ART Night Bristol Warren Kicks Off Second Year Tonight

Building on the success of its first year in 2012, ART Night returns tonight with its first tour of four local galleries, starting at 5 pm.

"We had an amazing first year," ART Night committee chair Stephan Brigidi explained in a recent email. "We won a Governor's Tourism Award and we were named 'Best of' in Rhode Island Monthly. The event attracted 10,000 visitors, 53 percent of whom traveled from out-of-state to see ART Night."

Termed "a gallery stroll with a twist," the monthly event offers shuttle service from each of four art spaces in Bristol and Warren, plus specials at local shops and restaurants.

Attendees get to see the spaces where the artists create their work — and learn about the two towns, Brigidi noted.

"The open studios give people the rare opportunity to see where an artist works. In addition, we have lectures and workshops being held at various other venues," Brigidi explained. "Many people are commenting on the quality and diversity of art available here — and they are also mentioning how beautiful our two towns are.”

Featured artists for tonight's debut are Janice Lee Kelly, who creates "air and helium" sculptures out of balloons; Allison Newsome, bronze and clay sculptor; textile designer Dawn Oliveira;and Robert Pillsbury, who works in cut-paper.

Tonight's stops are at Studio #219A at 30 Cutler St., The Maxwell House at 59 Church St., and 74 Baker St. in Warren, and 219 High St., Bristol. The trolley shuttles also pick up and drop off passengers at the Bristol Plaza at Hope Street and Gooding Avenue.

“We couldn’t be happier with the positive feedback we are getting. It’s clear that there are a lot of very talented people in these two towns and we are very grateful that they are participating in ART Night,” Brigidi wrote. “Participation of this scale really helps with the artistic diversity that we can offer.”

Find more information — including future dates and participating businesses — on the ART Night website or by emailing info@artnightbristolwarren.org

The handbill for ART Night can also be downloaded in .pdf format here.