A pop-up art show this evening for the Hopkinsville Art Guild will give the group its first exhibit downtown since closing its Sixth Street gallery three months ago because of the economic impact of the coronavirus.
The show, featuring paintings, drawings and wood turnings by guild members, will be in the lower level of the old Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph building, 204 E. Ninth St. It’s part of the Stroll, Sip and Shop event from 4 to 7 p.m. organized by local businesses and the Downtown Renaissance program.
Cumberland building owners and residents Johan Westenburg and Machteld Schrameyer offered space for the exhibit because they support the mission of the art guild and would like to see more artists in the area join the organization.
“We really think the art guild is an asset,” Westenburg said.
Social distancing inside the exhibit space will limit the area to three people at a time, he said. Artists and patrons will be able to gather in an open-air tent outside the building as they wait to go into the exhibit.
Ninth Street outside the Westenburg-Machteld residence, and Milkweed Health and Harmony Emporium next door, will be blocked from South Virginia to Liberty streets to accommodate space for other events. Live jazz music, food and beverages will be available. Hopkinsville Brewing Co. and Casey Jones and MB Roland distilleries will be serving.
Sponsors are encouraging those who attend to observe COVID-19 safety practices.
Milkweed, which helped organize the event, wrote in a Facebook post: “We want want this event to go well for all. Please mindful of respectful distancing. Be mindful of wearing a mask (properly) inside shops. Please be considerate to venders outside and wear a mask when making transactions.”
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
