Katie Connell is the Johnny Appleseed of art in Alameda. Johnny was a folk hero who didn’t actually roam the countryside flinging seeds about, but was someone who planted nurseries then built fences to protect them from livestock and wildlife (thank you, Wikipedia). Katie Connell is a local artist who supports other locals who make art, wants kids to make art, and is an art and environmental activist.
[1]Connell’s latest project is called Bare Walls Bazaar [2], which had a debut meetup on Saturday, June 27 at Improv Central here in Alameda. The idea is to display ready-to-hang art on the walls of various accommodating places around town, offer professional advice on what art will best work for you, and then let you take pieces home to showcase. Just bring photos of your own bare walls at home so the art ambassadors can see your environments and make great recommendations for you. It’s sort of like having Coco Chanel or Christian Dior help you try on their togs to make sure you’ll look fabulous.
[3]Claire Slattery of Improv Central was the gracious first host, adding art enthusiast to the list of many creative endeavors for which she has a passion. Her space at 500 Central Avenue was the perfect locale for Katie’s vision. Attractive walls and lovely windows looking out on the street made a glorious gallery as the works of the artists were displayed on portable walls and tables.
Another way to think about Katie and Bare Walls Bazaar is to see her as an art yenta, matchmaking the artists with those looking for something unique and wonderful to add to their homes. As she described it, “I think adults today engage with art differently; they still value it, but need it to be available in new ways,” so “let’s get you some art that might make your heart leap.” And for the roughly 50 people who visited Improv Central, that’s exactly what happened.
Artists with works on display were Ryan Blackman [4], Katie Connell [5], Jenn Doyle Crane [6], Monica Guillory [7], Halloran Perry [8], Janet Taylor [9], Yolanda Cotton Turner [10], Marcy Voyevod [11], Jessica Warren [12], and Wes Warren [13]. See more of their work on their websites (linked above).
[14]For those who missed out, more Bare Walls Bazaar events are expected in the future. Keep track of the project by visiting Bare Walls Bazaar [2] or Connell’s Instagram page, @katieconnellart [15].
Gene Kahane is the founder of the Foodbank Players [16], a lifelong teacher, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Alameda. Reach him at [email protected] [17]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Gene-Kahane [18].