The 2023 Key Peninsula Art Walk Marches on for Eighth Year

It’s a tremendous labor of love.”

Clear skies and warm sunshine welcomed residents of the Key Peninsula to the eighth annual Key Center Art Walk Wednesday evening, Aug. 2. Sponsored by the Two Waters Arts Alliance, the Art Walk brought together 47 artists and vendors, transforming Key Center into a vibrant showcase of creativity. 

TWAA is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 to support artists and foster creativity on the Key Peninsula. TWAA volunteers had their hands full this year for the annual Art Walk, which featured three stages with live entertainment, local artists and writers, beer, wine, food, and displays from local nonprofit organizations. 

Adria Hanson, a local artist and previous TWAA volunteer participated in the Art Walk for the third time. Hanson, who offers art classes to the community, had an area set up for children to make their own paintings complete with glitter and vibrant watercolors. Hanson said she looks forward each year to the outpouring of people who share a common love of art. 

“You see so many different people that love art. It’s like your whole life is based on art — mine is,” she said before a curtain of glitter fell to the ground from a little girl finishing her art piece. 

Children laughed and chased each other among the azaleas at Sunnycrest Nursery Florist & Décor where many of the vendors were set up, including woodcraft artist Gordon Myers.

Myers, with the company of his wife of “62 years last month,” spoke to guests about his unique wooden birdhouses. It was their second year selling creatively shaped birdhouses made of cedar and redwood at the Art Walk. What started as a hobby turned into a small business venture with each piece taking anywhere from a day to a few days to complete. 

“I think that the community feel of everybody is just so friendly.”  Myers said. “All of our neighbors come by and say, ‘Hi.’ I love it.” 

Kirstin Grant, a regular patron of Sunnycrest and attendee of the Art Walk, enjoyed the overall splendor of the day while her husband held a conversation nearby. 

“I love it,” she said. “I love the band. It’s so much fun. You want to keep watching people enjoy all this walking around and being with each other.” 

The Capitol Draft Bar was new to the Art Walk this year, providing an additional stage behind Capitol Lumber and offering local beers and ciders on tap. The Key Center Corral, Sunnycrest and Capitol Lumber provided enough room for seven local musicians and groups to offer a wide variety of music. 

“It’s been busy and steady — I think it’s been great. I’ve had more traffic than I had last year,” said TWAA volunteer Patty Finnigan. 

Stefanie Warren, this year’s event coordinator, had positive things to say about the event and all the participation from everyone involved. 

“Although the committee officially put me in charge this year, Art Walk is planned and executed by a very dedicated group of volunteers who put their heart and soul into sharing art in all its many expressions with the Key Peninsula community. It’s a tremendous labor of love.”