Spring Art Walk & Wine Tasting features inmate art

For the Reporter

Auburn’s Art Walk and Wine Tasting event is back this spring for an evening filled with local artists, music, fine wines and downtown businesses.

Historic downtown comes alive Friday, May 13, from 5:30 to 8:30 p,m,, with Northwest artists displaying and selling their original handmade quality paintings, mosaics and wearable artwork in businesses.

The event is free, but wine tasting tickets are $12 presale and $15 at the event and include six one-ounce tastes and a custom wine glass. Presale tickets are available online at www.auburnartwalk.com or at Corestar Pilates, 205 E. Main St., and Zola’s Cafe, 402 E. Main St., through May 12.

Wine tastings will feature quality regional wines and participating wineries will also have bottles available for sale in the wine shop located within the Auburn Downtown Association office, 402 E. Main St., Suite 150.

On the day of the event, a walking map, wine tasting tickets, custom wine glass and ID check will be available at the information booths at The Arcade, 222 E. Main St., and parking lot at the corner of East D and Main Streets.

Auburn resident Rebecca Bell has coordinated a special art program, featuring the work of inmate Jon Thompson, an Art Spirit program participant at the Washington Correctional Center (WCC) in Shelton. His artwork, which is represented on the event poster, “Heart of Art,” and those of other artists will be on display in one of the venues.

This is not the first display of the Art Spirit program.

“Some of the offenders actually approached prison staff to see if they could submit their art for public viewing,” said WCC Chaplain Greg Garringer. “Being able to share their art with the community has helped them on the path to reintegration.”

For more information, visit www.auburnartwalk.com.