Valley Junction Gets Its Art On

Spring Gallery Night in Friday showcases new artwork by Iowa, regional and international artists, opening the busiest season of the year in one of the country’s premier destination shopping and cultural districts.

In addition to the galleries, many Valley Junction shops and restaurants will be open during the event, which runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Gallery Night is a 16-year tradition in Valley Junction that has grown into one of the district’s most popular events. Jim Miller, director of the Historic Valley Junction Foundation, says Gallery Night is one of the district’s largest merchant events and it offers a chance to rediscover the eclectic charm of Valley Junction.

The galleries of Historic Valley Junction offer original artwork, custom jewelry, ceramics, glass, furniture, folk art, and fine art reproductions, as well as many other one-of-a-kind objects.

Events like this one figured prominently in Valley Junction’s selection last week as a winner. In that competition, sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said that under the Foundation’s leadership, Valley Junction emerged as a premier arts, entertainment and cultural district in the state and is home of the largest number of specialty stores in the Greater Des Moines metropolitan area.