Hula hooping, face painting, dough tossing, scavenger hunting - a mere glimpse of the array of activities and attractions at the 2009 SummerNight downtown art walk held Friday, June 19 on College Street and Magnolia Avenue.
Started by the Auburn Arts Association, SummerNight features artists from Auburn and surrounding areas gathered downtown to display and sell paintings, pottery, quilts, jewelry and other artistic wares to students and families of the Auburn community.
"This is an opportunity for the entire community to support the arts," said Sarah Hand, art specialist and cultural director of the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department. "People can experience innovative performances and can shop local downtown businesses after hours."
Artists lined the streets with their creations displayed in front of the shops.
"I've dabbled in crafts all my life," said Carolyn Lord, an artist and member of the Renaissance Artists' Society. "I started pastel painting classes about five years ago."
The Renaissance Artists' Society meets regularly to organize art shows and to have fun, Lord said.
The intense June heat did not deter Auburn's avid art supporters - or many others, for that matter.
"We had a wonderful turnout and record attendance this year," Hand said.
About 45 artists participated, which is double the number who came last year, Hand said.
Surrounded by his paintings of landscapes and portraits on easels outside of Bizilia's Cafe, artist Phillip Zenor said he started painting because he thinks it is fun.
"I've painted off and on all my life," he said, "but I started really playing with it when I spent the winter in Naples, Florida."
A returning participant of the art walk, Zenor has focused on painting only six months, he said.
He said his long-term goal as an artist is just to enjoy himself.
Around the corner in front of Little Italy Pizzeria stood Sam Pittinos and Mary Collins up to their elbows in flour tossing dough for a crowd of children.
"We just show them how to roll it and let them play with it," said Collins, a senior in anthropology and pizzeria employee.
Neither Collins nor Pittinos has participated in the art walk until this year.
"I have been here for four years, and I don't know how I missed it," Collins said.
Also new to the downtown art scene, Kristina Azar laughed as she watched the kids playing with dough.
"I think it's awesome that we actually get to see families," said Azar, a sophomore in biomedical sciences. "As a university town, we see so many student faces; it's fun to get to see families, also."
Auburn provides a hometown atmosphere to many people, even those not originally from the area, Azar said.
Students of ART 3010 at Auburn University assisted in the children's area, Hand said.
"The students were a huge part of SummerNights," Hand said.
Azar appreciates art, but does not partake, she said.
"I look at all of these paintings and wish I had the finesse," she said.
Breaking free of the confines of paper and canvas, Laura Banks explores artistic endeavors on wheels.
The back of her jersey reads "Lucy Ferocious" and displays her team number.
Dressed in a black tulle skirt, fishnets and roller skates, Banks described her involvement in the Burn City Rollers, Auburn's full-contact female roller derby.
The skaters participate in "bouts," a mixture of soccer, hockey and skating, she said.
"Two teams come together, five girls on each team," Banks said, "and the goal is to get the 'jammer' through the 'pack' to get points."
Anything goes as far as clothing, she said.
"We wear different colored jerseys, tutus, fishnets," Banks said. "It's really just personal preference and how much you want to get into your character."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
