Downtown Racine Art Walk Opens Saturday With Artists, Music, And Tours

RACINE - New members and old favorites will celebrate the first Downtown Racine Art Walk (DRAW) of 2017 from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 15, in Racine's scenic downtown area.

Local businesses and galleries will host a variety of local and national artists and include hands-on activities, tours, and meet-and-greet with the artists.

Highlights include:

• Benjamin Brewing Company, 507 6th St., will feature two landscape and fine art photographers, including Racine natives Will Archer and Linda Webster, who will showcase work from their world travels.
• Northern Lights Gallery, 423 Main St., will feature the acoustic fingerstyle guitar work of New Zealand's multi-genre Mike Fenner.
• Hot Shop Glass, 239 Wisconsin Ave., will offer glass making demonstrations from their vat 2000-degree molten glass.
• Racine Art Museum, 441 Main St., is offering free admission throughout the art walk and is hosting RAM Artist Fellowship recipient Kirsten Bartel, a printmaker focusing on contemporary print-media utilizing multiplicity and duplication. The museum also is exhibiting its 8th Annual International Peeps Art Exhibition featuring unique creations using Peeps Easter candies.
• Dover Flag & Map, 323 Main St., features mixed media artist Gina Schoenherr.
• Funky Hannah's Beads & Art, 324 Main St., will have glass bead-making demos with Tracy Bernhart, and guest artist Renee Bebeau will adorn attendees with henna art.
• Modern Beauty @ VARITAY, 410 Main St., invites visitors to tour their loft studio in the 410 building and learn about Varitay's new venture Modern Beauty, a portrait studio that re-creates the movie star photoshoot experience with hair, makeup, and design.

Admission is free. This year's DRAW events will be April 16, July 16, and Nov. 19. For more information, visit www.downtownracine.com.