Art festival returns to Escazú

This week, the posh Avenida Escazú mall will become the heart of a vibrant art fair: the Art Walk. This art circuit will take place from April 9^–12, and everyone is invited to join in the festivities.

The Tico Times spoke with Art Walk organizer Karen Clachar, a renowned Costa Rican artist, director, and cultural manager.

“The Art Walk circuit takes place every two years, and this is its second edition,” Clachar explained. “It started out as an artistic community in which the audience could interact with the artists, exchanging ideas and knowledge with each other.”

The fair is designed with every member of the family in mind: The young ones can form part of the mural that will be created right next to the Lego store, set up so that children can paint the mural with their footprints. In addition, a variety of workshops will be taking place all over Avenida Escazú. Artists such as Joaquín Rodríguez del Paso and Herberth Bolaños will share their art knowledge and techniques.

There are more than 100 artists participating in the fair – most are Costa Rican, but the event also includes art from Argentina, Spain, Peru, Colombia, and the United States.

“The idea behind Art Walk is that the people can ‘walk’ through art. We want this to be a circuit in which people can live and breathe art,” Clachar said, adding that the event includes emerging artists as well as big names in Costa Rican art.

Photography, painting, drawing, sketching, engravings, performing arts and many other styles form part of the wide range of art offered, as well as music: various artists will be performing while people walk through the displays. Both the Universidad Nacional and Veritas University will be participating.

Clachar aspires to someday turn the Art Walk into an international fair, perhaps including artists from throughout Central America. For now, her main goal with this edition is to create an art environment that everyone can enjoy.

“In order to be successful you need passion, work, a lot of dedication and a great dose of positive energy. It is not easy to be an artist and it is not easy to live from art, yet it provides you with a lot of satisfaction and joy,” Clachar said.

The Art Walk takes place April 9-12 at Avenida Escazú, west of San José. For more information, visit the Art Walk Facebook page.