Local art lovers parked their vehicles downtown June 5 and walked a route connecting six Mystic galleries. It was all part of the Mystic Art in the Evening stroll.
According to Brandy Kolmer, director of development and public relations of the Mystic Arts Center, strolls will be held the first Thursday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. Mystic Art in the Evening is free and open to the public.
Cathie S. Gibson, one of the owners of The Hollow, described Mystic Art in the Evening as a unique shopping experience. With its abundance of artwork by local artists and interesting antiques, Gibson said the stroll was fabulous.
“We had quite a few people in,” she said, adding that her gallery store provided chocolate and beverages. “It was really good and a lot of fun—it was a nice evening and people seemed to manage to get from one store to the other,” she said, noting the participants’ use of their printed maps for the event.
“It went really well,” said Cindy Cobb, manager of the Emporium Gallery. “There was a definite increase in traffic, people really liked it, and we’ve gotten a lot of feedback since...People are already making plans around it for the next one. It was a big hit.”
Frances Harkins Grunwald, owner of Courtyard Gallery, agreed.
“It was really thrilling to go out on the street and see so many people,” she said. “The street was just filled, and as I visited gallery to gallery, every gallery was packed.”
Kolmer said on a night that the MAC is usually closed, Mystic Art in the Evening stroll brought in more than 100 visitors. She is hopeful that traffic will only increase as the summer progresses.
For further information, call 860-536-7601 or visit www.artsinmystic.com.
Stroll Over Here
Courtyard Gallery: Open daily at Factory Square, 12 Water Street (inner courtyard); 860-536-5059 or www.courtyardgallerymystic.com
The Hollow: Open daily at 12 Water Street; 860-572-9704
Mystic Arts Center: Open daily at 9 Water Street; www.mysticarts.org
Emporium Gallery: Open daily at 15 Water Street; 860-536-3891
The Finer Line Gallery: Open daily at 48 W. Main Street; 860-536-8339 or www.finerlinegallery.com
Trade Winds Gallery: Open daily at 42 West Main Street; 860-536-0119 or www.tradewindsgallery.net