Studio Crawl Adds Events

This year’s Studio Crawl will be “stronger, faster, and better than ever before,” according to Crawl executive director Jon Offutt.

In addition to the artists at 34 locations who will open their doors to the public during this year’s Studio Crawl on October 3 and 4, downtown businesses are welcoming Night Crawlers to dig discounted eating, shopping, and entertainment fun, Offutt said.

The free Studio Crawl, now in its sixth year, is hosted by the FM Visual Artists to support quality visual arts in the area. The artists who participate not only show their work, but also demonstrate their craft and describe their unique experiences as working artists. Established artists, emerging artists, group studios, and arts educators participate. Many serve refreshments.

As in previous years, ancillary events are planned to give Crawlers opportunities for an entire weekend of activities — and this year the focus is on Fargo’s downtown area and “ART” buttons that Crawlers can wear to receive discounts at a variety of area businesses.

The Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre will offer discounted tickets to “The Foreigner,” which is described as a “comic gem filled with zany characters.” On Broadway, the HoDo Lounge will host “Jonesin’ for Dan,” a fund raiser for artist Dan Jones; the Spirit Room will host an artist reception for “Variations on Space” a new photography exhibit; and the Fargo Theatre will offer discounts to Night Crawlers who would like to see a film at the historic theatre. Many downtown restaurants and shops are participating and will remain open late on Saturday evening. Watch for Studio Crawl signs.

West Fargo High School will also be hosting an Art Department open house during Crawl hours. This event will feature the works of West Fargo Visual Arts Instructors Ron Boehm, Brenda Luthi and Eric Syvertson. Visitors will be greeted at the north doors of the high school with festive sidewalk drawings created by students and a bison created for Herd about the Prairie. Information will be presented about the newest West Fargo Community Arts programming.

Again this year, the Home Builder’s Association will present the work of several Crawl artists at the Fall Home Show, September26&27, at the Fargo Civic Center. Visitors can register to win a $250 shopping spree that can be used to purchase art during the Crawl.

The Plains Art Museum is hosting a Studio Crawl Preview exhibit beginning August 20, where Crawlers can get an overview of the work they can see during the Crawl and pick up their free Crawl maps.

The Studio Crawl is an annual event held each year on the first weekend in October. Artists studios will be open to the public on October 3 and 4 from noon to 6:00 p.m.

_{Originally published in the Arts Pulse Fall Issue, 2009}