For years, the much-loved Garage Galleries summer event has been an opportunity for local artists to showcase their work while residents and visitors strolled through Forest Park garages and backyards. With COVID dangers and restrictions in place this year, however, the Forest Park Arts Alliance (FPPA) decided not to hold the event.
In June, the FPAA announced that “due to the uncertainty of the COVID crisis, the planning committee for Garage Galleries has made the decision to cancel the event for this year. We could not justify placing our hosts, artists and guests in a position which could impact their health.”
But they still wanted to find a way to give residents their annual local art fix. So they’ve teamed with the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce and will hold a still-unnamed art walk on Madison Street.
The planned week is August 22 to 29, and the event will feature Garage Galleries artists from past years displaying their art in storefronts up and down Madison Street.
Landlords and leasing agents of open storefronts are offering their windows to host art displays, which will be under lock and key. Lighting will be provided in the windows for evening viewing, and artists can include contact information in the windows so viewers wishing to purchase work can do so.
Socially distant viewing of the art will be guided by sidewalk markings in front of display windows.
The application deadline for artists is July 24. Contact Lin Beribak at lberibak@att.net for more information.
