First Friday Art Walk marks return to Niwot

The First Friday Art Walk returned to Niwot on Friday, Sept. 4, after a five-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The town was bustling with perhaps the largest crowd out and about since the pandemic shut down much of the social life in Niwot and everywhere else in March.

Moods were high, masks were worn, people were friendly, but socially distanced, and Niwot seemed to be returning to its usual community-oriented nature.

Anne Postle, vice president of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (the lesser known NCAA), was at her shop Osmosis Art & Architecture as usual during a First Friday Art Walk. Postle said, "The art walk is great for Niwot. I think tonight, we did it in the safest way we possibly could, by having more of it focused on the outside, people distancing and masks, but with everyone still able to get out on a beautiful night like tonight."

Kathy Trauner, owner of the Fly Away Home shop in Cottonwood Square, said, "Overall, I feel really encouraged by what I've seen the past couple months in Niwot."

Trauner said, "You know, this has been a rough ride." But she added, "The past five weeks it seems like it's shifted into a better place."

The art walk also hosted the Why Not Niwot? award ceremony last Friday. Art show winners were announced in two categories: people's choice and the juried awards. Three artists were on the jury: Mary Williams, from Mary Williams Fine Arts in Boulder; Alyson Bell, from Tool Studios in Niwot; and Lisa Rivard, a painter and classic illustrator in Niwot.

Fortunately, the NCAA was able to put on the competition this year much as usual, despite everything, though the event was shifted from late spring to late summer. The award ceremony moved from its usual location at Osmosis Art & Architecture to across the street, in front of Niwot Rental & Feed, in order to allow the crowd to gather with appropriate social distancing between parties.

The mood was still lively, with the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band (seated) in the parking lot of the feed store, providing rousing tunes for the crowd to enjoy such as "I Want to Hold Your Hand," followed by "Keep Your Hands to Yourself."

People's choice in the art contest was a tie this year. Winners were Karin Antoni, with her painting, "Mirror Image," and Barb Miller, with a painting titled "Peace Love & Niwot."

As with people's choice, women swept the juried awards. Carolyn Bradley's painting "Umbrellas" took third place, and Lamya Deeb won second with "Etude in Petunias," a painting of the well-known Niwot piano on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Franklin Street, bedecked with flowers.

Karin Antoni's painting "Mirror Image" was the first place winner of the juried art show, with her people's choice piece also taking away the big prize.

Prints and cards of Antoni's winning art are available for purchase at Osmosis Gallery, at 290 2nd Ave. in Niwot.

The artwork will also be displayed on wine that can be purchased at Niwot Liquor by the bottle or case. Proceeds go to support Whistle Stop Park and Children's Park. This year, support is especially essential because maintenance of the Children's Park alone costs $14,000 per year, funded primarily in past years with revenue from Rock & Rails, which was cancelled for 2020.

Sixty-eight people participated in People's Choice voting this year, and at the end of the awards ceremony, their names were placed in a drawing for a print of the winning artwork. Artist Barb Miller took home the prize.

Artists interested in being involved in next year's Why Not Niwot? juried art show can pick up an application at Osmosis.

Postle said "We are really looking forward to a time when this season is passed and Niwot can get back more to being Niwot, spending time together doing the events that we all love. We'll be glad when we don't need to distance any more."