MONROE — Main Street Monroe hosted its third annual Art Walk on Saturday, October 11. The event featured around 20 Green County artists with a variety of art styles, including painting, pottery, jewelry, and more.

“It’s really a celebration of Green County artists and the fact that there’s so much talent and creativity here, probably partly just because we’re blessed to be in an extra beautiful part of the state. I think nature inspires so many artists,” said Jordan Nordby, executive director of Main Street Monroe.

The event ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with visitors walking around the square to the businesses hosting artists, looking at, and even purchasing some art from the artists. There was also voting for the People’s Choice Award, with Larry Schultz being the winner.

Schultz was set up in 608 The Factory, with this being the business’s first time hosting an artist for the event. Larry grew up in Milton and received a commercial art degree from MATC. He focuses on oil painting and said his mother and love of dairy animals are the main inspirations behind his art, doing Green County proud. 

For winning the People’s Choice Award, he got a gift basket with items from Heartland Graphics, Zenful Moments Spa, Orange Kitten Yarns, the Artful Dressmaker, House to Home Designs, and New Glarus Bakery.

This event is fairly unique for the downtown area and is held to highlight the wonderful artists within Green County.

“What I really like about the event is that we kind of toe the line between a professional art show, but then also something that is really approachable because sometimes, from an outside perspective, art definitely at certain levels doesn’t seem as approachable,” Nordby said. “We’ve got so much talent and variety of artists, and the fact that they’re all from Green County, I think the event just feels accessible to anybody, whether you appreciate art and you’re a collector, or you want to learn and hear from the artists directly and hear what inspires them.”

A few of the artists, Marie Perry, Denise Anton Wright, and Deborah Ruschmeyer, even did live demonstrations of their art throughout the day. 

Nordby added the event would not be possible without the passionate committee that makes it happen.

“Tina Duemler, who is a retired nurse but an artist herself, and Jocelyn Kline, who owns Orange Kitten Yarns, are the ones who presented the idea to Main Street and are on the committee. Lauren Burkey is the other committee member, so we’ve got a really small group of people who are bringing the event to life every single year. I think part of the reason it’s been such a big success is that they’re so committed and so organized,” Nordby said.

Coming soon: The Monroe Times will print a regular series featuring some of the artists who were present at the Art Walk, discussing the art they do and what inspires them.