by Karen L. Campbell | Special to the Gazette
Barry and Becky Holdber felt like kids in a candy store May 22.
The two Greenbelt residents spent their evening at Greenbelt’s first Art Walk, an event designed to showcase local talent and introduce the community to artists.
‘‘The variety is unbelievable. This is one instance where you have everything going on,” Becky Holdber said.
The event was organized by Friends of New Deal Café Arts with a grant from the Greenbelt Community Foundation. The Greenbelt Arts Center, Recreation Department and the New Deal Café all hosted exhibits.
‘‘I want people to walk away with knowing that we’re creating something bigger,” said Barbara Simon, a member of the Friends of New Deal Café.
Simon came up with the idea of the Art Walk by visiting other cities that hosted similar events. For instance, downtown Silver Spring and Bethesda also hold Art Walks.
‘‘I realized that there are three visual art spaces right here in Greenbelt and that they are within a couple of blocks of each other,” she said.
One exhibit held at the New Deal Café was ‘‘Circle of All Being: Masks,” where residents viewed masks made from recycled or natural materials. Masks included those made from paper plates covered with colorful leaves, a hubcap and even a plastic carton.
‘‘I like that this is here because it’s fun and creative,” said Deborah Bustin, a Greenbelt resident who made her mask before the event.
On the third floor of the Greenbelt Community Center, curious residents talked with several artists about their creative passions.
For graphic artist Sherrill Anne Gross, her passion starts with a pair of scissors, colorful paper and glue. It ends with an intricate cut paper design.
‘‘I love creating miscellaneous things,” she said.
Gross developed one of many books of art from her Sagworks collection that focuses on a series of beauty rituals.
‘‘These are things that I find humorous about what women do. For example, we paint ourselves or sit in a chair for six hours getting our hair dyed,” she said.
Other exhibits at the Greenbelt Community Center included fashions from the Great Depression, short films by international video artists and a photographic illustration by Aimee Helen Koch.
Visitors also learned about pottery, crocheting and carving.
‘‘This is for people who want to come see art and this event has a nice energy,” said Gross.
‘‘You get all sorts of nice repercussions. There are people that ask you what you do and how you do your work,” Simon said.
The Holdbers said they were amazed at the variety of quilts and masks made from natural resources.
‘‘We’re getting to see what the artists do and it’s a neat way to bring people together,” Becky Holdber said.
Organizers are hoping to hold another Art Walk again in the fall.
