WS Chronicle

Inaugural event is Friday in the Arts District

By Judie Holcomb-Pack

A new arts organization has formed to advocate for the Arts District downtown and to create cohesion beyond the Arts District in Winston-Salem. The Arts District of Winston-Salem (ADWS), a 501(c)(6), is categorized as a volunteer neighborhood association with a mission “dedicated to connecting with and amplifying diverse voices and visions, bringing them together at the heart of our city.” Their first event, ARTS CRUSH, is Friday, April 22, from 7-10 p.m.

According to chair Toni Tronu, “ART CRUSH, ‘plenty of art to love,’ is a sponsored project of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County and is funded through ARPA supported by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.”

Tronu said that the organization “started through conversations because we thought Winston-Salem could be doing a better job promoting our Arts District.” The organization plans to bring an exciting mix of artists, including visual, performance and musical, to the Arts District monthly on the third Friday for the ART CRUSH, which will be free and will include businesses that previously may not have been encouraged to participate in arts events. 

At each ART CRUSH, ADWS invites a visual curator and a performance curator, local creatives with experience in community building within the arts, who will work with the organization to create an evening filled with art and revelry that is free and open to the public. The first curators are Tamara Propst and DOSE Art Collective. 

The visual artists’ lineup for the April event are:

*Art by AK Landreth @artbyaklandreth

*Erin Schiffmacher of ES Knots & Co @es.knots

*Miche Lane @miche.lane.art

*Devin Lane of One of One Artshop @1of1artshop

*Allison Daniel of A Daniel Pottery @adanielpottery

*Aniyah Wilkinson of Amimono Design @amimono_design

*KC Pyle @kc_pyle_art

*Hannah Johansen S. Art @hanbanjohan_art

*Hannah Gaskins Pabón of Art by Hannah Elise @artbyhannahelise

*Kristi Hill Studios @kristihillstudios

*Victoria Bartle of Vic @vic.art.ia

*John Bowhers of Twofold Pop Up Screen Printing @Twofoldprinting

*Danner Washburn @danner.washburn

*Taja Seafus of The InBetween @theinbetween_ws 

*Sheridan Watkins of Perennial Peaces @perennialpeaces

The performing artists’ lineup include:

*Adriel Gwyndolin  – Waving at Pluto @wavingatpluto

*Ashely Virginia – @ashleyvirginia.music

*Cloud – Sunshine’s Moonlight @sunmoonsongs

*Daniel Nesbit, Dianna La Terra, Nehemya Gugsa, Jane

*Alexander, Doug Giles – SCOBY @scobytheband

*Lora Mouna – @loramouna

*Gabi Walden – @waldensound

ADWS is creating cohesion within our artistic community by partnering with other creative institutions, businesses, and initiatives. The partners’ lineup includes:

*Village Fabric Shop will be guiding a community art project and promoting their upcoming classes at the shop. 

*FUSE Makers Market will be promoting their upcoming market at SECCA. 

*Arts Council of WSFC will be promoting its upcoming events. 

*Salem College Art Society will have a table and a community art project.

*Delurk Gallery- Will have an outdoor upcycling event with music and poetry inside the gallery. 

*NCCJ will be promoting the Anytown Leadership Program for teens.

Arts District business highlights include:

*Wildlight Wellness + La Luz- Tarot reading, henna artist, DJ P.S. Edekot

*Dye Pretty Salon- Laura Lashley exhibition opening

*Delurk Gallery- Current exhibit Simple Pleasures

*Piedmont Craftsman- new work by Sharron Parker and Michael Hamlin

*Artworks Gallery- Current exhibition by Don Green and Wiley Akers

*Red Dog Gallery- Current exhibition Then & Now

There certainly is something that will be of interest to everyone at the ARTS CRUSH. This should be the start of reigniting the excitement and enthusiasm for the City of Arts and Innovation.

If you’re interested in being part of The Arts District of Winston-Salem, or if you would like to sponsor one of their events, email info@artsdistrictws.org.

For more information, follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/artsdistrictwsnc.