Even More Love for Catonsville, This Time For Art, With 'Create in 21228'

Going to the hair salon? Get a spritz of art. Shopping for clothes? Combine retail therapy with art appreciation. Having a snack? Ingest a side order of art. The artists of Catonsville are now almost everywhere you are as part of what’s called “Create 21228.”

The Catonsville Arts Council is partnering with We Love Catonsville, a nonprofit organization that works on projects in the community, on an arts and business project.

Artists who are members of the council can have their work displayed at local businesses. The goal is to highlight local artists in the community while providing a place for them to show their work.

Edward Williams, one of the council's founding artists, said it can be hard for artists to make a profit showing in galleries when the gallery gets a large percentage of the sales.

"The businesses may make new customers, the artists can display their work and if you sell something, that's great too," he said.

So far, three locations are showing art:

• Narcisuss Salon: featuring the work of Mary Jo Kehne
• New Threads Boutique: featuring the work of Nina Lagervall
• The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce: featuring the work of Ian Herrick

And on Friday, the artists council is unveiling another exhibition upstairs at Atwater's. Atwater's is opening that evening for the opening of the exhibition, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Karen Gatzke, a member of We Love Catonsville, said the idea was good for both businesses and artists.

"If you're having coffee at Atwater's, isn't it wonderful to look around and see local art?" she said.

Artists or businesses interested in participating can contact Karen Gatzke at KGatzke@cbmove.com or Edward Williams at thestudio33@gmail.com.