Downtown galleries and businesses will be crawling with art Wednesday, showcasing local talent, as well as artists from other locales.

    Co-sponsored by Meridian Council for the Arts, the Mississippi Art Commission and Meridian Main Street, the Art Crawl event will feature art works at 14 downtown locations.

    “There are so many artists in our area who are unknown or unrecognized,” said Amy Reede, program manager of Meridian Main Street. “This is an opportunity for these individuals to showcase their works for everyone to see.”

    The Art Crawl coincides with this week’s Summer Institute of the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Whole Schools Initiative at the MSU Riley Center, which offers educators new and innovative ideas for classroom arts integration. “Bringing Heritage Home” is this year’s theme and 200 teachers, artists and administrators from more than 40 schools will study everything from book making to Native American and African American traditional music forms. The Institute’s training will provide educators the knowledge and art skills to lead their students toward reaching their full academic potential.  

    “I think this is a good thing for downtown Meridian,” said Steve LaBiche, owner of LaBiche Jewelers, one of the Art Crawl sites.

    “It’s something relatively easy for me to do and have something to offer for people in the community to do,” said LaBiche, who will feature the works of Meridian artists Greg Cartmell and Neil Hatten at his business.

    Bonnie Busbee, a local artist and art instructor, agrees that the Art Crawl is a plus for Meridian.

    “It’s a great way to get the community interested in art and to further develop Meridian into the art mecca I think it is,” said Busbee, who will showcase works by artists James Conner of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Terry Cherry of Porterville at Bonnie Busbee Art Frame & Gallery.

    Although the Art Crawl is an extension of the Summer Instittute, participation is open to the public.

    “All they have to do is start at one of the locations, and continue to the next one,” Reede said.

    The locations are:

    • Paint & Pen, 2211 Fifth St.

    • Lucas Road, 2211 Fifth St.

    • Crescendo Studios, 2314 Front St.

    • Meridian Artist Co-Op Gallery, 2316 Front St.

    • Embellish, 2108 Front St.

    • Ellen Antiques, 2000 Front St.

    • K. Fulton Art & Frame, 2000 Front St.

    • Weidmann’s Restaurant, 210 Second Ave.

    • Dream It, 820 22nd Ave.

    • ART and Soul, 813 22nd Ave.

    • LaBiche Jewelers, 2212 Eighth St.

    • Meridian Underground Music, 2220 Eighth St.

    • Saxon’s Flowers and Gifts, 900 23rd Ave.

    • Bonnie Busbee Art Frame & Gallery, 712 23rd Ave.

Want to go?

    • What: Art Crawl

    • When: Wednesday, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

    • Where: Downtown Meridian

    • Admission: Free

    • Information: (601) 693-7480