The beloved Corvallis tradition, the South Town Art Walk will take place on Dec. 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Taking place in southern Corvallis, this outdoor art exhibit will allow participants to interact with local art in a personal and engaging way. 

The event showcases both two dimensional and three dimensional artworks including sculptures, art pieces, ceramics, as well as jewelry exhibits, and a whole category for art classified as other. With 36 different artists participating, this is an exciting chance to interact with the local Corvallis community and the creativity residing in South Town.

Diana Ryan, South Town Art Walk’s main coordinator, explained why the South Town Art Walk is so special. 

“It’s about the local community. It’s a great way to connect with my neighbors. People are coming to visit you in your space, so it feels like a more intimate event,” said Ryan. “It’s a special experience because people don’t often invite others into their personal spaces.”

One artist, Linda Johansen, is celebrating her tenth year participating in the Art Walk. While discussing past experiences she shared the relevance of this event within her community and her growth as an artist. 

“I started on the third annual Art Walk, just doing blank journals, then I got into eco-printing and scarves. At one point, I even made soaps,” said Johansen. This year, Johansen will have her booth set up in her living room, with another couple showcasing their woodworking in the dining room. 

Johansen has lived in South Corvallis for 41 years and expressed her gratitude for the connection it gives her with her neighborhood; “It’s very important. I love living in South Corvallis. Diana lives down the street, I find people that come in and go ‘Oh wow, I didn’t know you did this,’ they think I only walk the dogs down at the dog park. So it’s a fun way to get to know your community better.” 

Something unique about this year’s art walk is the inclusion of food and drinks. There will be various exhibits with homemade dishes alongside the functional art pieces for people to enjoy, giving a break from walking to re-energize and hopefully a piece of warmth in the chilly weather.

Ryan shared that this addition is what she is looking forward to, “The most exciting new thing in my opinion is the addition of food on the walk. We partnered with Flicker and Fir farm stand, a local community farmstead that has local farmers and artisans who meet every Tuesday. We are going to have tamales this year so more people are getting involved with nice food.” 

Admission is free and there is no registration or RSVP required. This low-stress, laid-back social gathering provides an excellent opportunity to meet local artists and take part in creativity during the holiday season. More importantly, this event is sure to be an impactful way to engage with the local Corvallis community and support local artists within South Town.

More information about the event, including a map of points to stop at, can be found on the event’s website.