Art Walk to offer music and more!

Summer is officially here, and downtown Owego is bursting with art and activity. Owego’s First Friday Art Walk, on July 7, is a highlight in the community featuring a variety of talented artists and musicians along with demonstrations, tastings, and exhibitions from local merchants. 

Participants are encouraged to visit all of the participating locations throughout this free community event. Pick up an Art Walk Passport listing details of each location, collect stamps and enter to win prizes at the Art Walk Party. 

The First Friday Art Walk will be held on July 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Owego. The Art Walk Party picks up at 8 p.m., with the prize drawing at 8:30 p.m. and live music until 10 p.m. 

Highlights for the July Art Walk include the following.

On “The Deck”, located at 200 Front St., the featured artist is Michelle Cady. Cady is an award winning, published local artist that works with many mediums and teaches art classes out of her studio on Glen Mary Drive. Michelle mainly creates works of local landscapes including oil paintings, printmaking and mixed media. 

There will also be live music on the deck by The Island Hopper Steel Drum band. They will play exciting music from the Caribbean that will make you want to get up and dance. 

At Black Cat Gallery, located at 190 Front St., “The Off Beats” will entertain guests. This three-piece, female, roots-retro-folk rock band is a unique blend of djembe, Autoharp and percussion with vocals and harmonies. Along with live music, artist Denise Tarbox will be displaying her work. Denise is a textile artist creating felted hats and lifelike animal felted vessels. 

At Creative Joy, located at 211 Main St., they will be adding their mark to the July Art Walk with a free make and take event. Make a set of four amazing watercolor cards using Faber Castell Gelatos, modeling paste, stamps and paper flowers. 

At Taste, located at 186 Front St., there will be a sampling of plant based cheeses created by co-owner Collen Cheechalk, and made with herbs and ingredients grown on her organically managed farm. 

At the Tioga Arts Council, located at 179 Front St., guests can see the latest show by Anthony Hanakovic, Baroque and Badly Bent. Inspired by the work of 17th-century masters, Hanakovic’s work explores historic and spiritual themes while evoking drama with his use of complex forms, bold ornamentation, and visual dynamism. It is sure to inspire and delight. 

At the Walk-Up Gallery and Studio Space, also located at 179 Front St., on the second floor, guests are invited to visit the artists working in their studios and view the new summer exhibit on display. 

At Carol’s Coffee and Art Bar, located at 177 Front St., Greg Neff, a favorite at Carol’s, returns to play live music from the 60s and 70s. In addition to Greg, Carol’s will be hosting fine art from local young artists, the Lavin sisters, Alexandria and Eliana. Ages 13 and 11, their inspirational subjects include wildlife, nature, domestic animals, portraits of religious figures and children. 

At the Art Palate, located at 59 North Ave., join artist Maren Michaels as she creates Funky mini painted terra cotta pots with outdoor paints. These are perfect to adorn your homes, windowsills or office space.

At Gallery Forty-One, located at 41 Lake St., the Exhibition Room will feature Guest Artist Bob Alan Bricks, and his exhibition entitled: “Sexpeditions”. This play on words, in part, describes the duality of this collection by the artist. Exploring both personal sensuality and public suppression these works question both aspects of this creativity for the past year. 

At Original’s Bar and Lounge, located at 25 Lake St., the work of local artist Tom Brown will be featured. His collection of work is a truly unique exhibition, both bold and mysterious. His work will be on display in Original’s Bar and Lounge the entire month of July. And don’t forget to check out Mike Davis and the Laughing Buddha episodes as they perform live from 6 to 10 p.m. 

At the Early Owego Antique Center, located at 43-45 Lake St., they will be unveiling the recent restoration of their 1951 built Milt Jones/Hillegass open wheel Sprint Car, National Auto Racing Association (NARA) #44.

Found in derelict condition in the 1990’s, #44 has been restored to its as raced livery and condition. Powered by a “Full Dress” Ford flathead V-8,

#44 raced extensively through out the Mid Atlantic from 1951 until 1955, including at Shangri-La Speedway in Owego.

With paintwork by Jeff Treadwell of 2nd Time Around Restorations in Apalachin and red leather upholstery by Jim Morris of Owego, the Blue and Yellow car is a knockout.

Come hear owner Jim Mead explain the history of the car and how this restoration came to be, 25 years after it was begun in Central Pennsylvania.

Join them from 6 to 8 p.m. on the corner of Lake and Main Streets, where racing history will come alive.

The Owego Kitchen, located at 13 Lake St. will feature live music by The Badlanders, who will be playing out back on the patio (weather permitting). Shalene Chavez will be presenting her art exhibition “Constructed Contrast.” 

At Quilters Haven, located at 17 Lake St., join Bonnie Hall as she presents “Barn Quilts”. Barn Quilts have become an increasingly popular way to share the beauty of quilt designs with your community. Traditional “Barn Quilts” are painted on an 8-foot by 8-foot surface and mounted high on the ends of barns. They can be viewed from a distance and in many communities there are “Barn Quilt Trails” for people to see a series of colorful quilt designs. 

At Riverow Bookshop, located at 187 Front St., author Blair Kenny will present and sign his book, ‘The Rochester Mob Wars.’ The book highlights decades of history of the Rochester Mafia, and contains reports from the Senate hearings and approximately 1,000 newspaper articles that chronicle mob activity in and around Rochester, N.Y.