso said.
VANDALIA GLASSWORKS
Vandalia Glassworks is on the second floor of Vandalia Tower, 550 Vandalia St. Studio manager Rachel Masica said the location inside the old King Koil Mattress factory gives her a chance to be involved in the Art Crawl.
The studio offers classes, mentor programs and a place for artists to work full-time.
“We have all the steps to make it, and I want artists to say, ‘This is my studio,’ ” Masica said. “I want people to know we’re here.”
FLAT EARTH
Franco Claseman of Flat Earth Brewery said he jumped on the opportunity to host art at the brewery.
“The work the artists do is so under-appreciated,” Claseman said. “It’s a good opportunity for them and us.”
Flat Earth is hosting seven artists this year, including Matt Kohn’s paintings of landscapes and surreal scenes.
The brewery is at 688 Minnehaha Ave. E. and will be marked by a yellow arrow.
7TH AND ARCADE GALLERY
The building that held the Animal Art Thrift Store is now the 7th and Arcade Gallery. Local artist Miles Taylor, an experienced glitch artist who “turns images into sound and then back again,” is set up in the gallery, which he says has “a diverse and wide spectrum of art, people and community.”
MORE CRAWLS TO CONSIDER
St. Paul Classical Music Crawl: Crawling in Lowertown isn’t just about visual art on Saturday. The second St. Paul Classical Music Crawl will have a full day of mini-concerts featuring more than 20 performances by the Schubert Club/Hill House Chamber Players, Bach Society of Minnesota, Twin Cities Lute Cooperative and more.
With free 15-minute performances take place throughout the day, crawlers can explore their own classical music tastes or join an on-air Classical Minnesota Public Radio host on a guided tour. Noon-8 p.m. Saturday; Lowertown St. Paul; free; saintpaulclassical.com.
Art Crawl at Union Depot: Trains, cranes and the performing arts are part of the St. Paul Art Crawl at Union Depot. The historic rail station in Lowertown will feature a combination of music, photography, and art. Four classical music groups, including VocalEssence and Apollo Master Chorale will be performing. The space will feature art by 29 artists, including a month-long paper crane installation. The exhibit, “Wishes for Peace,” will place thousands of cranes with messages of peace throughout the Depot. The cranes will be sent to children in Nagasaki, Japan, St. Paul’s Sister City, as well as Hiroshima. Art crawl hours at Union Depot are 6-10 p.m. Friday, noon-8 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. The depot is located at 214 E. Fourth St. For info: uniondepot.org.
IF YOU GO
What: St. Paul Art Crawl
Where: Locations around St. Paul
When: 6-10 p.m. Friday, noon-8 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: Free
Info: saintpaulartcrawl.org
