The organizers of Art Walk added a few new twists to what has become a spring downtown Bowling Green
ritual.
Now in its 22nd year, Saturday’s event included a new set of awards for artists. In the past, artists
vied for People’s Choice honors. Now Art Walk has added juried awards as well.
That’s a result of a new partnership between Downtown Bowling Green, which stages the event, and the
Bowling Green Arts Council. That collaboration also meant an increase in the number of artists
exhibiting their work in dozens of downtown shops and storefronts.
About 60 percent of the field was new, said Brenda Baker, the arts council president. About 40 individual
artists were involved as well as four groups. That didn’t include the many school groups. Artists came
from around the area, including Sylvania and Findlay.
Baker said many didn’t know what to expect, whether the show would give them exposure or provide sales.
It did a little or both, she said, and a number of exhibitors she spoke with were eager to return next
year.
Lonnie Rosenberg, who demonstrated her acrylic painting technique at Calico, Sage & Thyme, said
she enjoys participating in Art Walk because it gives her a chance to meet art lovers. Sometimes they’ll
say they’ve purchased something of hers, and describe where they have it displayed.
"That’s not something I get to hear," Rosenberg said.
She’s demonstrated in the shop during Art Walk for a number of years, and enjoys giving people, including
children, a sense of the work that goes into a painting.
Annette Jensen, one of the two judges, said she was impressed with the range of work, from crafts to fine
art, on display. She said they wanted to distribute the awards to represent that range of work. They saw
so much good work that they awarded four honorable mentions in addition to the three top cash awards.

The top award went to Isaac Smith, who was showing his drawings and paintings in For Keeps. Metal
sculptor Tom Roller, who exhibited in BG Hats & Apparel, took second and Jeannine Alberti, also
at BG Hats, received third place for her paintings.
The honorable mentions went to: Richard Gullett, Lonnie Rosenberg, Beth Ziss and Mary Claire Roe.
The people’s choice awards honored three of the same artists with Gullett take first for his pen and ink
drawings, Roller receiving second, and Smith, third.
Also, new this year was a quilt exhibit featuring about 70 quilts, sponsored by The Busy Thimble. Also,
an hour-long documentary on writer and performer Luis Chaluisan, now a resident of Bowling Green, was
shown throughout the afternoon at The Connection Center.
For the third year, a Fashion, Food and Fine Art event was held at Sam B’s, this year to raise money for
downtown planting. Last year the event raised about $700, said Barbara Ruland, executive director of
Downtown Bowling Green, and she expected to raise about the same this year.
Also, using Art Walk as a fundraising platform was Broad Wing Tattoo. John Embry, who works and curates
the art displays at the shop, was on the street drawing portraits while another artist was doing
caricatures. Proceeds from their work as well as a percentage of the sale of art inside by artists from
Bowling Green State University will go to pay for care packages for cancer patients. The shop was also
donating a percentage of tattoos and piercings done that day.
Embry said traffic was steady throughout the day.
"What we’re trying to do," Ruland said, "is play to the strengths of the downtown."

That includes its newest business. Andrea Wagner wasn’t planning to open her new venture, Valencia’s
Shoes, at 175 N. Main St., quite so soon, but Ruland asked her to consider being open because artists
wanted to use the small separate storefront at the location. Wagner was pleased she could comply even if
it meant late hours by herself, her family and friends to get the shop in the former health food store,
ready for customers.
Many people came in and looked, and she made some sales. "Pretty good for not having much
advertisement," Wagner said. "I think the exposure of Art Walk really helped out."