Art Hop on Main returning to Hamilton after 10-year hiatus

An annual celebration that brings art, artists and area residents to Main Street is scheduled to return after being away for a decade.

Art Hop on Main will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and feature art, music, food and family activities and entertainment.

The event was an annual celebration on Main Street that dates back to the 1990s, according to Erin Noga, treasurer for event organizer Main Street Area Association and co-owner of The Studio: Masterpieces & Memories.

Previously held in May, the event provides local artists an occasion to celebrate and sell their work from as far west as Future Great Comics and as far east as Hip Boutique, Noga said.

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“The return of Art Hop from a 10-year hiatus is an indication of the energy brought forth by the businesses on Main St and the historic business districts ongoing renaissance,” she said. “This year, we’ve partnered over 30 artists with Main Street businesses and implemented a student art show.”

Live art will be created along the street by artists, including Stephen Smith, who will be at the Armstead Park gazebo working on a painting to be auctioned off. Proceeds will go to Smith and MSAA.

Smith’s eventual creation will be used as the MSAA poster for the 2018 Art Hop.

An art show held at The Studio: Masterpieces & Memories, 118 Main St., will feature student work from area high schools. There will be no entry fees or judging of the work, which will hang in the store for one month.

Artwork may be sold at the discretion of the student and The Studio will handle all sales. No commission will be taken on sales of artwork.

Some artwork will be displayed at Pop Revolution also in guest artist space.

Each business will have at least one artist assigned to them and artists will display their work inside the business for at least the night of the Art Hop. Artwork in shops will be available for sale, either through the business or through the artist.

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In addition, among the more than 30 artists at the show, Alfonso Huckleberry will be face painting and Mike Altman will be creating caricatures.

Liz Herrmann, owner of The Art & Design Spot, will be demonstrating “Pourology,” the art of mixing and pouring acrylic paint, which results in unpredictable combinations of color and texture, while Cindi Remm will hold a Recycling Art demonstration for children and adults on the new plaza area across the street from Serendipity and Secretly Shabby.

Participating businesses will have a famous artist printout for people to take pictures with and post to social media.

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IF YOU GO

WHAT: Art Hop on Main

WHERE: Main Street from 102 Main St. to 528 Main St.

WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 16

WHY: art, music, food and family activities and entertainment

MORE INFO: www.facebook.com/HamiltonMainStreet

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