Palette Cleansing: First Friday turns Marietta’s Armory into a hub of artistic activity

[ad_1]

Artist Jolene Powell works the canvas Friday during Live Art at the Armory in Marietta where the monthly First Friday was held. (Photo Provided)

MARIETTA — The Armory was a hub of artistic activity during Marietta Main Street’s First Friday Art Walk on Friday.

Returning for a second year, Live Art at the Armory was hosted by Main Street’s Public Art Committee and featured eight local artists each painting a 2-by-2 foot canvas during the four-hour event.

Live Art at the Armory is a live painting and silent auction to raise funds for public art projects in downtown Marietta. This year’s participating artists include Bijou Burgardt, Emma Romanowski, Kyla Smith, Hailey Bennett, Hannah Celeste Davis, Jolene Powell, Nicole Harris and Tracy Love, each creating a one-of-a-kind piece.

The eight works of art are on display at various businesses in downtown through Friday, with each piece available for silent auction.

“We are so grateful to all of the artists who participated this year. It is not an easy task to create a finished painting in four hours, in front of a live audience,” Sarah Arnold, co-chair of the Public Art Committee, said. “We appreciate our amazing local community of artists for being so supportive of our fundraiser and our efforts to create public art experiences in Marietta.”

The work by eight artists participating in Marietta Main Street’s First Friday on Friday will be offered at an auction that is underway to raise funds to support artistic projects in Marietta. Here, Hannah Celeste works at the Armory where Live Art at the Armory was held. (Photo Provided)

While inclement weather moved the live painting event indoors, artists still enjoyed interacting with the audience that watched them work.

The paintings by the artists are at: Harris, Teri Ann’s, 290 Front St.; Love, American Flags & Poles, 276 Front St.; Burgardt, The Cook’s Shop, 180 Front St.; Smith, First City Records, 166 Front St.; Powell and Romanowski, Marietta Makery, 177 Front St.; Bennett, Wit & Whimzy, 154 Front St.; and Davis, Clutch Collective, 152 Front St.

“I love participating in this event because it is not only a chance to show the public how talented their local artists are, but also because it’s a chance for us artists, of all ages, to give back to the community and support future public artwork,” Romanowski said.

Romanowski participated in the event last year and has completed several public art projects in the region.

“It may be the teacher in me, but I truly believe that planting the seeds of community today will allow future generations to feel more confident to create and to grow love for the city in which they live,” she said.

Artist Hailey Bennett works on her piece Friday during Live Art at the Armory, an event during First Friday on Friday in Marietta. Her work and the work from other participating artists are being auctioned. (Photo Provided)

Following First Friday, the silent auction moved online to the Marietta Main Street Facebook page where the auction will remain open through 4:30 p.m. Friday. Bids can be made by commenting on the picture of the finished painting in the auction photo album. The top bids from Friday night are the starting bids for online bidding.

“This fundraiser has become one of our favorite events of the year because it not only raises money for future public art projects, it brings together artists and shows off all of the talent we have here in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” Bobby Rosenstock, co-chair of the Public Art Committee, said.

All proceeds from the silent auction benefit the Marietta Main Street Public Art Committee, which facilitates the placement of temporary and permanent two- and three-dimensional artwork throughout downtown Marietta.

For more information about the Public Art Committee and its completed projects, go to www.mariettamainstreet.org/public-art.

Marietta Main Street is a nonprofit organization dedicated to downtown revitalization using community and economic development and historic preservation strategies. For more information, go to www.mariettamainstreet.org.

Live Art at the Armory was held Friday during First Friday in Marietta where the work of eight artists participating in the event is being auctioned. Among those was Nicole Harris. (Photo Provided)