Chaparral St Parking lot:

Management of the parking lot on the Schatzell / Chaparral corner lot on the 500 block of Chaparral passed to Nueces Loft Tenant LLC on April 1st, 2012.
Information on availability of parking leases can be obtained by calling 361-884-1744

Harbor Ferry Service Schedule:

• March 24 – May 27, 2012 – Saturday/Sunday only, 10am – 7pm
• May 28 – September 3, 2012 – Wednesday – Monday, 10am – 7pm
• September 8 – November 25, 2012 – Saturday/Sunday only, 10am – 7pm

The Harbor Ferry will not operate on April 8, 14, 15, 21, or 22nd*
Price: $3 Round Trip pass, $1.50 Reduced Fare pass

Upcoming Events

• Artwalk:
• April 6th & May 4th
• Marina Market Days:
• April 7th & May 5th
• BridgeWalk:
• April 8th & May 6th
• Battle of Texas Skateboard competition:
• From 12 p.m. to midnight April 7 aboard the USS Lexington.
  The event is open to professional and amateur skates.
  An after party event will be held at House of Rock, 511 Starr St. The event is open to the public but a ticket is required for the after party. Information: infor@makeshiftskateboards.com
• Discover Downtown Music and Film Festival:
• May 18th & 19th

Details of these events will be posted on www.corpuschristifirst.com as they become available.

Discover Downtown Music & Film Festival

What do you get when you mix a beautiful weekend in May, a huge grassy area, scenic views of the water, incredible live music, delicious food, 25 varieties of beer and wines and a few thousand people? You get an amazing event called the Discover Downtown Music & Film Festival on May 18 & 19, 2012. Moondogger Productions & CLP are putting together a family friendly event for locals and visitors looking for a fun afternoon/evening along the water. The event site is ideal for a relaxing afternoon with family and friends listening to great music.

If you are a movie buff with a taste for 80’s movies filmed right here in Corpus Christi, well you are in luck, May 18th starting at around 6:30pm we will be showing The Legend of Billie Jean on a huge outdoor screen. Were you in that movie? Do you know someone who was? Come down and be mesmerized by the action and antics that ensue throughout the streets of Corpus Christ. Seriously, you’ve never heard of Billie Jean? Google it and come Downtown Friday, May 18th. The movie night is free to the public. We only ask that you bring a small donation for our charities.

Immediately after the Beach to Bay Marathon on Saturday, May 19th, the Discover Downtown Music & Film Festival will be in full swing starting at 1pm when the doors open. Kids under 13 are free. General Admission is $15 and a VIP ticket costs $35. You can buy your tickets online now and get a discount by entering the code dtown. Make sure you check out our Facebook page too. Please “like” us and tell your other Facebook friends. The more the merrier. We’ll be offering other ticket discounts off and on until the show.

We’ll have a great line up of local and regional bands playing rock, country, rockabilly, blues, reggae and a little bit of everything in between. Did I mention that Sierra Nevada Beer is the title sponsor? Well they are and they are ready to serve up some great beers. They will be showcasing over 25 craft beers to sample from various breweries. You can purchase individual craft and domestic beers or buy a tasting pass, get a commemorative tasting glass and try them all. Yes, it’s going to be that cool. If you are a wine connoisseur, we have you covered. We will be serving a variety of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, cabernets, merlots and pinot noirs. Not a drinker? We have you covered too.

Do you bring the kids or get a sitter? Bring em! This is a kid friendly event. We’ll have a huge Kids Area. The kid’s area will be dedicated to keeping the kiddos busy while you are enjoying the show. They can play with arts, crafts, jumpy houses and whatever else we can think of.

You’ll probably get hungry out at the festival. Don’t worry, we will have some great food from local restaurants to keep you satisfied and the menu will be posted on the website and Facebook page.

A big thank you to our sponsors:

• Sierra Nevada,
• Navy Army Community Credit Union,
• Corpus Christi Downtown Management District, and
• House of Rock.

Without the generosity of our sponsors this event could not take place. Make sure you check out their businesses or products to show your appreciation.

Photo courtesy of High Road Touring

You may be wondering who is going to benefit from this festival. A big portion of the proceeds will go to Walk with Pride. This is a non-profit that raises money for children in need. Each year, before the start of a new school year, this charity provides new tennis shoes and school supplies for hundreds of Corpus Christi children. Buying a ticket to this event will help them reach their goals for 2012.

Come listen to Todd Snider, Joe King Carrasco, The Cold Irons, the Scarecrow People, and many more to be announced. Come on down and support a good cause. Bring the kids. Enjoy the music. Grab some tasty food. Try a few interesting beer and wines. Pass the word to friends and family. Buy your tickets now!

Website: discoverdowntownmusicfest.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverDowntownMusicFest
Twitter: ddmusicfest
Email: ddmusicfest@gmail.com

The Corpus Christi First Initiative

The sun is rising on Corpus Christi First – the fun-filled first weekend of every month in Downtown Corpus Christi. This popular weekend of events continues to grow and add attractions. These are the dates for the next two months: April 6th to 8th and May 4th to 6th

ArtWalk kicks off “Corpus Christi First” on Friday, followed by Marina Market Days on the first Saturday and the BridgeWalk on the first Sunday. (www.corpuschristifirst.com)

In April, we add a new component to Corpus Christi First; MusicWalk which will begin with live music at Marina Market Days from 12 noon until 4pm and continue into Saturday evening when Downtown is always alive with a great selection of venues showcasing local musicians. The ArtWalk map will contain details of venues participating in the Saturday MusicWalk which, initially, will take the form of a self guided tour of venues hosting the music of your choice.

BridgeWalkers in Heritage Park

It just keeps getting better; in May there will be enhancements to the Sunday event at Heritage Park. Not only will you be able to take part in a walk over the Harbor Bridge but, if heights are not your thing, there will be two opportunities to take part in fitness classes run by All Good Fitness of Downtown, a $5 Brunch catered by Desiree’s Restaurant, live music, and a mini Farmer’s Market and more. All this will take place from 8:30am til 12 noon.

"Fitness Sunday"

The Corpus Christi First Initiative has steadily gained popularity since its’ inception in July 2011 and now regularly attracts 5000-7500 visitors to the Downtown area on Friday and Saturday and has a growing, but smaller, regular crowd of enthusiasts who meet on the Sunday to participate in the BridgeWalk which is being broadened under the banner of “Fitness Sunday” to appeal to a wider demographic. Over 80 Downtown businesses and Attractions are now participating and offering a variety of entertainment, performers, Art, refreshments, specials and discounts over the weekend.

Downtown ArtWalk

ArtWalk:

The kick off event for Corpus Christi First, begins and ends in La Retama Park at 9:30am with two free, docent led, Public Art Tram Tours at 9:30am and 11am. For more information and to book a place on a tour please call 361-883-ARTS. In the evening, beginning at 5:30pm, visitors will find artist and food vendors, live music and an all around festive atmosphere. La Retama Park is located at the triangle between Mesquite, Peoples and Schatzell Streets.

"Get Off the Lawn"

Live music can be heard all over Downtown during ArtWalk by our regular entertainers such as Brad Brown & Sam Glynn, Adrian Taylor, Joe Green, Get Off the Lawn, Steven James, Jimmy Wilden, Barbara and David Brown, and of course, HOBO on the tram as well as many more “visiting” musicians.

ArtWalk now extends from the Museum (S.E.A. Town) District through Downtown to the Water Street Village where the Tango Tea Room is located. To get to the outer reaches of ArtWalk just catch the ArtWalk Express, the RTA Route #79, which The Regional Transit Authority provides as a free service after 5:30pm to transport ArtWalkers to areas like the museums, Yachting Center, Art Center of Corpus Christi and the Water Street Village. The Art Museum of South Texas, Asian Cultures Museum and Museum of Science and History, Art Center, and K Space Contemporary offer free admission during ArtWalk.

The Art Center of Corpus Christi will have two juried exhibitions on display in April. being HUMAN was juried by Amado Pena, Jr. and contains artwork that is expressive in identity of self, a visual commentary relating to art of introspective works. The Unsung Heroine is an exhibition relating to women’s roles and struggles in society. In May, the sparkling, stunning jeweled gowns and trains of the 2012 Coronation of Las Donas de la Corte will be on display.

Art Museum of South Texas is showing a playful exhibition by Santa Fe artist Michael Scott, Buffalo Bulb’s Wild West Show featuring nearly 30 paintings, drawings, sketchbooks and prints. 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Art Museum of South Texas. To celebrate, specially selected works from the permanent collection are displayed in Celebrating 40 Years on the Bayfront.

Continuing at K Space Contemporary through April is Fictive Portraits: Samplings from a Timeless Village featuring intaglio prints and monotypes by Dennis Olsen, a professor of printmaking, drawing, and digital media at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In the corner spot, stellar artwork by Miller High School and Metro E students who are under the instructions of Art teacher April Herrera will be on display. The Art Stars of the month are TAMUCC Photography students studying with Jennifer Arnold. But the whackiest month of the season will be May when K Space opens Nasty a printmaking exhibition by Tom Huck and Bill Fick and Appliance Art, which features artworks made out of and incorporating appliances.

Kids Art Activities & Vendors in the park

While visiting ArtWalk venues, be sure to pick up raffle tickets at selected ArtWalk locations (details on The Map). Take the tickets back to La Retama Park by 8:45 and put them in the raffle drum for a chance to win some great prizes. The drawing will be held at 9 pm. Prizes include gift certificates, door prizes, and the grand prize – an original work of art by a local artist. ArtWalkers must be present to win.

The DTown Tram continues to transport ArtWalkers to centrally located venues in the heart of Downtown with HOBO aboard to entertain the crowds playing their special blend of “Honkadelica”. Take the RTA ArtWalk Express trolley to the farther areas of ArtWalk like the Art Museum and Water Street Village. Both the RTA ArtWalk Express Trolley and the DTown Tram stop at La Retama Park every 15-20 minutes.

ArtWalk Ambassadors in orange

For ArtWalk maps and general info, look for ArtWalk Ambassadors wearing bright orange shirts. A few are on Segways (thanks to SegCity), and some are stationed at key locations around Downtown. ArtWalk maps are also available on the ArtWalk Tram, at the Information booth in La Retama Park, the Art Center, K Space and Water Street Center. Free parking is available and all venues are near favorite Corpus Christi eateries. Admission is FREE.

For continuing updates, check out the ArtWalk website www.artwalkcc.com and sign up for the email newsletter to receive our monthly flyer announcing new Corpus Christi First events! You can also join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/artwalkcc.

Marina Market Days

Marina Market Days:

The Marina Market Days Festival is held the first Saturday each Month. Since Marina Market Days began in 2011, the Festival has drawn visitors in from all over and is routinely ranked as one of the best place on the Gulf Coast to come relax and seek out what creative vendors have to offer.

Lawrence Street T-Head

Thousands of people converge on the Corpus Christi Waterfront to experience Marina Market Days which is packed with entertainment, art, crafts, fresh farm to market products, interactive activities provided by Texas A&M University, Texas Parks & Wildlife, artist demonstrations, and more. Our beautiful Corpus Christi Waterfront is a great place to spend time with families and friends while enjoying Marina Market Days and visiting nearby attractions.

Fun Time Rentals offer paddle boats, jet skis, and surrey bike rides on the seawall. While taking a walk on the seawall you can also enjoy Snowie concessions near the Selena memorial, or visit McGee Beach. The Corpus Christi Marina has three restaurants if you like to sit down and enjoy the view: Joe’s Crab Shack on the Lawrence St T-Head, as well as Landry’s and Harrison’s Landing on the People St T-Head. Enjoy a boat ride on the 90 foot RTA Harbor Ferry over to the Texas State Aquarium or the USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier Museum and the Corpus Christi Beach area.

Love to fish? Pick up your fishing bait at Jane’s Bait Stand on the Coopers Alley L-Head, and enjoy fishing off the seawall or the bulkheads. There is also fresh seafood available direct from local commercial shrimper vessels on the People St T-Head or create that memorable fishing trip on the Captain Clark Phase II Express. There’s always lots to do in Corpus Christi!

MusicWalk:

April MusicWalk Musicians - I51

In April this new event will step quietly into the Corpus Christi First Initiative. Kicking off with live music from 12 noon to 4pm at the Marina Market Days the rest of the “MusicWalk” will initially consist of a listing of venues showcasing musicians on the Saturday evening. Details can be found on our newsletter and on a MusicWalk page on the ArtWalk website (www.artwalkcc.com) The participating venues will be indicated on the ArtWalk map so when you pick up your copy at the Friday ArtWalk remember to keep it to use on Saturday evening.

The musicians performing at Marina Market Days in April will be “I51”

BridgeWalk:

The April BridgeWalk will proceed as usual (on April 8th – Easter Sunday) commencing at 7:30am in front of the Galvan House in Heritage Park. The walk is 3.42 miles in length and takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. March saw the launch of three competitions; a photo contest, and two walking competitions, one for tourists and one for locals. Details available on the website www.bridgewalkcc.com so check it out and see if you can win something this month.

From May 6th the walk will commence at 8:30am and, hopefully, the appeal of this event will be broadened as we introduce four new activities to the event. Details will appear on the website as plans develop but here is what we know as at this press deadline.

Starting Sunday May 6th we will have this going on at Heritage Park:

• 8:30am – 9:45am Bridge walk / run
• 8:30am – 11:30am Mini “Farmer’s Market”
• 8:30am – 11:30am Origami classes for kids by Heather Taylor
• 9:00am – 9:45am Yogalates class by Alexis
• 9:30am – 11:30am Brunch by Desiree’s Restaurant
• 9:30am – 11:30am Music in Heritage Park (TBA)
• 10:00am – 10:45am Bootcamp by All Good Fitness Staff

Vendors already signed up for the “Market”:

• Jerry Chisholm -Variety of fruit and vegetables
• Sharon Schafer -Alfalfa, bean sprouts, broccoli, radish, sunflower
• Sue Carden -Corpus Christi Books

The activities will all be free, the “mini Market” obviously will be charging for goods sold and the Brunch will be a build your own taquito from eggs, bacon, potato, refried beans, and cheese plus a coffee or soft drink all for just $5.

So make a note, Sunday May 6th from 8:30am til noon, bring the family down to Heritage Park for fun, fitness, and food!

Art Hop and Drop

Only once every blue moon does an event come along to inspire growth and creativity in an area that some might say is returning from the dead. That event is Art Hop and Drop.

This event was inspired by the fantastic success of the First Friday ArtWalk and the revitalization of the Corpus Christi Downtown area. The success of ArtWalk and the revival of the Downtown area is due to the community embracing local talent, community involvement, and the promotion of local businesses. In order to keep this trend moving forward, the Downtown Management District Marketing Committee came up with a way to help grow the monthly festival even more by creating the concept of KidWalk. Our goal is to grow ArtWalk into an experience that inspires our local children and connects with our future generations by urging them to become more involved in local activities.

To develop KidWalk, we are hosting our first annual fundraiser, called the “Art Hop and Drop.” The funds raised during this fun event will be used to help expand Kids Activities during ArtWalk, thus creating KidWalk. We will create a dedicated area specifically for youth to become more involved in art. We hope to fund the Kids Activity area and cover supplies and other related costs for one full year. We hope also to be able to fund Art Camp scholarships for local youth. By enjoying a great evening of Art, Music, Food & Wine with us, we can bring KidWalk to life!

This unique event will provide guests with an opportunity to be shuttled to different art venues in the area. The first stop being the Art Museum of South Texas where guests will not only enjoy the art on display, but will also be entertained with a ballet performance, classical music, free appetizers provided by Hester’s Café, free wine provided by Republic National Distributing Company, and a cash bar.

The next stop is the Art Center of Corpus Christi where the Festival of the Arts art will be on display. Guests will also enjoy jazz musicians and dancers, free appetizers from Water Street Oyster Bar and Grill, free wine provided by Republic National Distributing Company and a cash bar.

The final stop of the night will be at the unique KSpace Contemporary Art Gallery with the “Fictive Portraits” collection of Printmaker Dennis Olsen from San Antonio on exhibit. Guests will enjoy contemporary music and contemporary dancers, desserts provided by Yin Yang Fandango and The Tango Tea Room, free wine provided by Republic National Distributing Company and a cash bar.

The night will end around 9:30 with an after party at Havana with free parking provided by LAZ Parking for Art Hop & Drop guests.

Guests will also have the opportunity to visit with local artists at each location, take pictures with ‘walking art’ provided by the Crush Girls, hear from experts in the local art industry, and support a great cause!

This is definitely a great event to get involved with and support, as not only is it as unique an event as they come, but it also will help the revitalization of Downtown Corpus Christi and create KidWalk to help get the youth of Corpus Christi more involved in the arts and their community.

For more information, visit: Art Hop and Drop Ticket Reservations.

Con Browne with artists

ArtWalk is quite possibly the best thing to ever happen to Corpus Christi. One of the great things about it is how it melds business with art together in a way that may never have been possible before. Envoy Mortgage has graciously opened their doors to artists to show their works. Originally from Houston, celebrating 15 years serving Texas, Envoy has grown from five branches to 105 branches.

“What attracted us to Corpus Christi is that I had worked with a few local builders on occasion and the same complaint came up time and time again. It seemed that Corpus Christi was underserved and the folks that were doing business here didn’t care about customers as much as they should have,” Con Browne branch manager of Envoy Mortgage said. “But I personally also feel it is, and was, the Mortgage Industry itself being partly to blame for such lack of attention to detail. Envoy Mortgage has always taken pride in putting people first.”

Browne sees a future with not only Corpus Christi but specifically that of Downtown Corpus Christi.

“We originally opened an office on the South side of the City as we were in essence new to the area and that was the leading suggestion,” Browne said. “But from a Lending and Mortgage perspective we felt it necessary to separate ourselves. At Envoy we consider ourselves movers and shakers and don’t follow the pack.”

Recently Envoy was recognized by Mortgage Technology magazine and was awarded the Green Originator Award for their electronic, paperless loan origination process.

“We’re a forward thinking people and we see Downtown as the place to be. Downtown Corpus is like Houston 10 years ago and believe it or not just like Times Square looked like prior to 1993,” he said. “Envoy is excited about being a member of the ArtWalk and also being part of the revitalization of Downtown.”

Art on the walls at Envoy Mortgage

Having attended the ArtWalk event on numerous occasions Browne reached out to Laurette Escobar, a local artist and founder of the group known as Coastal bend Artists.

“There is a very natural gallery flow to the halls of Envoy,” Escobar said. “It’s really a good space, enough space to show a half dozen or more artists at once.”

Browne and Escobar struck a deal whereby the artists hang their works on the last Saturday of the month and then have an opening on ArtWalk, normally the first Friday of the month, which leaves all the work up for a month at a time.

“We hope to rotate artists every month and if we can’t rotate artists we certainly mean to rotate the works so there’s something different every month,” Escobar said. “It just thrills me that a place like this is willing to open its doors and be a gallery. They do their regular work there but then there’s this extra bit where they don’t mind the general public coming up and looking at the artists’ works. It’s awesome.”

Browne certainly seems to understand the need for events like ArtWalk, “Downtown needs more thinkers like the folks who organize this event because frankly it is terrific and it highlights local artist talent which allows the community to view and discover how creative their neighbors, family and friends truly are.”

As March winds down, it’s time to set up April’s ArtWalk. The Coastal Bend Artists are going to have new works and artists at Envoy. “We’ll we have about a half dozen people for April which is great. And to add to that a friend of mine from San Antonio, Melissa Latimer, will be joining us.”

Latimer is an artist who works strictly out of the hardware store. She said of her work, “The subject matter of my work varies greatly but a constant inspiration for my work is using materials that aren’t a typical material to be used. One of the most satisfying aspects of my work is getting asked, ‘What is that material and what is it actually used for?’”

Envoy Mortgage is located at 509 Lawrence Street in Downtown at the corner of Mesquite and Lawrence on the second floor above Katz 21 in the Envoy Mortgage building. Visitors are welcome to come and see the works during normal business hours. For artist opportunities please contact Laurette Escobar on Face Book or at artisalie1@yahoo.com.

ArtWalk is Friday, April 6th and Friday May 4th from 5:30 p.m. until 9pm

My current series of work is focused on using all material from The Home Depot, nothing from an ‘art’ store. The birth of using all Home Depot material, to me is simple. At the age of 15 I was diagnosed with cancer and as per treatment I had my right leg amputated below the knee. Being such an athlete my main concern during that time was playing sports again. I did, six months after surgery.

Sports is one of the most important things in my life and one of the things that kept me strong and positive during this period of difficult obstacle. Being only six months out of surgery and being so physically active on my ‘new’ leg came with set backs, one of the hardest for me….always breaking my prosthetic.

I never wanted to miss a game or practice, so instead of waiting days sometimes weeks for a doctor’s appointment I took matters into my own hands. I went to The Home Depot and fixed it myself. I would get anything I thought would work to try and fix my prosthetic, it always worked, not for long but got the job done and I was able to play basketball. Granted I always got yelled at from my doctor, I just didn’t care and never missed a game due to my prosthesis.

Sports has always been a very reflective and important part of my life, in many ways; sports got me through a lot of tough times emotionally and physically. Art is now an extreme part of my life that is reflective of who I am today as a young woman and who I am proud to be. Art is my escape. To be able to use material from a hardware store that helped me so much with what some would call a tragedy, I call a blessing. A blessing that has molded me into an artist I am proud to be. With every piece I do, no matter the subject my work always has a very personal and deep piece of my soul in it.

Downtown Update

By DMD Staff

Chaparral St Parking lot.
The parking lot on the Schatzell / Chaparral corner lot on the 500 block of Chaparral now has spaces available for lease to anyone who cares to apply.
Rates are currently $50pm for Downtown residents.
Application forms may be obtained at the DMD offices at 223N Chaparral St, Ste A or you may telephone 361-882-2363 for additional information.

Upcoming Events

Artwalk
February 3rd; March 2nd

Marina Market Days
February 4th; March 3rd

BridgeWalk
February 5th; March 4th

Details of these events will be posted on www.corpuschristifirst.com as they become available.

New Business Downtown:

Downtown Barber Shop, 414 N Chaparral. Tel: 813-4035

By Joye LaBarrett, Chairwoman Festival of the Arts 2012

The Corpus Christi Festival of the Arts is just around the corner.  The Festival will take place this year from March 30-April 1, 2012, returning to Sherrill Park and the Art Center of Corpus Christi and expects to draw thousands of people to celebrate the arts on the beautiful Corpus Christi Bayfront.

Corpus Christi Chorale

Formed as a 501c3 corporation in 2010, the Corpus Christi Festival of the Arts is host to the largest free regional annual celebration of the arts, showcasing the artworks of many artists from across the United States, in addition to a bevy of wonderful performances in dance, voice and music, and independent cinema screenings.  The festival’s signature attraction features the internationally recognized artists that create an Italian Street Painting in the courtyard area of the Art Center. Aside from the wide variety of music, voice and dance performances in a non-traditional venue, various artists will be onsite offering demonstrations of sand sculpturing, wheel-throwing, hand building, glazing of clay and firing of Raku pottery. The docent guided Public Art Tram Tours have been expanded, offering riders unique views of the Corpus Christi public art collection and local architecture with additional historic information as they tour the uptown, downtown, s.e.a.town and bayfront areas of the city.

An Artist’s style and expression captures that tantalizing moment when art opens the heart and allows one to share something special with the world. Expressed through the selected media they use, the creative work of artists will be showcased in two featured Exhibits for the 2012 Festival of the Arts. Prospectus and Entry form for both exhibits are available on the Festival of the Arts website www.ccfestivalarts.org. The juried exhibits that will grace the walls of the Meadows and Kucera galleries of the Art Center of Corpus Christi from March 30- April 10th are:

being HUMAN
Artwork expressive in identity of self, a visual commentary relating to art of introspective works.

Juror Amado Pena, Jr. will select art entries for the being Human exhibit. Mr. Pena, recipient of numerous Native American Artist of the Year awards and for decades, is one of the most recognized artists in the field of Southwest art. Communicating his vision of a land, its people and their art, Pena’s art is exhibited nationally and owned by collectors throughout this country as well as Mexico and China.

The Unsung Heroine
Artwork as a visual commentary relating to women’s roles and struggles in society.

Art entries will be selected by Juror Melida Buentello-Olivo for The Unsung Heroine exhibit. Ms.Buentello-Olivo is an independent curator, art educator, film art director and graphic designer. She is interested in social, cultural and gender issues and how these ongoing concerns can be interpreted in art through media that spans from traditional to the digital sphere.

Recognition for BEST of SHOW for being HUMAN and The Unsung Heroine exhibits will be announced during the Opening Ceremony and Artists Reception on March 30th.

 The popular art-full KidZone, an undeniable favorite of those 12 years old and under, will feature a multitude of art activities for the youth of the community. This year, HEBuddy will be joining the youth in this special creative art-space.

Sherrill Park and the Art Center Courtyard will be teeming with original one of a kind art and sales. These art works are of regional, state and national artists, selected from many categories such as: Mixed Media 2D; Mixed Media 3D, Ceramics; Fiber; Glass; Graphics/ Print Making; Jewelry; Painting; Photography/Digital Art; Sculpture; and lastly Woodwork. That’s a lot of art! Artists interested in vending their art during the Festival of the Arts can find information as to how they may do so by visiting the BE INVOLVED page on www.ccfestivalarts.org.

Julie Kirk Purcell

Workshop

Student educational workshops with the Italian Street Painting artists and docent guided tours by tram of the Public Art Collection will be offered prior to the Festival’s weekend events on March 29 & 30; reservations are required as seating space is limited, FMI: 361-883-ARTS.

The 2012 event will prove to live up to the Festival’s reputation with some interesting new additions to accompany all the traditional favorites. The opening ceremony and artists reception is free and open to the public and takes place on Friday March 30th from 5:30-9pm. All of the galleries will open with new exhibits, live entertainment for your enjoyment and refreshments will be served. Save this date and join us in meeting and welcoming the artists of the 2012 Festival of the Arts.

Opening Ceremony and Artists Reception:

Friday March 30th: 5:30pm – 9pm

Open to the public, Free. New gallery exhibits open, live music, and refreshments.

Festival hours:

Saturday March 31st: 10am – 7pm  Cinema under the Stars ~ 7pm – 10pm

An Evening of Cinema, Music & More – Under the Stars!

Outdoor screenings of independent short films. Enjoy libations, live music and outdoor dining in Devary’s Courtyard. Following the screenings, an intimate discussion will take place with the filmmakers.

Sunday April 1st: 10-6pm

Events, activities, participants, and schedules will be posted as it becomes available.

For more information concerning the 2012 Corpus Christi Festival of the Arts, please visit: www.ccfestivalarts.org or call 361-883-ARTS. The official Festival of the Arts home and office is located in the historic Merriman-Bobys House/Heritage Park. The facility houses a business office, Salon Gallery, Gift Shop and Artist Studios.

The Festival of the Arts now features in collaboration with Corpus Christi First / ARTWALK, its docent guided Public Art Tram Tour on the first Friday morning of each month at 9:30am and again at 11am. Tour is approximately 50 minutes in length and reservations are recommended: 361-883-ARTS. Festival of the Arts is also a proud participant in ARTWALK.

presented by CC Disposal

As one of Corpus Christi’s premier race events, Goodwill’s Annual 5K Spring Sun Run & Walk celebrates its 25th year on March 3, 2012. The race attracts more people every year and Goodwill projects record breaking attendance in 2012. The race starts and finishes at historical Heritage Park at Resaca Street. Runners and walkers enjoy a scenic course along Shoreline Boulevard where they can see the majestic USS Lexington, the vibrant Splash Fountain, the picturesque boats docked along the T-heads and all the charm that downtown Corpus Christi has to offer. The race features electronic chip timing which allows exact time keeping for race results, a Zumba warm-up, awards, door prizes, two water stations, and a first aid station to ensure health and safety of participants. It is a fun and healthy way to spend a Saturday morning.

All proceeds from the race directly fund employment and training programs which are vital to supporting Goodwill’s mission services.

Register on-line: www.goodwillsouthtexas.com or call 361-884-4068.

About Goodwill Industries of South Texas Inc.

Although many still associate the name “Goodwill” almost exclusively with our donations and store operations, Goodwill is actually so much more than a great place to drop off donations and shop. Goodwill believes in the power of work. Through work a person can gain a sense of dignity and independence. Our South Texas community also grows and prospers when more individuals are working and actively contributing to society.

When you donate your unwanted, gently-used items such as clothing, household items or even furniture to Goodwill, you are helping someone in South Texas find meaningful employment. Donations are converted into dollars through sales in our stores. These dollars then fund Goodwill’s mission of providing life-changing opportunities for people with disabilities or other barriers to employment.  To fulfill our mission and help South Texans get to work, Goodwill offers employment and training programs. The basic services received through our programs include job preparation, job placement, and job retention.

Goodwill also creates employment opportunities for the people we serve. Perhaps the best-kept secret about Goodwill is our Commercial Services division. Through this division, many Goodwill participants gain valuable work experience and skills. Goodwill currently maintains a variety of outsourcing contracts such as janitorial, grounds keeping and document destruction.

Contact:

Marjorie Boudreaux | Director of Marketing & Communications

Goodwill Industries of South Texas | 2961 S. Port Ave. , Corpus Christi, TX 78405

Office: 361-884-4068 | Email: mboudreaux@goodwillsouthtexas.com

First Friday ARTWALK Feb 3 and Mar 2! 5:30 to 9:00 pm

by Michelle Smythe

We invite you to join us Downtown for First Friday ArtWalks, February 3 and March 2. 2012 will be a banner year for ArtWalk as we continue to grow and add attractions. Come check out the exceptional talent of our local artists and musicians and all the fun happening Downtown!

ArtWalk starts at 9:30am with the first of two Tram tours (the 2nd is at 11am) of the Downtown Public Art Collection. These tours are a collaborative effort between The CCDMD, The CC Festival of the Arts, and the Texas Commission on the Arts which consists of a 50 minute docent guided tour of Art, Architecture, and Culture throughout the Bayfront, Downtown, S.E.A.Town, and Uptown areas starting from La Retama Park. ArtWalk “proper” is an evening event from 5:30pm to 9pm and there are also “after parties” to go to – check with individual venues for details.

ArtWalk kicks off “Corpus Christi First”, a campaign aimed at attracting visitors to Corpus Christi the first weekend of every month, followed by Marina Market Days on the first Saturday and the BridgeWalk on the first Sunday. (www.corpuschristifirst.com)

ArtWalk has steadily gained popularity and regularly attracts 5000 visitors to the Downtown area. Over 70 downtown businesses are now participating in ArtWalk and offering a variety of entertainment, performers, ART, refreshments, specials and discounts.

ArtWalk begins and ends in La Retama Park where visitors will find artists and food vendors, live music and an all around festive atmosphere. La Retama Park is located at the triangle between Mesquite, Peoples and Schatzell Streets.

Live music can be heard all over downtown during ArtWalk by entertainers such as Brad Brown & Sam Glynn, Adrian Taylor, Joe Green, Get Off the Lawn, Steven James, Jimmy Wilden, Steven Hansen, and of course, HOBO on the tram.

ArtWalk now extends from the museum and convention center through Downtown to the Water Street Village where Tango Tea Room is located. To get to the outer reaches of ArtWalk, just catch the #79 ArtWalk Express, this free trolley service is graciously provided by The Regional Transit Authority that transports ArtWalkers to areas like the museums, Yachting Center and the Art Center of Corpus Christi. The Art Museum of South Texas, Asian Cultures Museum and Museum of Science and History all offer free admission during ArtWalk.

2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Art Museum of South Texas. To celebrate, specially selected works from the permanent collection are displayed in Celebrating 40 Years on the Bayfront. Another notable exhibition is Art of the Dive: Portraits of the Deep, which features 62 paintings and sculptors who portray underwater life forms and habitat such as Al Barnes and Guy Harvey. In addition, the movie Slacker 2011 will be shown in the Art Museum Auditorium at 7 p.m on February 3rd. The movie is an homage to 20 years of independent filmmaking in Austin. Filmmakers Justin Meeks and Duane Graves will attend the screening and participate in a discussion with the audience afterwards.

In February, K Space Contemporary will open two exhibits: Goodwill by Claudia Quintero in the Art Star space and Notes to St. Peter in the Hot Spot Gallery by father and son Ricardo Ruiz and Ricardo V. Ruiz. Ricardo the Elder will be conducting a live painting performance during ArtWalk. Continuing in the main gallery is Constructed Realities, featuring the concrete sculpture and woven works of Lesli Robertson and a large-scale installation by Joshua Goode.

In March, K Space Contemporary opens another stellar show of new works by Dennis Olsen, a professor of printmaking, drawing, and digital media at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Becky Smith will exhibit her assemblage sculptures in the Art Star space, while Diana Byers exhibits cyanotypes in the Hot Spot.

The Art Center of Corpus Christi opens the 39th Annual All Membership Show in February. This year’s juror is Ken Rosier, Chair of the Del Mar College Department of Art and Drama. In March, three shows will open: The Annual Watercolor Society of South Texas members show, Bay Area Art League, and Kathryn Leeson-Kight will present portraits of the 2011 Rockport Home Tour.

While visiting ArtWalk venues, be sure to pick up raffle tickets at selected ArtWalk locations – details on “The Map”. Take the tickets back to La Retama Park by 8:45 and put them in the raffle drum for a chance to win some great prizes. The drawing will be held at 9 pm. Prizes include gift certificates, door prizes, and the grand prize – an original work of art by a local artist. ArtWalkers must be present to win.

The DTown Tram continues to transport ArtWalkers to centrally located venues in the heart of downtown with HOBO aboard to entertain the crowds playing their special blend of “Honkadelica”. Take the RTA #79 ArtWalk Express trolley to the farther areas of ArtWalk like the Art Museum and Water Street Village. The RTA ArtWalk Express Trolley provides a 30 minute service whilst the DTown Tram connects at La Retama Park every 15 minutes.

For ArtWalk maps [“The Map”] and general info, look for ArtWalk Ambassadors wearing bright orange shirts. A few are on Segways (thanks to SegCity), and some are stationed at key locations around Downtown. ArtWalk maps are also available on the ArtWalk Tram, at the DMD booth in La Retama Park, the Art Center, K Space and Water Street Center. Free parking is available and all venues are near favorite Corpus Christi eateries. Admission is FREE.

For continuing updates, check out the ArtWalk website www.artwalkcc.com and sign up for the email newsletter to receive our monthly flyer announcing new ArtWalk events! You can also join us on facebook at www.facebook.com/artwalkcc.

ArtWalk is organized by the Corpus Christi Downtown Management District. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, volunteer or a participant in the ArtWalk, or have any art related business, suggestions or ideas in regard to the ArtWalk, contact Alan Albin, Downtown Management District (alanalbin@dtowncc.com, 882-2363).

Tanker from the Harbor Bridge walk

Corpus Christi First February and March Dates:

ArtWalk: Friday February 3rd  & Friday March 2nd

Marina Market Days: Saturday February 4th & Saturday March 3rd

BridgeWalk: Sunday February 5th & Sunday March 4th