“Jr. Art Crawl” planned for main Art Crawl event

Nadine Draper (left) and Kendall Elliott are helping to co-ordinate the “Junior Art Crawl” that is happening July 20. It will be part of the main Amherstburg Art Crawl event occurring July 18-20.

The upcoming Amherstburg Art Crawl will feature chances for not only adults to appreciate art, but children and youth as well.

The “Junior Art Crawl” will be happening on the Sunday of the three-day event, with events in “Art Alley” for three hours July 20. It is sponsored by Amherstburg Chevrolet Buick GMC.

“The goal is to get kids to try as many different types of art as we can,” said Nadine Draper, a volunteer board member with the Amherstburg Art Society, the group organizing the Art Crawl.

Music, dance and visual art will be part of the afternoon activities with a performance from the Rivertown Dance Academy (RDA) from 11-11:45 a.m., a music performance by Kara Kaufman planned for 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., story time readings, painting classes at 12 noon and 1 p.m., a Windsor Symphony Orchestra’s (WSO) youth orchestra from 12:30-1:15 p.m. and another RDA performance in conjunction with Musicland at 1:30 p.m.

“Creation Stations” will feature chalk drawings, bracelet making, art frame decorating and face painting. 

Draper said Pathway to Potential P2P is helping to fund 90 per cent of costs for those wishing to sign up for dance, sports or other programs featured during the Junior Art Crawl.

P2P is funded by the County of Essex and City of Windsor to promote participation in cultural, recreational and artistic programs.

Draper added the Junior Art Crawl is a chance for youth to “get messy together” but also to have fun and learn about different art forms.

The Junior Art Crawl runs 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Aimee Bellefleur will be conducting the painting lessons with 20 participants per session welcome. Bellefleur is from Painting Perfection and the first session will be for children ages 4-8 and the second from 9-12.

Kendall Elliott from Amherstburg Chevrolet Buick GMC said there will be use of electric golf carts during the Art Crawl and the Junior Art Crawl, in conjunction with ICON EV. 

A youth-related portion of the July 19 portion of the Amherstburg Art Crawl will be the unveiling of the children’s art contest mural winners. 

The 2024 winners are still posted at the entrance to Art Alley off of Dalhousie St. but the 2025 winners will be revealed at 12 noon on the Saturday of the art crawl. The theme was “Why I Love My Hometown” and while the contest is now closed to new entrants, the winners will have their work put up for a year.

“It’s interesting to see what the young minds have chosen to show on what Amherstburg has to offer,” said Elliott.

Elliott added the art crawl has seen additions every year it has run, and is a not-for-profit event.

The Amherstburg Art Crawl begins July 18 with the Art Crawl Social at The O, with tickets now on sale for $20 at the event’s website at www.artamherstburg.ca. 

Free events are throughout the day July 19-20 with a full schedule also available through the art crawl website.

“Jr. Art Crawl” planned for main Art Crawl event

By Ron Giofu