Arts Night Out to bring music, art to unexpected places
May 6, 2016 by admin
Filed under Lingerie Events
Lansing bead and fiber artist Jenny Schu is accustomed to having her art on display at jewelry shops and galleries. Friday it will be on display at Curvaceous Lingerie in Old Town.
Schu’s exhibit is part of a new, free monthly event coming to the streets of Lansing — one that combines art and business.
It’s called Arts Night Out, and it will kick off in Old Town with roughly 25 venues hosting artists and photographers showing their work off and musicians performing live.
“I think this is a great event for Lansing to get exposure for both businesses and our growing art scene,” Schu said. “It’s got some good energy behind it. I love being part of any new art event in the Lansing area, but I’m also excited to work with Lauren over at Curvaceous.”
Arts Night Out is about “giving opportunities to artists to show their creativity and be a part of the downtown areas that are already vibrant and dynamic,” said Debbie Mikula, executive director of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, which is presenting the event.
“We’re matchmakers,” she added. “This event is matching up retailers and artists and musicians and giving them an opportunity to be out there in front of people, and we’re having a good time doing it.”
Austin Ashley, executive director at Old Town Lansing, sees bringing artists and their work into spaces that aren’t traditional art spaces as a way of creating new partnerships and sparking new ideas.
“I think any time you’re blending two things that don’t always go together, there’s always going to be something interesting that comes out of that,” he said.
Robert Shelburg’s paintings and drawings will be on display at Sweet Custom Jewelry.
“Lansing is blessed with a bounty of beautiful art and music. It is one of our most cherished resources,” the East Lansing artist said. “I love events that broaden the public awareness and understanding of the talent next door.”
Among the 25 participating venues are Absolute Gallery, Elderly Instruments, Grace Boutique of Old Town, The Old Town General Store, MICA, Preuss Pets and MessageMakers. Attendees are welcome to walk through the venues and take in the art, some of which will be for sale.
“I’ve heard about pop-up stores and restaurants happening in urban areas around the country and am excited to see the concept being applied to the art and music scene in the Lansing area,” said Lansing singer-songwriter Jen Sygit, who will be performing at Elderly Instruments. “I also love the cooperative nature of pop up shows being hosted by local businesses and the exposure between the businesses and the artists. As citizens of the Capital City, we’re lucky to have so many great artists and musicians in the area and it’s nice to have a reason to celebrate them every Friday night!”
Future Arts Night Out events will take place in Old Town, REO Town, Lansing’s downtown and East Lansing’s downtown. The plan is for the event to take place monthly, with Old Town being the bi-monthly location.
“I am excited that people will be able to come to this event and wander and find something new,” said Kaitlin Lapka, who is helping to coordinate the event. “Whether you’re new to the Old Town neighborhood or have lived here a long time, you’ll find something surprising and wonderful.”
Contact Anne Erickson at (517) 377-1006 or aerickson@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AnneErickson.
How to go
Arts Night Out with artists, photographers and musicians, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at 25 venues throughout Lansing’s Old Town, free.
For information and a full list of venues, visit http://myartsnightout.com.
Also, a free outdoor concert with Desmond Jones will take place at 7:45 p.m. at Turner Mini Park, located on the northeast corner of Turner Street and Grand River Avenue in Old Town.
