CdA’s Emerge celebrates creativity with one-night gallery event

In a gorgeous old building in downtown Coeur d’Alene that’s been vacant for years, art is happening tonight.

There will be paintings on the walls and sculptures in the spotlight. A string of live musical and performing arts sets will fill out the evening. There will be wine and beer for sale, but families shouldn’t be afraid to bring the kids.

If this sounds familiar, like the Terrain event held each October in downtown Spokane, you wouldn’t be mistaken. Event organizer Jeni Hegsted – until recently the director of the Art on the Edge program in Coeur d’Alene – said she was inspired by Terrain to do something similar in the Lake City. She is friends of Terrain co-founders Luke Baumgarten and Ginger Ewing.

“I hope that ours continues to grow and we can bring that same level of enthusiasm to the Emerge event as they are doing for Terrain,” Hegsted.

Last year, Emerge – so named because it focuses on emerging artists – drew about 1,200 visitors to the Wiggett Building on the corner of Fourth Street and Lakeside Avenue. There are 65 pieces of art featured this year, which is fewer than last year.

“We had a jury, so this year we were a lot more selective,” Hegsted said.

The artists are emerging, meaning they’re not making a living from their art. They range in age from their teens to their 60s. Most of the artists are from Coeur d’Alene, with a few from Spokane. The works are for sale.

Kimber Follevaag does embroidery, but not your typical samplers. She creates geometric designs on metal sheets and embellishes her own altered photos for cool effect. Sue McMahon turns her camera lens to the tiny details in nature. Michael Robert Lee makes hyper-realistic ceramic sculptures that have to be seen to be believed.

“I think the community is going to have its mind blown” by Lee’s work, Hegsted said.

Today’s event is meant as a kickoff for a more permanent Emerge. As does Terrain, Emerge aims to eventually be in its own year-round place, Hegsted said, with gallery space for rotating shows, a spot for classes and studios for artists. Hegsted hopes to be able to finalize those plans soon. In the meantime, she’s hoping today’s event opens some doors for the Emerge artists.

“We make a big effort to invite gallery owners and others in the arts community to come and check them out, and our hope is that they go on to show in galleries and do many more things with their artwork,” she said.