Third Friday Art Walks a new feature in downtown Campbell

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C OMMUNITY By C ATHY W ESELBY W atch out, Carmel, here
comes downtown Camp-
bell,which is developing a reputation as an art community. New art galleries continue to open downtown,as the Third Friday
Art Walks add to the momentum. Starting Sept. 21, 10 galleries within a four-block radius will be
open and offering special activi-
ties from 6 to 9 p.m. Artist Sonya Paz says the four gallery owners in the Courtyard
were brainstorming recently on
how to draw more people down-
town and came up with the idea of
Art Walks on the third Friday of
every month. The four artists, Paz, Lorraine Lawson,Mary Medrano and Deb-
bie Arambula,encouraged the rest
of the Campbell art community to
join in on the monthly event. “Our artwork is so different,” Paz says.“We all offer spicy alter-
natives.” Paz says the group decided that instead of advertising in the pricey
Gallery Guide, which excludes
Campbell,the group decided to cre-
ate its own guide that maps out the
galleries in downtown Campbell. Lawson, owner of Gallerie Boheme, says the energy in the
Courtyard has shifted over the past
six months. Lawson moved her
gallery to the front of the Courtyard
and her friend, Medrano, moved
into Lawson’s previous space.
Arambula opened up a gallery in
addition to her Heartworks studio,
and Paz opened her gallery next
door to Arambula in April. “What used to be antique row is becoming an art colony,” Lawson
says. Down the street, Pirjo Polari- Khan opened her Terra Polaris
Gallery two months ago in the
space occupied previously by
Mind’s Eye Gallery. “I’d like people to know we’re here and make downtown Camp-
bell the place to come to,” Polari-
Khan says. She hopes that people are inter- ested in learning about art,and she
promises to “take the fear out of art.” Tucked in the back is the Mawau- zo Gallery & Custom Framing.
Mawauzo Fikira paints modern,
abstract works and creates buttons
with African and political themes,
in addition to his custom framing. “Framing is just as important as art,”Fikira says.“A person’s more
likely to buy a piece of artwork if
they like how it’s framed.” BRUNI Gallery executive director Mark Gray said Paz
talked him into joining the Art
Walk.“It’s not something that we
normally do,” Gray says. The
BRUNI Gallery has been in
downtown Campbell for more
than eight years,featuring work of Third Friday Art Walks a new feature in downtown Campbell Third Friday Art Walks happen in downtown Campbell between
Railroad Avenue and Winchester
Boulevard between 6 and 9 p.m.
on the following dates: Sept. 21,
Oct.19,Nov.16,Dec.21. For more information, visit www.downtowncampbell.com. 1. The Art Beat
68 E. Campbell Ave.
408.370.5002
www.theartbeat.net 2. Galerie Boheme
295 E. Campbell Ave.
408.838.3533
www.onefineartist.com 3. Mary Medrano Gallery
305 E. Campbell Ave.
408.270.2732
www.marymedranogallery.com 4. Heartworks Studio
311 E. Campbell Ave.
408.370.7278
www.heartworksgallery.com 5. Sonya Paz Gallery
325 E. Campbell Ave.
408.370.1490
www.sonyapaz.com 6. Debbie Marie Gallery
327 E. Campbell Ave.
408.370.7278
www.debbiemariegallery.com 7. BRUNI Gallery
394 E. Campbell Ave.
408.370.4700
www.brunijazzart.com 8. Stone Griffin Gallery
416 E. Campbell Ave.
408.374.5200
www.stonegriffingallery.com 9. Terra Polaris Gallery
395 E. Campbell Ave.
408.364.1000
www.terra-polaris.com 10. Mawauzo Gallery
409 E. Campbell Ave., “R”
408.469.9160
www.mawauzo.com celebrated artist Bruni Sablan and
Gray, the official artist for the San
Jose Sharks. “We like downtown Campbell,” Gray says. “Humanity is disap-
pearing, and it’s hard to create in
an atmosphere without humanity.” If viewing all of the artwork proves inspirational, head to the
Art Beat at the other end of down-
town.Art Beat owner Erinn Turi
offers classes for children and
adults in pottery, mosaic and
painting. In addition to classes, people come together to create
items for birthday parties, bridal
showers and corporate team-
building events. During the Art
Walk,Turi says,visitors will be able
to see artists at work and learn
more about the classes offered. Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer Downtown Campbell is developing into an artist community. To encourage people to explore art (from left) Erin Turi, Sonya Paz, Lorraine
Lawson, Mary Medrano (seated) and Debbie Arambula will be part of the Art Walks event. The BRUNI Gallery, Terra Polaris Gallery and
Stone Griffin Gallery are also participating. The Historical Downtown Campbell Art Walk SEPTEMBER 21, 2007 CAMPBELL REPORTER 17

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