Talk A Little Art At This Block Party

Hoping to encourage stronger bonds between artists and the public, Spokane’s Arts Commission is sponsoring a series of potluck gatherings. The first is set for Monday evening from 5 to 7 in the Peaceful Valley Community Center, 214 N. Cedar.

“A lot of artists feel like they’re not part of any larger community - nobody knows anybody,” explains Arts Commission director Sue Ellen Heflin. “And arts organizations say they don’t have enough opportunities for informal networking.”

The potluck idea was suggested during one of the commission’s recent planning forums, and Peaceful Valley residents offered to host the first dinner. Everyone is welcome.

Participants are asked to bring something from the garden for “stone soup,” plus a non-alcoholic beverage or bread.

Entertainment will be provided by something called the Casket Company Performing Arts Artist Performers.

Other potlucks are planned for Sept. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Spokane Art School, 920 N. Howard, and Oct. 12 at Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh.

“I’m not sure who will be there,” admits Heflin. “Hopefully, some of these people who say they’re operating in a void will show up and do some community-building.”

Ideally, she says, people will use the potlucks “to come up with new ways of working together and create a stronger feeling that we’re all in this together.”

For more information, contact Heflin at 625-6050.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing