Walk through a world of art in downtown Everett

Take a walk on the art side.

Not only in galleries, but also a salon, church, barber shop and funeral home.

The monthly Everett Art Walk provides exposure for the artists, increases foot traffic downtown and is a free event for the community.

“We see it as an opportunity to come together so all businesses are represented,” said Isabella Valencia, who started spearheading the walks last year after opening Black Lab Gallery. “We represent the visual arts, the performing arts and the literary arts. We’re working very hard to make sure they are all represented and all have a place to promote themselves.”

Most venues offer special refreshments. The event, 6 to 10 p.m. tonight, is for all ages.

Valencia knew what she was doing when she took on the art walk in Everett, having helped set up similar events in Seattle. “I helped start the art walk in Ballard and the art walk in Fremont,” she said.

She and her staff make posters and print maps, which are available at Black Lab Gallery, 1618 Hewitt Ave.

“Every month it increases. We got two new places this month. We now have 20 businesses. It has grown into quite the big thing for us,” she said.

The more venues, the merrier.

“The criteria is you have to be walkable. You have to feature an artist. You have to be open during the art walk. If they can’t find an artist we help them find an artist,” Valencia said.

Christine Shannon is tonight’s featured artist at her gallery, which always brims with multiple forms of art.

“We have over 40 artists represented,” Valencia said. “Not only visual artists. We represent the musical community, so we have CDs. We have band merchandise. We have poetry books because we do poetry.”

A new spot on the walk this month is Waxology.

“We are a start-up and we wanted to support other small businesses as well,” said Athena Walker, Waxology co-owner.

About 10 paintings by featured artist Kippi Leonard are on display in the hair removal salon, which opened in May at 1317 Hewitt Ave.

During the art walk, Leonard will work on a painting and talk to visitors about her art.

“I would describe my art as evolving,” Leonard said. “I’ve only been creating art for four years, so I’m experimenting with different mediums and styles from subjective to abstract. I love charcoal and pastel chalk. I do quite a bit with acrylic paint. That is the medium I use for most of my paintings.”

At First Presbyterian Church, the art is already in place.

“We love the stained glass windows and heard about the art walk and thought it would be a great idea for people to come and look at the beautiful art in the church,” said church volunteer Kory Kanter.

Sites on the walk also include The Independent Beer Bar, Lion’s Paw Tattoo, Sirens Market & Coffee House, John Laurenz Barber, Artspace Everett Lofts, Valley Organic Deli, Sunken Ship Tattoo, Grow Washington, reFresh Boutique & Art Gallery, Sno-Isle Natural Food Co-op, Solie Funeral Home and Crematory, Home Inspirations, Shack Art Center and Anchor Pub.

More at www.everettartwalk.org or 425-512-9476.

Art Walk Edmonds, with art, demos, music and food at 27 venues, is 5 to 8 p.m. on the third Thursday. Pick up a map at Gallery North, 401 Main St. Participants include Aria Studio Gallery, Art Spot, Cole Gallery, Christopher Framing, Driftwood Modern, Gallery North, Randall Hodges, ZINC Art + Interiors, Salt & Iron, Cafe Louvre, Sound Styles, Edmonds Bookshop, Fabric of Life Fair Trade, C’est la Vie, Pelindaba Lavender, Frances Anderson Center and Edmonds Library, Edmonds Vision Center, Coldwell Banker Bain, Windermere Real Estate, Edmonds Realty, Re/Max Direct Realty, Rebekah’s Boutique, Legendary Properties and Ombu Salon.

In addition, Cascadia Art Museum stays open until 8 p.m on the art walk, and is free from 5 to 8 p.m. on third Thursdays. This month, the art walk offers a chance to see Northwest Impressions: The Paintings & Etchings of Paul Morgan Gustin, who is nationally known for his depictions of Mount Rainier and the mountains, meadows and forests of the Olympic Peninsula and Cascade Range.

Edmonds Art Walk also hosts the Edmonds Summer Wine Walk, which is from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5. More at www.artwalkedmonds.com.

Mill Creek Summer Art Walk is 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Mill Creek Town Center. This is the last walk of the summer. The information booth is next to Boston’s restaurant at 153rd Street SE and Main Street. More at www.cityofmillcreek.com/artwalk.

Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.