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Out and About
Cold weather doesn’t hurt the Gallery Hop!
Posted by:
Stephanie De Pasquale on
December 5, 2008 at
9:10PM CST
I don’t really know what I was thinking when I wore a short-sleeved shirt, ballet flats and no gloves, scarf or hat to the Gallery Hop! I’ve been to the Hop! several times before as a caroler with the Augustana Women’s Ensemble when I was a student at Augustana College.
Back then, I’d bundle up in several layers of socks and sweaters, even donning two pairs of gloves and topping it all off with snow boots, scarves and a hat. I realized my mistake as soon as I got out of my car and headed straight to Theo’s Java Club to get a mocha, which I desperately clung to as a hand warmer for the rest of the night. Theo’s drew an eclectic crowd of most 20-somethings to see the artwork of Marty “M.J. Heat” Jones, who also performed with his band X+X. I saw some of Jones’ artwork when I interviewed him for a story to preview the Multimedia Happening, which was part of the Gallery Hop! But one very interesting piece that I didn’t get a chance to see was a skull made of keys from a broken electric board fixed to a black board. When Jones and Multimedia Happening organizer William Martin took the stage to provide what Martin previously said would be some cool jams, there seemed to be far more instruments on stage than the two would need. But soon Martin on cow bell and hand drums and Jones on guitar were joined by audience members who picked up the other instruments and started improving with them. The sound got very loud, very quickly with the highlight coming when Jones started to play the guitar with a violin bow, creating an eerie, sad sound. Then for a completely different change of pace, I headed to Quad-City Arts, which was filled with a more mature crowd and young couples on dates. One woman on a date was wearing a thin, knee-length dress that made me feel less stupid about forgetting to bundle up. One of the more interesting artists work on display for the event were carvings of wooden cottages by Larry Westmorland. One of his larger models looked like it could have been plucked right out of a fairy tale. But the current exhibit by Matt Moyer, whose works of pipes and other industrial materials that have been fused together, are what drew in the most gazes by onlookers. I found an even more mature crowd at Left Bank Art League, where wine and cheese were offered instead of the hot chocolate and sweets at other locations. Artist Judy D. Gray was on hand, creating a piece while Hop! attendees looked on. She also had several works displayed depicting flowers painted with such vibrant blues, reds and greens that a three-dimensional effect was created. The cold aside, it was a fun evening and I enjoyed seeing shops open in The District that normally are closed in the evenings. What artists and stops on the Gallery Hop! did you all enjoy most? Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639.
Send This | Categories: Art, Live music, The District
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