Summer is fast approaching, and businesses and artists are getting ready to start Art Walk 2012 come June 28.The Art Walk, which was first begun in 2007 by Dee Poisson and Caroll Smith, is put on by the Wellspring Visual Art Network Association. Over the course of the summer, Wellspring members partner up with community businesses to showcase their work for those making the rounds on the tour.The discussion panel for this year's walk was held on May 3, with a reception evening on May 2.“It was nice and classy,” said Gayle Kohut of the reception and discussion. Kohut is working alongside Smith to organize for this year's walk. “There were not as many businesses this year, though.”Kohut said this could largely be due to the fact that Innisfail has opted out of the walk this year due to sewer line work being done on its main street over the summer.Olds, Didsbury, Sundre and Carstairs will be participating again this year, however.Map brochures listing the locations of the businesses taking part in the walk will be distributed at the end of the month, starting May 28.While the walk ends in September, many businesses ask artists to stay for a bit longer at their location on commission, Kohut said.“Businesses have really found that it's such good advertising, people will come into their shop who maybe haven't before because of the art walk sign and artist,” she said.While the walk is on, 10 per cent of artists' sales will go to the Wellspring Association for fundraising, as the group does not have any fundraisers to support their shows and events.“Wellspring is for bringing out and exposing artists who don't know how to go about that,” said Kohut. “This walk does that too. It's brought a lot of interest into communities; it brings in business and people.”
