Want to get out, take a walk in the November rain (insert badass Guns N' Roses song here) and support some local artists? Sure, we all do. We're Northwesterners and we love both rain and art. Perhaps the perfect opportunity to merge these two great facets of Northwest life awaits in Tacoma's North End - the Proctor Art Walk, which runs Nov. 7-13.

The Proctor Art Walk brings together a whole bunch of artists and a whole bunch of Proctor businesses, all within a three-block area. On one cold and rainy day, I ventured from my warm and cozy apartment to meet with Carolyn Burt (owner of the Proctor Art Gallery) and Bonnie Cargol (an associate member of the Proctor Art Gallery and organizer of the Art Walk) to learn what this Art Walk was all about.

"The annual Proctor Art Walk features award-winning art from our Juried Art Show," Cargol tells me. 

The Juried Art Show took place in August alongside the Proctor Art Fest. This art show is unique in that just about anyone who wants to apply can do just that. Artists are accepted into 2D, 3D, textile and photography categories. The four top spots in each category are voted on by, you guessed it, a jury. Artists who win these spots are then invited to display their work in businesses throughout the Proctor District for the Art Walk.

The event is sponsored by the Proctor Art Gallery, one of 23 businesses throughout the district that will host pieces of art.

"We have 11 artists this year who are participating, and 22 pieces of art to place. We have fewer pieces this year, as we had no one enter the textile division of the juried art show," says Burt.

So if you are a textile artist of any sort, check out the Juried Art Show next year, yo!

"This event adds a touch of class to the district, and it's a great opportunity for the artists to show more of their work," says Cargol.

The work of the Art Show's overall winner, Daphne Nixon, is on display for the Art Walk at both Harp & Shamrock and Megs & Mo. I asked Burt what kind of art Daphne does.

"Oh, she does realistic oil paintings," Burt tells me.

Then she showed me a few examples and I was frankly blown away - and consumed by a rich jealousy fueled by years of slightly cartoony acrylic paintings done by yours truly. Realistic oil paintings is an understatement. Nixon could put the digital camera market out of business.

"I entered the Proctor Juried Art Show because I love the Proctor District," says Nixon. "It's so beautiful ... I love all the shops and the spectacular views with the Victorian houses, and since I am new in the area, I wanted to try to fit in to the art scene here."

Businesses throughout the Proctor District will have at least one piece of art for viewing; the Proctor Art Gallery has a full display of artwork all the time. All participating stores and businesses will have a map on hand that lists who's got the art and what art they've got. Foxfire Salon and Spa, Pacific Northwest Shop, Museum Quality Framing, Culpepper Books, Jasminka, Pour at Four, Edward Jones, Proctor Shoe Repair and Knapps Restaurant will all be included, as well as many others.

Proctor Art Walk

Sunday, Nov. 7-Wednesday, Nov. 13
Proctor District Businesses, North 26th and Proctor area, Tacoma
253.759.7990

LINK: It's part of Art at Work Month