1st Fridays Art Stroll of Ivanhoe Village

Every first Friday of the month there is an art stroll in Ivanhoe Village. The exact location differs from month to month usually taking up one city block near Lake Ivanhoe. When I arrived I saw Angela Abrusci as she was setting up spot lights and folding tables. She had sent me a Facebook invite to come out to this months stroll. She was looking quite bohemian with a dark Beret perched rakishly on her head. She was very busy so I didn’t interrupt her. As Executive Director, she seems to be doing an amazing job keeping Ivanhoe Village a vibrant neighborhood. I strolled down the block as artists hustled to get their work set up for display and sale. I bumped into Brad Briggs who told me there was an empty slot if I wanted to display work. I don’t have much patience for sitting behind a table and waiting for people to view my art. Throwing it online is less nerve wracking for me. I was there to sketch. I walked across the street and sat up on a retaining wall for some railroad tracks. It was a chilly night so I sketched fast. The wind kept flapping the pages of my sketchbook.

When I finished the sketch I had to leave immediately. Jeremy Seghers was celebrating his birthday at Ethos down the street. I strolled Ivanhoe Village one more time and looked at all the new artwork that had been set up. This time I greeted Angela and she informed me that Capoera, a Brazilian art form that combines martial arts, sports and music was going to be performing soon right outside Vibe. I have wanted to sketch Capoera before, but they keep eluding me. I had to go. I thanked Angela and walked down the street to Ethos.