ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – This weekend, Downtown Escanaba is bringing an old artistic tradition back to life.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, the Escanaba Artwalk returns to Ludington Street.
“It started with the Bonifas many years ago as a way to get the art out into the public more, but for one reason or another and then COVID, we just didn’t do it,” explained Sue Parker, Escanaba DDA Chairperson and co-owner of Nyman Jewelers. “It’s like an art show that’s kind of spread out through the town.”
Thirteen businesses, including Nyman Jewelers, will be hosting local artists. Each artist will have their work on display and available to purchase. Some will be doing demonstrations.
“We are hosting an artist by the name of Sarah May, and she does colored pencil art,” Parker said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what she has.”
Another participating business is Gempathix. Owner Sonja Jensen is an artist herself, creating intricate wirewrap sculptures and pendants.
“I’ve been doing it for over 20 years,” she said. “I do a lot of weaving. There’s a lot of gemstones involved. It takes hours and hours to create them, but they just come out of my mind. Sometimes I set out and I’m like, ‘I’m going to do a dragon pendant,’ and I have a fish pendant. It’s just the way the creative goes.”
Gempathix will also be hosting three other artists.
“I have Nikki [Ecklid], and she makes candles,” said Jensen. “Each one, she includes different herbs, different flowers. Some of these have metaphysical meaning to them, so when you’re lighting them, it’s to take you to a space where you’re working on your manifesting. Melinda [Hupy] pf Melinda’s Piercing, she does spoon rings. Then I have Kathy. She makes these gorgeous suncatchers. My personal favorite is the dragon.”
After several years away, the Escanaba Artwalk aims to draw people inside downtown shops while giving local creators an opportunity to share what they make with the public.
“As a community, we come together for different, various things,” Parker said. “I’ve been seeing more and more in the past few years, more music and more art being brought out to the community so people can enjoy it.”
“When you’re starting out as an artist, it is very hard to get in front of people,” said Jensen. “There are a lot of artists putting their heart and soul into what they do, and this gives them a chance to be seen.”
To see the full map of Escanaba Artweek businesses and artists, visit escanabadowntown.com.
