Is Artwalk stale?

[Bridges]

Is Artwalk becoming stale?  Is it there already?  Or is it fine the way it is? 

I'm asking an honest question for opinions.  In my opinion I think that Artwalk is becoming, if not already there, a little "blah".  To me it's starting to take on the look of an event that is taken for granted.  Once wildly successful, now locked in with the same art in the same places.  The same layout, the same "just put it up and they'll come" attitude.  I don't mean to sound rude, but Hemming Plaza is becoming a little chintzy with its booths  Granted, there are a lot of booths and there will be overlap, but to me it's become a quick pass through. 

I live in Springfield and try to make every Artwalk, not so much for "artwalk" but because I like the feel of crowded streets and bars.  However, I feel that its gone downhill recently.  I know we talked about RAM a while ago and people's feelings about what was happening there. 

Does anyone else feel this way too?  If so, what can be done to reinvigorate it?

[BridgeTroll]

I certainly have attended less now than the early years... not sure why exactly... it has just become less of a priority somehow...

[Ocklawaha]

If they expanded the venue to become a huge monthly downtown party, it would stay alive for decades. See if there isn't a better night, something to allow a bit of travel to and from, a day off, etc...  Close off a couple of streets to everything but pedestrians and bicycles, bring in some live music a mini Jazz Festival. Roll a downtown version of the Farmers Market, have the city get someone to do a pretty spectacular laser light show, bounce movies off of downtown buildings. Hell, done right, we'd have people from Atlanta and Miami coming in for this.

[tufsu1]

the crowds are generally larger each month than in previous years....and there are always changes (like food trucks)...so no.

[Tacachale]

The Art Walk of today is substantially better than when it started. Over the last while we may have gotten to the point that it's leveled out, but I don't know that I'd call that "stale". It absolutely could be tweaked to keep it fresh.

However what I'd rather see than messing with the Art Walk format would be adding a second large monthly event. I believe that would have more of a livening effect on all downtown events than anything.

[David]

Ah yes, artwalk burn out. I've suffered that a few times since I started going back in 200....2? 3?

I usually avoid art walk in the summer months because of the heat, but I decided to drive around it last night, which was the first artwalk i've been to in probably 5 or 6 months.

You do tend to see the same art every month (and I used to contribute but lost the motivation to peddle my photography so I can't complain) so I like to give it a break every so often.

In order to prevent it going stale for me I set aside a specific art walk to actually check out the art (crazy I know) and maybe next time just go out and enjoy the rare bustling vibe that artwalk brings to downtown while having a drink or two.

Bay street definitely has more venues than it used to. I didn't even set foot towards the epicenter and still saw a few cool pieces.

I did have a conversation with someone at Marks about the "good ol days" of artwalk and he too said it felt a little stale, but I think that's just the nostalgia glasses kickin' in. The old library was a great venue and I miss that, but there's still plenty going on.

[isphil]

I love Art Walk because it's an opportunity to see the city come alive and enjoy the things that are unique to our downtown.  Happy to see the addition of food trucks last night and maybe that's an indication that Art Walk is evolving.  Fresh ideas never hurt and certainly Art Walk could use an infusion of creativity to make it an even better event.  I believe Art Walk provided the impetus for the Community First Saturday event which is scheduled to begin the first Saturday in October and will provide an opportunity for more folks to experience downtown during the weekend.  Art Walk becomes stale only if we let it.  I think downtown merchants should get more involved with Art Walk food & drink specials and hosting events within their individual venues. 

[birdilicious]

I try to visit artwalk on a schedule of going two months in a row, then skipping it for two-three months.  You see a lot of the same things each month, and I really miss the old Library, and the more public drinking and festive atmosphere but I don't know if I'd call it stale yet.  It's just lost it's sheen.

[Bill Hoff]

Every other works for me.

I think any monthly event has burn out eventually, even if things are tweaked.

[Jax_Spartan]

Close off a couple of streets to everything but pedestrians and bicycles, bring in some live music a mini Jazz Festival. Roll a downtown version of the Farmers Market, have the city get someone to do a pretty spectacular laser light show, bounce movies off of downtown buildings. Hell, done right, we'd have people from Atlanta and Miami coming in for this.

I think any of those ideas would be awesome. Also, it seems like there are a lot of people that have a drink or two at some of the art spots or local bars. I think they could at least shut down a a couple of blocks that would allow for open containers/intox for a limited amount of time, kind of like the Jazz Fest does.

[Overstreet]

Is it 2008? It seemed that way back then.

Then again, I'd rather go fishing anyway.

[DDC]

If they expanded the venue to become a huge monthly downtown party, it would stay alive for decades. See if there isn't a better night, something to allow a bit of travel to and from, a day off, etc...  Close off a couple of streets to everything but pedestrians and bicycles, bring in some live music a mini Jazz Festival. Roll a downtown version of the Farmers Market, have the city get someone to do a pretty spectacular laser light show, bounce movies off of downtown buildings. Hell, done right, we'd have people from Atlanta and Miami coming in for this.

I like this idea, but not as a spruce up for Art Walk. I like it for a completely separate event. If Art Walk is on 1st Wednesday, have this event say, 3rd Saturday. Center it around Hemming, or over at Adams to Bay Street with the Parking lot at Main and Adams for an outdoor stage.

We hear all the time there is nothing to bring us downtown. I think that is a crock myself, but give them what they want.

[RockStar]

The last ArtWalk where they closed off Laura St (2 months ago? I forget, but it rained pretty hard, then cleared up), Jerry Moran pitched a fit. It was killing his business.

[Adam W]

Best time I ever had Downtown was during the Superbowl. I realise that the Superbowl isn't a weekly or monthly (or even annual) occurrence, but there has to be a lesson in there somewhere. Streets were closed. Street vendors were set up. There was live entertainment. The riverfront was heavily featured. And you could walk around with a drink in your hand.

We walked from the current site of the RAM to Sherwood's. And the next day we walked from RAM to the stadium.

Jacksonville could be like that all the time. Maybe not right away, but someday.

[Bativac]

I dunno - for me personally, I sold more pieces this past Wednesday than I have in months. And I saw quite a steady stream of people where I was set up (the lobby of the Carling). So apparently there are lots of people who are still into it.

I'll agree about the cheezy factor of some of the stuff being sold - but selling art is a tough thing, and the people making more handmade-type stuff are inclined to put their time into more productive efforts. I think more people treat ArtWalk as something to walk around and look at, and less like someplace to spend money on art and encourage artists to come out. If you're selling booze you've got a one thousand percent better chance of making a sale than if you're selling art.

I do wish it spread a little further throughout downtown but it was definitely packed the other night. In fact, this is the first time I haven't been able to easily find on-street parking within a couple blocks of where I was set up.