(Above: Ronald Pennington-Satterfield III’s painting, “New World,” is part of “The Royal Habsburgs Series,” on display now at US Bank. The show will be open for viewing until 6 p.m. during the downtown Springfield Second Friday Art Walk on Dec. 8.)

Edited by Anne-Allegra Bennett

Official Tour

The holiday season is in full swing, and Downtown Springfield is gearing up for its last Second Friday Art Walk of the year with a festive guided tour starting at Willamalane Activity Center (215 W. C Street) at 5 p.m. on Dec. 8. A shuttle will provide service back and forth between the activity center and the Emerald Art Center between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The Island Park Gallery in the activity center features the works of artist Ellen Gabehart’s students as it kicks off the tour at 5:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine plus conversations with the artists. Drawings and paintings on a variety of subjects and mediums created by Gabehart’s students are on display, with the theme of encouraging the artists to “Find their own Voice” as they studied composition, color value and texture. The exhibit ends Jan. 25, during the center’s regular open hours. Park at the center and take the complimentary shuttle, or walk the few blocks to downtown.

Fiber artists from three countries created 90 small quilts depicting World Heritage Sites for a show at the Emerald Art Center

At the Emerald Art Center (500 Main St.), featured member artist Chris Carlson has a show of his black-and-white series, “Main Street.” Upstairs in the Jaqua Gallery, a fiber art exhibit, “World Heritage Sites II Challenge,” features 90 small quilts, representing 30 World Heritage Sites. Groups of quilters in the United States, Japan, and South Korea received a list of sites, and each quilt represents a site in each country.

The City Hall Gallery (225 A. St.) is open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the Art Walk, showing work by artists selected from the 2017 Mayor’s Art Show, including G. Khalsa, Colleen Goodwin-Chronister, Rachel Marcotte and Donald Gustavson. Jazz guitarist Jack Radsliff will play.

“The Work of Luigi Testa” is on exhibit at the Springfield Museum (590 Main St.), and showing his paintings and sculptures that are a part of the city of Springfield’s collection. It accompanies the new installation of Testa’s work near the Booth-Kelly Business Complex. Light refreshments.

Memento Ink (525 Main St.) features paintings by Elias Mellott, with this explanation from his artist’s statement: “Welcome to my world of skulls from another dimension. My main focus is to bring the shape of the human skull to a different understanding. I love the shape of the human braincase and what it would look like in a different imagination …”

“December Delights” is the December Art Walk theme at Cascade Center for Spiritual Living (741 Main St.), a collaboration of unique artwork by local artists who are a part of the Art Forum.

More arts and culture

In addition to the stops along the guided walk, several other shops will take part during the Second Friday Art Walk, offering their own art displays:

100 Mile Bakery (418 A. St.) – Paintings by Shelley Albrich.

US Bank (437 Main St.) – “The Royal Habsburg Series” features a series of oil paintings from Ronald Pennington-Satterfield III. Light refreshments served; closing at 6 p.m.

Hearts for Hospice (444 Main St.) – Hearts for Hospice presents Thembanathi, a small non-profit which sells Zulu crafts and jewelry handmade by fair trade women’s income generation projects in KwaZulu-Nata, South Africa. Thembanathi supports services for South African children and families affected by HIV/AIDS and longstanding poverty and extreme inequality. Music will be provided by the Grinch and the Whoville Carolers, with cookies by Paco.

Celeste Watch Company (335 Main St.) – Celeste specializes in handcrafted watch dials and straps and will be on hand to discuss her watch dial inlays of abalone shell, mother of pearl, and wood. She is one of the only women watch dial artists in the United States. Also on display is a demonstration of hand sewing a watch band. Refreshments will be served.

331 Mosaic (331 Main St.) – Artist Tanith Rohe is new to Springfield. Her work uses recycled materials and always includes something not normally seen in jewelry.

Information: 541-726-8595

Chris Carlson has a show of black-and-white photographs titled “Main Street” on display through December at the Emerald Art Center

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