(Above: Detail from a large painting called Volare Amore by Springfield artist Glenn Dow is part of the April members’ show at the Emerald Art Center)

By Randi Bjornstad

The April version of downtown Springfield’s Second Friday Art Walk on April 12 boasts 17 stops, six of them on the official guided walk led by artist Susan Lowdermilk, who teaches art at Lane Community College.

Lowdermilk will gather up her charges at 5 p.m. at the Willamalane Adult Activity Center at 215 West C St., where the art on display is the Island Park Gallery Photo Contest Exhibition. The show includes photographs taken within the Willamalane Park and Recreation District in the categories of flora and fauna, Dorris Ranch, special events, and sports and activities.

Gloria Tinker honors fungi in Blue Shrooms, part of her Like a Flower show at the Emerald Art Center

From there, the tour will move to the Emerald Art Center at 500 Main St., where three exhibits are on display. One is a monthly show of work by members of the art center. There’s also a show of work by two featured members, Randye Jenson with a collection of pastels called Wildness, and the other a set of giclée prints by Daniel Schlender, titled Oregon Places: A Visual Tour. Upstairs in the center’s Jaqua Gallery, Gloria Tinker displays a show of watercolors called Like a Flower.

Jetty is one of Nyssa Perrin Clark’s paintings in the Springfield City Hall Gallery show

Next up is the Springfield City Hall Gallery at 225 Fifth St., where Nyssa Perrin Clark has a series of acrylic-on-canvas paintings that explore both places in nature and human emotions. Glass cases in the gallery area hold a wide variety of origami creations, ranging from intricately folded real and mythical animals to tiny books, some packed in tiny origami boxes.

The tour moves to A3, the Academy of Arts and Academics at 615 Main St., where portraits, photography and 2D art work by students are on display. Although it’s not on the official guided tour, the Springfield Museum at 590 Main St. also has an extensive show of artwork by students from Springfield, Thurston and A3 high schools.

The Tronson Gallery of Contemporary Art at 740 Main St. is on the tour, with an exhibit called Paris Variations by artist and gallery owner Jim Tronson, including 20 of his recent acrylic-on-canvas paintings.

The last official stop at Neu Real Estate at 349 Main St. features paintings by Mike Carmickle, who works primarily in oil-on-canvas, with subjects that vary from wildlife to still life.

Also open during the Art Walk, which runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., are the following shops, many of which show and support the arts — or feed the body as well as the soul:

  • Springfield Museum, 590 Main St. — Drawings and paintings by Springfield, Thurston and A3 high school students.
  • 100 Mile Bakery, 418 A St.
  • Malerische Gallery, 236 Main St. — Original paintings and giclée prints by Ila Rose, plus an artist talk, food and beverages, and live music by acoustical singer/songwriter Megan Johns.
  • Bartolotti’s NY-Style Pizza and Italian Bistro, 330 Main St.
  • Haphazard Creativity, 331 Main St.
  • Haven Home Garden & Gifts, 349 Main St. — Rock Art by Nicole Mannan.
  • Dark and Stormy Food and Garden Lounge — 120 Main St.
  • Cheesesteak NW, 521 Main St.
  • Wildish Theatre, 630 Main St.
  • Mezza Luna Pizzeria, 115 S. Fifth St.
  • Chow/Moe’s Tavern, 471 South A St.

April Art Walk Sponsors: Emerald Art Center, City of Springfield, Springfield Arts Commission, Neu Realty, and Tronson Gallery of Contemporary Art

Drawings by students from three Springfield high schools are on display at the Springfield Museum at 590 Main St.