Downtown Neighbors Host Holiday Art Walk Today

Half Moon Bay's South Main St. promises to be a hubbub of activity this afternoon as nine venues open their doors for their first annual Holiday Art Walk.

Organized by HMB SOMA Arts — SOMA stands for "South on Main Arts" and is a play on San Francisco's SOMA (South of Market Street) moniker, according to local artist Ellen Joseph — the event is the first in a series planned by the group comprised of Main St. businesses south of Correas St.

"The idea for forming an arts group with my South Main Street neighbors came about during the ," said Joseph, who runs and is the painter who created the for this year's .

Joseph said she was talking with Coastside Land Trust administrator Lindsey Peterson about how many art-related businesses had escaped notice from tourists and many locals alike.

"We agreed that a group event would bring attention to all the businesses," Joseph said.

With that conversation, the seed for HMB SOMA Arts was born.

Since the idea hatched in September, businesses have joined forces to fulfill its mission of supporting and promoting visual and performance artists on South Main St.

"Organizing this group and event has been a wonderful opportunity to get to know my neighbors by actually working on something together," Joseph said. "There has been a great sense of cooperation and excitement over this new venture."

Venues and artists taking part on the Dec. 11 Holiday Art Walk (2 p.m. - 5 p.m.):

• 731 Main                    

        Photography by Tamara Trejo

• 731 Main            

        Musical performances by current students

• 779 Main                 

       Plein air paintings by Kathryn Ellis

• 785 Main The Balancenter

       Photos by Diane Costello

• 788 Main          

        Nature photography by Beau Gill                                                                                                             

• 790 Main              

        Photography by Michael & Deb Wong

• 790 Main             

        Artwork by current students

• 799 Main                        

        Fabric art by Win Dell’Ario

        Paintings by Margaret Lindsey

• 840 Main                          

        Paintings & prints by Ellen Joseph

Most businesses will offer gift certificates in addition to art available for purchase.

The group's next event will be a Valentines HeART walk on Feb. 12.

For more information in addition to a map of the art walk, click on the flyers in the photo gallery to the right.

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