By Kylie Perz
St. Petersburg Second Saturday ArtWalk unites the city’s art districts for a lively monthly event, allowing visitors to explore new exhibits, meet local artists and engage in the community. From 5 to 9 p.m. on the ArtsXchange campus, studios and galleries open their doors to showcase their one-of-a-kind pieces, offering food, wine and music to create an immersive experience.
According to Terry Marks, CEO of the Arts Alliance and organizer of the ArtWalk, the event’s primary goal is to encourage, engage and introduce residents and visitors alike to the galleries that are offered throughout the many art districts in St. Petersburg.
“It’s an opportunity not only to meet the artists and purchase art but to really have a sense of community, for people to meet each other, learn more about what’s going on in the arts world and support emerging artists,” Marks said. “This is especially important for underrepresented artists, such as African American and BIPOC artists, by giving them exposure as well.”
According to Marks, the experience brings multiple districts together makes art more accessible, encourages people to support small businesses, and keeps the city’s creative spirit thriving.
“We did an economic impact study with Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit organization, and discovered that $132 million in revenue comes from the arts sector and impacts the city of St. Petersburg,” Marks said. “We’re an economic driver not only for our residents but also for tourism. ArtWalk is an opportunity for the galleries to be open during hours they typically aren’t for Second Saturday.”
David Williams, artist and former visual journalist, brings a unique perspective to this event as a regular attendee.
“When I accepted a job with the St. Petersburg Times in 1987, there was no ‘art scene’ here,” Williams said. “That didn’t start until the mid-90s when local artists started taking over rundown, unused space and showing their work and the work of others. From that seed, it has grown into the lively art scene you see today. I believe the Artwalks are a way to keep the public informed as to what is going on with the arts in their community.”
Anna Ayres, a participating artist in the ArtWalk, has been part of St. Petersburg’s art scene for the past decade. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a minor in studio art and continued her artistic journey by finding ways to get involved, such as showcasing her work at arkets and events like ArtWalk. She has painted murals around the city, with some of her other artwork featured at Soft Water Gallery in the Warehouse Arts District, where she now assists with Second Saturday’s.
“The energy is unmatched for Second Saturdays,” Ayres said. “It is so incredible to witness the community coming out, experiencing art, interacting and engaging in something so connecting for us. It’s an incredibly positive and rewarding type of evening. It just feels good to be a part of something so unique.”
Creating art often requires long hours of isolation and intense focus, which can sometimes feel lonely and be challenging at times, Ayres said. Events like the Second Saturday ArtWalk provide an opportunity to connect with others.
“The ArtWalk provides a space to share our process and our triumphs, and to engage with the community of other artists and, most importantly, art appreciators,” she said. “This gives it even more life than it has on its own. It’s like being a musician. Making the songs is one part of the process, and then sharing the songs with an audience brings a whole new energy. It’s the ripple effect of creativity. It has the power to affect others in a hugely positive way, inspiring, encouraging and motivating each other towards healthier ways of being.”
According to Ayres, these community-driven events not only foster meaningful connections but also breathe new life into the often solitary process of making art.
“The Artwalk is such a fun, positive way to encourage the community and to witness the creative process of artists,” Ayres said. “It’s not an easy vocation, and organic networking is the best way to create those relationships that make it possible. It is literally impossible to survive as an artist without the support of others, like any business or industry.”
For aspiring artists who are looking to become involved in events like this, Ayres said she encourages artists with some words of advice she wishes she had received earlier in her career.
“It’s so important to keep artistic endeavors sacred by not putting pressure or expectations on them,” she said. “It helps to have a separate vocation that keeps you afloat, allowing your passion for art to be reserved for creating and not for making sales. That way, when you do make sales, it’s just fun and a bonus. Putting all your needs on your passion can change it, and then it becomes less about soul and more about necessity.”