Hot Art, Cool Nights highlights Mid City’s artistic side

[Comment Below]

By Jason Andreasen

Arguably Baton Rouge’s most artistically diverse area, Mid City boasts plenty of galleries, antique shops and jewelry stores. If you didn’t already know that, then Mid City Merchants’ Hot Art, Cool Nights has come just in time for you to get better acquainted with the area’s rich art-friendly tradition. If you have been aware of the art embroidered into the area’s DNA, then you already know that this annual art hop is not to be missed.

This year, the event will span over four hours, include over thirty businesses and feature over 110 local artists.

“It is always the Friday before Mother’s Day weekend, which this year falls on May 9,” said Liz Walker, Owner of The Elizabethan Gallery and Hot Art, Cool Nights Chair. “It’s free and open to the public. The whole idea of the event is to expose the public to art and to, possibly, get the public to purchase the art from the local artists. Each artist has to be present that night for the public to meet them, that’s the whole goal.”

The diversity, not only of participating businesses, but also artists, is what makes this such a unique event year in and year out. Beginning at the intersection of Claycut and Jefferson and spanning to Government and South 14 Street, there is something for everyone at Hot Art, Cool Nights.

“We have metalsmiths, we have bronze people, pencil drawings, ceramics; you name it, we got it,” said Walker. “If you go on MidCityMerchants.com, you’ll see the list of participating merchants and some of the artists’ names.”

This is the fifth year that Mid City Merchants is hosting the event, which is one of the most popular in the city. In fact, according to Walker, the reason they do it every year is due to popular demand.

“It’s a huge event. It attracts upwards of 10,000 people. We have six transportation vehicles that can take people from one area to the next. You could drive the route if you wanted to,” explained Walker. “It’s like a festival, we just haven’t named it a festival.”

This year’s roster of merchants includes everything from those you’d expect (Caffery Gallery, Baton Rouge Gallery and Circa 1857) to those you never would have guessed (Stay Doggie Care Salon, Smoothie King and Christian Street Furniture).

“We have more art related businesses than any other area in Baton Rouge,” said Walker. “The new galleries that have moved into the area, sought places in [Mid City] because they’re aware of our big art hops.”

The Hot Art, Cool Nights art hop is so large that Walker advises those who plan on attending the event come armed with a plan of attack.

“There is no way that you can do all 31 businesses,” said Walker. “I kind of tell people to start in the middle and branch out. It helps to pick and choose.”

Refreshments will be served at each stop along the art hop. Off duty officers will also provide security to ensure the safety of all those attending the event.

A portion of the proceeds from Hot Art, Cool Nights will go directly to the purchase of public art for the Mid City area.

A program for Mid City Merchants’ Hot Art, Cool Nights is available for download at MidCityMerchants.com. It gets started at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 9, but don’t be afraid to try and beat the crowds by getting there a little early. After all, there’s a lot to see.

Originally Published: Issue 607 - May 6, 2008

Share on Facebook

Back to the top