Bobbi Kitner came up with the idea for Art Hop almost two years ago, after realizing that though Takoma Park is rich with artists and creatives, there weren’t many places for them to showcase their work. She eventually envisioned a festival of sorts, where local businesses would temporarily turn into art galleries on a spring weekend.
This year, that vision takes form in the second annual Takoma Park Art Hop from April 7 – 10. Though the number of artists to participate is still in the preliminary stages, Kitner says the number will either match or exceed last year’s 30 artists.
“I want my kids to grow up in a community that celebrates art and supports their local artists,” Kitner said, who has two children, 5 and 11 and is the lead volunteer. “Even though they don't get this from school, I want my kids to see that art is important and vital to our lives.”
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Kitner hopes that Art Hop eventually grows into a Takoma Park institution that residents expect every year.
“I've started referring to it as "Art Hope" as a way to keep the faith that it is, in some small way, helping to make a difference to both the artists and small businesses in Old Takoma,” Kitner said. “One day I’d like it to grow to provide scholarship money to emerging high school artists.”
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Though Takoma Park has a reputation for being a haven for artists and writers, there is only one art gallery.
“There is the artist’s cooperative, Salon Jam, though it doesn’t have the sales element and then there are a lot of artists here with large reputations nationwide,” said Roz Grigsby, executive director of the Old Takoma Business Association. “In this economy, galleries have been closing all over the country, but here are a lot of creative people here.”
Local businesses that agree to host an artist pay $30 and agree to provide food and drink appropriate for hosting an artist reception for the artist paired with their business. They also get a 25 percent commission of sales made by their artist. Last year, Now and Then, an antique shop selling yarn, jewelry and featuring local artists work, hosted Washington, D.C. panoramic photographer Sam Kittner. Store manager Elizabeth Brinkama says though not every one bought one of his photos, which range from $65 to $1500, many people later contacted him. Part of sales went back to all stores that
“There were about several hundred people that came through those two days,” Brinkama said, who continues to carry his work in the store. “We had a lot of good publicity and local media picked it up. A lot of the people came from out of town to see what we had to offer.”
Want to go?
When: April 7 – 10
Where: Takoma Park, MD, along Carroll Avenue in Old Takoma
Why: To support local artists and businesses
Each business will have its own reception for its artist, but A-Salon at 6925 Willow St. NW will hold a Art Hop group reception on April 6.
Want to become a sponsor? Go to http://www.mainstreettakoma.org/files/AH_2011_bizsign-up.pdf
Want to learn more? http://www.mainstreettakoma.org/event/312
