Art is often an individaul endeavor, a vision devised and executed by one person. But, as the upcoming Santa Monica Airport ArtWalk will show, it doesn't have to be.
Collaborative and communal projects will be highlighted throughout the ninth-annual event, which will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The free, family-friendly afternoon in the airport's converted hangars will also feature open studios, live music, art and theater workshops, children's performances and food trucks.
It's all part of a festival along Airport Avenue that is organized each year by the Santa Monica Airport and the city's Cultural Affairs Division.
Among the collaborative projects planned for the ArtWalk involves Santa Monica College's ceramics and art mentor studios, which are located at the college's airport campus. Children are invited to make shapes to add to a large ceramic vessel that will be covered with others' designs.
SMC students and alumni will also demonstrate their molding, wheeling, baking, glazing and Raku firing techniques throughout the afternoon. A sale of student ceramic and glass work will be held as well, according to a news release.
The ceramic arts program, which is led by Franklyn Phillips and which provides technical instruction while encouraging creative expression, includes courses in hand-building, mold-casting and wheel-forming and also covers surface decoration.
Another collaborative project will highlight the city's expanding curbside composting program. Young attendees will help turn hundreds of recycled bottle caps into a collective artwork that will be displayed at the Santa Monica Festival in May.
In the early afternoon, artist Laraine Mestman — whose work has been shown in exhibits throughout Southern California — will facilitate a communal chalk mural at Studio G. "ArtChalk" aims celebrate ArtWalk by inviting attendees to draw their favorite parts of the event.
There's even a sense of collaboration at the Arena 1 Gallery, whose exhibit showcases artists who use movement in their work to explore gesture. The exhibit at Arena 1 was curated by Carl Berg.
Other participants in the ArtWalk include Santa Monica Art Studios, Santa Monica Airport Artist Studios, the Ruskin Group Theatre and the Museum of Flying.
The Ruskin Group Theatre will perform show highlights and organize improvisation activities for kids.
At the Museum of Flying, where Mike Machat will be painting a mural over the next few months, the artist will draw any aircraft from memory.
For information, visit smgov.net/airportartwalk or call the city's Cultural Affairs Division at (310) 458-8350.
Contact Jeff Goodman at 310-573-8351, jeff@www.smdp.com or on Twitter.
