Oxford Art Crawl Tuesday, August 27

A painting by Carl Blackledge, on exhibit at Southside Gallery, one of the art crawl stops.

Special one-night-only shows featured in August crawl.

The monthly Oxford Art Crawl is always changing, with new exhibits, new artists, and new stops. The August Art Crawl fits the idea behind the crawl as several locations are hosting special one-night-only events. The night kicks off with Private Gallery and the Oxford Downtown Council hosting a pre-crawl reception, with artist Kara Braud from 5 to 6 p.m. The Double Decker Bus will make its first stop of the evening at Private Gallery and then continue shuttling art crawlers between the Powerhouse, the university, and the Square.

Several locations are hosting pop-up art shows for the Art Crawl. Cicada for Him will be featuring the photographic works of Blair McElroy. The new CVM salon, next to Square Pizza, will host Bailey Blu, whose hair-themed works are sure to be in style, and finally Boure’ will host a select preview showing of works by Sarah Beth Wiley. These one-night shows are just some of the stops on the monthly Art Crawl.

Wayne Andrews, director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, says, “The monthly Art Crawl continues to grow in ways that we had always hoped for when launching the event with our partners. Local businesses are featuring artists in pop-up shows.”

The Oxford Art Crawl is a partnership between the Arts Council, Visit Oxford, the University Museum, the University of Mississippi, and Southside Gallery. In the course of the Art Crawl’s three years, it has grown to include special showings at Boure’, Cicada for Him, the Frame Up, and special pre-crawl receptions sponsored by the Oxford Downtown Council

“The event highlights both artists and nightlife in Oxford, as people can enjoy an evening exploring the various art spaces and then stay on the Square for dinner.” says Andrews. Local restaurants have become active partners in the Art Crawl, with Old Venice Pizza Café, Boure’, Hollie’s Sweet Tooth, and Party Waitin’ to Happen assisting by holding mini receptions at the art exhibits.

The Oxford Art Crawl is Tuesday, August 27, 2013 starting at 5 p.m. with a special reception at the Private Gallery shop on South Lamar on the Square. The Double Decker Bus will pick up from this location and take Art Crawlers to the various stops. If you miss the bus, it will make a continuous loop between the Square, Powerhouse, and the university from 6 to 8.

The event is free. The Oxford Art Crawl is hosted the fourth Tuesday of each month from January through October.

— Tad Wilkes, tad.wilkes@hottytoddy.com