By Lori Hinton

On the second Thursday of each month from 6 to 9pm, West Seattle is abuzz. Residents make restaurant reservations, perhaps primp a little, and get ready for an evening of stepping out onto the streets. It’s time for West Seattle Art Walk — a favorite neighborhood tradition for veteran art appreciators and newcomers alike.

Growing from a mere 8-business participant list in the event’s grassroots beginnings to an ever-expanding list of over 50 West Seattle businesses now, each merchant involved with Art Walk seeks out and hosts their own local artist(s) for the event featuring every genre you can imagine from oil and water color paintings to fiber arts, jewelry, photography and even live Flamenco guitar! Displays change monthly, but local art can be appreciated from the walls of these Westside businesses all year long.

The artists themselves are local, and if not West Seattle based, then at the very least they are Seattle based. Keep your eyes out for local favorite Kelly Rae Cunningham (the artist commissioned to paint the mural for the Mural lobby), photos from famous filmmaker and ski pioneer Otto Lang, and of course the cute Clifford the dog paintings from West Seattle Christian Preschool’s 5 and 6-yr-old up and comers.

Artists’ biographies are available on the Art Walk blogspot (see address below) so you can preview their work, explore the different genres and get to know them a bit before you go meet them in person.

“Art Walk is as much of a social event as it is art appreciation,” smiles organizer and owner of Hotwire Coffeehouse Lora Lewis. “The artists themselves attend to chit chat — making it a great way to connect local artists and the community.”

Some merchants offer specials, fun give aways and refreshments, so you may want to wander the walk before dining out to see what kind of appetizers you can find. Rumor has it that Keller Williams puts on an amazing spread each month. The gals at Twighlight Artist Collective are also known for throwing a great party — every time. And West 5 offers a complimentary glass of champagne for art walkers too. Cheers!

Art Walk often plays on seasonal themes, like Valentine’s, Easter and the Holidays, with evenings full of prizes, trivia and more. But beyond any theme nights, it’s all about the art at this event’s core.

Mural’s gallery community room is also a stop on the Art Walk map hosting local artwork in the Gallery Lounge, and stop by for a glass of wine! Strolling to Art Walk from Mural is easy, since the Junction is West Seattle’s hotbed for art walkers.

Mark your calendar for the following upcoming Art Walk dates this summer:

• August 13
• September 10
• October 8

Not good with dates? Sign up for a reminder from Twitter via the Art Walk website: www.westseattleartwalk.blogspot.com

And get ready to connect with your community in the name of art!