May 12: Art Walk returns to downtown Rome

Media release: The Rome Area Council for the Arts, in partnership with the City of Rome Downtown Development Authority , will sponsor a downtown Art Walk on Saturday May 12. From 11:00 am until 4:00 pm, Broad Street will be filled with local painters, potters, photographers and craftsmen who will be outside selling and demonstrating their art. Local businesses and artists are sponsoring the Art Walk to benefit RACA.

Participating painters include Nadia Krasnoperoba Brown, Aleksandra Egorova, (Russian oil paintings), Stephanie Kipfer, Johnny Carver, Kendra Harris, and Bob and Martha Gilbert. Siri Gundersen Selle's art studio in the Hawthorne Suites will be open. Cheryl Hodge will be on hand with her lovely watercolors.

Photographers include Jason Blalock ( 7 Hills Photography) and Ryan Smith. Crafts such as turned-wood bowls, carved walking canes and other wood items will be available from Jim Farquhar and Tom Canada. Several jewelry makers will participate, including Susanne Schuepbach, Rolene Johnson, Kendra Harris, Alice Towe, Melissa Rutledge, and Karen Willingham. John Johnston, Lisa Brown Ingram and Lisa Smith will have pottery. Dwain Rutledge will feature a collection of wooden birdhouses, foot-stools and paintings; Melissa Rutledge will have embroidery and hand-sewn items; Karen Willingham will feature birdfeeders and wind chimes. Stephanie Kipfer will have handmade purses, in addition to paintings and jewelry.

Amy Young will have a collection of whimsical painted windows. Notecards with Rome scenes will be available from Bob and Martha Gilbert . Kudzu Mountain Gypsy Cave (Eric and Sabrina Cooper) will be displaying and selling their hand-painted bottles and local landmark prints. Tobias Layman will have a collection of ceramic art. Jerry Rogers will be playing "Sounds of the '60s" music on the Cotton Block.

 Visit downtown Rome on Saturday, May 12 for a wonderful day of art! Maps showing locations of artists and sponsoring businesses will be available from participating artists on the day of the art walk.