Walkerville's eclectic art scene a flourishing hub for talent

Artisans in Walkerville are boasting about the neighbourhood's vibrant, thriving and ever-growing art scene.

• Olde Walkerville is rebounding from a recession and enjoying a renaissance

One prime exampleis the Urban Art Market, a hidden treasure tucked away on Chilver Road. The number of eclecticvendors has doubled since opening almost two years ago. The shop now features 32 creative crafters.

"Walkerville stands for hand-made and artist community. It's pretty important to have an area in the city that is designated for that," said Anissa Noakes, owner of the Urban Art Market. "I think it's important because there's so much creativity that people want to be able to have an outlet and have a place to call their own little hub."

Amanda Sands teaches instrumental music at Walkerville Collegiate Institute andlives in a historic row-house nearby. She said that it's easy tolive, work, and play in her neighbourhood because there's always so much going on. She agreesit's growing.

"I think the whole atmosphere of the Walkerville area is just very innovativethe businesses that are coming here," she said. "The people who are drawn to living and working in this area are creative-minded."

Students at the Walkerville Centre for the Creative Arts are able to absorb those creative surroundings and use them asinspiration for their work.

Those who are accepted into the prestigious program are able to hone their skills in dance, acting, musical instruments, singing as well as media and visual arts.

"Willistead Park is a big inspiration and Wyandotte Street just because the architecture is really great to paint and to do urban landscapes," said Alexandria Masse, a Grade 12 student specializing in visual and media arts.

Some students have even gone on to be professional musicians, composers, artists andactors.

From brushes to books, Walkerville's art scene doesn't stop at what you can see, watch and hear, but also the things you read. Local publisher Biblioasishas beenrecognized internationally for the works it publishes,and is considered a cornerstonein the local community.

"I think it's easy for the arts to get shunted," said Casey Plett, publicity and marketing coordinator at Biblioasis. "But really arts are part-and-parcel of a thriving, healthy, good community as much as parks and nature."

The shop began as a book store in 1998 and by 2004 ittransformed into a publishing house. Recently, the literary staple has seen a spike in southwestern Ontario content coming off the presses.

Publications such as Border Cities Powerhouse:The Rise of Windsor, Postcards from Essex Countyand The Windsor Star's From the Vaultseries are just a few examples.

"If you haven't seen yourself reflected in stories, seen yourself reflected in books, then you don't really realize how much you've missed it until you see it," said Plett.