Have you ever walked past an empty storefront and thought how depressing it looks? Barren storefronts are becoming more and more common in the current economy, and WALK Gallery, LLC wants to make those stores look better.
According to their website, the mission of WALK Gallery is “to collaborate with artists, designers and property owners to curate and install window displays in vacant storefronts in the Charleston area.”
The gallery’s name stands for “window art local knowledge”. The name is fitting for an organization that fills empty storefronts with artwork, and does so for a cause.The idea behind WALK Gallery came from Andrea Schenck and Rena Lasch. Schenck, owner of the store Plum Elements, felt that the empty windows of stores that had closed down were bringing down the morale of local storeowners.
Working with local artists, property owners and organizations has allowed the gallery to develop. The gallery sees these partnerships as beneficial to all involved, allowing for “visibility for local artists, increased visual appeal, interest on the street, and a means to enhance available space.”
How Much is that Doggy in the Window
WALK Gallery’s first collaboration was with Charleston Animal Society (CAS). From May 21 to June 27, 2009, posters of puppies filled the windows of four King Street buildings to benefit CAS.
The collaboration was continued in 2010 with another exhibition. Posters displayed images of dogs that had been adopted or needed adopting. Under each image was each dog’s story of living in the shelter.
One storefront was even used as a temporary adoption center staffed by CAS employees and volunteers. The adoption center was open for one weekend, and ten dogs found new homes.
Kay Hyman, the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at CAS, said that the exhibition was “really amazing” because the photographs “prompted adoption and put the animals in view of hundreds of people on King St.”
She is very appreciative of the collaboration, saying that it allowed many people to learn about the Charleston Animal Society. The pictures and posters of the shelter’s dogs are still used today in marketing campaigns for CAS.
Hyman believes that the work done by WALK Gallery is “a great use of space that would otherwise have a ‘for rent’ sign in the window.”
SEE JAZZ
Currently showing in the windows of 372 King St are photographs of jazz musicians. Jazz Artists of Charleston (JAC) is a non-profit organization that aims to promote music education and preserve the history of jazz in Charleston.
The collaboration with WALK Gallery is one of the many events JAC puts on to keep jazz music alive in the city. Other events include a variety of performances by individual musicians and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra.
The photographs displayed currently at 372 King St, and formerly at 575 King St, were taken by resident JAC photographers. Subjects vary from musicians playing their instruments to going over sheet music to preparing for a concert.
Photographs by JAC photographer Ben Williamsin
the windows of 372 King St.
Peace One Day
September 21 is Peace Day. It was set up by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001 as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.
Charleston Peace One Day (CP1D) aims bring the awareness of Peace Day to the Charleston area. The organization aims to create a more peaceful society through community education and activities.
In September 2010 WALK Gallery will join with CP1D in creating a “Make a Commitment” art show. The show aims to encourage locals to make a commitment towards making their community a more peaceful place.
The show will be held in the Altman Building at the corner of Cannon St and King St. Currently the windows of the empty building are filled with photographs of people from the community holding up a declaration of their commitment towards creating a more peaceful world.
Reba Parker, the President and Founder of CP1D, said that the union of CP1D and WALK Gallery arose through her friendship with WALK founder Rena Lasch.
The gallery worked with CP1D in 2009, creating a show called “Peace: What a Day of Peace Means.” Local artists were asked to submit works inspired by what a day of peace meant to each one of them.
Parker said that the goal of the show was to encourage cultural cooperation and to raise awareness about Peace One Day.
When asked about this year’s exhibition with the gallery, Parker said that the primary goal was education. “A lot of people think that peace is not practical, possible or tangible,” Parker said.
She hopes that from this exhibition the public will see that even the smallest things can help make the world more peaceful.
Parker plans for the partnership between WALK Gallery and CP1D to continue and mentioned the possibility for the gallery becoming a part of the CP1D organization. The gallery would be an arm of the organization that reaches out using artwork. If this merge is to happen, Parker says it will be in the next two-three months.
Future Events
Future collaborations include one with ArtStudentGallery.com in August and with Peace One Day in September. In November and December the gallery plans to display the artwork of students from schools in the Charleston area.
For More Information and to Get Involved
WALK Gallery: www.walkgallery.org
Charleston Animal Society: www.charlestonanimalsociety.org
Jazz Artists of Charleston: www.jazzartistsofcharleston.org
Peace One Day: www.cp1d.org
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