Paseo Arts District shows its stuff

The exhibit “Paseo Showcase,” featuring one or more artworks from each of the district's 20 galleries, will open Friday night in the association's Paseo Art Space, 3022 Paseo.

“We're always promoting individual artists, but we rarely have Paseo artists in here because most of them have their own galleries,” said Jo Wise, the association's executive director.

“It's just a nice way for people to come and see everything at a glance and get an idea of what's here.”

The opening reception for the “Paseo Showcase” is set from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday during the Paseo's First Friday Gallery Walk. Eateries in the district will provide food for the event, and information about other businesses and organizations in the neighborhood will be on display along with art.

As usual, most Paseo galleries will stay open late, show new artwork and serve up refreshments during the Gallery Walk, which will continue from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.

20 galleries, 70 artists

But the “Paseo Showcase” will provide another way for visitors to see what the Paseo has to offer. The two-block-long district includes 20 galleries with more than 70 artists, three restaurants, a gift store, clothing boutiques and more.

The showcase should be particularly beneficial for Paseo artists like Nathan White, who opened his custom metal fabricating studio at NW 30 and Walker in July. The master welder is new to the district, and his Aces Fabrication & Design is situated about half a block off Paseo Drive, the neighborhood's main street.

“It's gonna open up an opportunity for everyone to come down and see in one spot what everybody does. Then, you can decide to go to the different spaces because it's a little hard to make 'em all during the Friday art walk,” White said.