Originally an Ann Arbor-based event, the 11th annual Art Walk has gone truly countywide. More than 60 artists, galleries, and venues in Washtenaw County are participating in this year’s weekend-long event, happening October 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. and from noon to 5 p.m. on October 23 and 24.

Over the course of the weekend, arts and crafts lovers can follow an Art Walk Map to exhibitions and special events at galleries and venues all over the county, and dozens of artists will open up their private studios to the public for rare glimpses of where all of the magic happens. In addition, the annually published Art Guide serves as a guide to art in Washtenaw County year-round.

Fifteen locations spread across the county will host opening night receptions on Friday, Oct. 23 — double the number of “kickoff” parties hosted last year. Many of the participants will offer special treats to visitors, including artist demonstrations of how they make their artworks.

Art Walk’s increasing regional focus has taken shape along with another big shift in how the event is organized. Countywide arts non-profit the Arts Alliance assumed responsibility this year. In years past, a volunteer team of artists and arts organizers managed the nitty-gritty of organizing and promoting the event, led by local artist Margaret Parker. The Arts Alliance had helped with the event in the past before taking the helm. Last year, they became the event’s fiduciary.

Executive director Tamara Real explains; “Margaret and I were talking about the future of Art Walk and it just sorta of evolved from there. As our conversations evolved, we started to realize that the Arts Alliance could be the one to step into her shoes, and she could have more time to pursue her artistic career,” including an entry in the recent ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids.

Real thinks the Arts Alliance’s involvement frees artists to "focus on making their art, while we take care of nitty-gritty" tasks required to promote and administer the event. “We do what the artists hate so they can create!” Real laughs. “The artists should not be worrying about distributing yard signs or producing the banner or dealing with the printers. We can handle getting advertising and budgeting.”

Expanding Art Walk all over Washtenaw County gives the public opportunities not only to get exposed to artists and venues that are likely new to them but also chances to visit entire communities or neighborhoods they may never have seen. Real hopes each community’s individual Art Walk activities will “give people a chance to check out the entire town, especially places that are more out of the way,” she says.

Dee Miles, owner of downtown Manchester gallery The Wild Acorn at 146 East Main Street, thinks that it is particularly important for artists in the small town to engage with buyers in the greater Ann Arbor area community. The Wild Acorn opened about two years ago in downtown Manchester. Most of the artists featured at the gallery are from the immediate Manchester area, along with a few from northern Michigan. The gallery sells fine art, functional objects, jewelry, and antiques, and regularly offers a number of jewelry making classes.

“We just simply don’t have enough people here to completely support the artists,” Miles explains. “But there is a ton of talent here. It is a cute town that is nice to spend time in.” Miles and fellow Art Walk participants Melissa and Peter Katka, the owners of new frame shop and art gallery Manchester Station, “wanted to get more involved in getting people to come and enjoy Manchester,” Miles explains.

A group exhibition of Saline artists who are affiliated with Two Twelve Arts Center, 212 West Michigan Avenue is helping launch a brand new arts and events space in Saline, which started hosting events this month. The new Stone Arch Arts and Events, which occupies a former Methodist Church, will feature 15 artists, including members of Saline’s "Plein Air Painters" group. Founding co-owner Nancy Byers is looking forward to Stone Arch being “a centralizing venue for Saline Art Walk artists,” she says. “A lot of Saline artists have studios, but they are scattered all over the place. The feeling was that it would to good to have a lot of Saline artists together in a single location,” complemented by open artist studios a little more off the beaten path, according to Byers.

One of things Byers most enjoyed about past Art Walks before deciding to join up is the “fun” of “getting to buy from the artists and learn a little bit about the artist and how he or she works. I think it’s more fun to buy from artists you know a little bit about. It makes it more of an experience,” she says.

"Spices" (Morocco) by Angela George, a photograph on display at Front Porch Textile Studio.

Aside from joining in the fun, Byers also sees Art Walk as an opportunity to promote the new events center and get people out to see the newly renovated former church. People can rent out the space for art exhibitions, music and dance performances, and community events, as well as corporate events and private parties like wedding receptions. Byers says, she “saw a need for a community center in Saline” and hopes Stone Arch will fill it.

Even in Ann Arbor the event may showcase lesser-known gems, such as the "Interwoven Inspirations" exhibit at Front Porch Textile Studio, 1219 Traver Road, featuring weavers, potters and photographers showcasing works with mutual inspiration. Prize-winning and noted artists in the three media will be featured.

As for the future of Art Walk, Real and her staff have been kicking around a few ideas. “I’d love to see this happen twice a year,” she says. She would also “love to hire musicians to play in each place, in the future,” she says. “At the Arts Alliance, we’d like to help each community figure out more way to make Art Walk exciting,” and “encourage (participants) to show-off the uniqueness of their community in new ways.”

Jennifer Eberbach is a free-lance writer who covers art for AnnArbor.com.