Frank Curtis sat on a chair in front of his display of suitcase-arranged art hung on the wall.
“They’re (suitcases) a good metaphor for our baggage, our memories, our travels, our adventures, our lives,” Curtis said. “We put everything in them.”
Along with the suitcases, Curtis displayed hand-colored etchings and large pastel drawings in Lennie Kesl Artist Studios, located on South Main Street in downtown Gainesville.
Right next door was Sweetwater Print Cooperative, a gallery focused on printmaking, that presented a mixed media exhibit by Laura Richards.
Residents, families and students filled downtown galleries and took part in the art experience.
Richards’ exhibit, “Departure,” included works she made this year from acrylic paintings to sculptures. Each piece explored departure and what it means to depart from a place, time or familiar comfort.
Richards also used a series of mixed media encaustics, a wax-based medium, to display the story of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.
Curtis and Richards were two of many artists who displayed artwork around downtown for Artwalk Gainesville’s event on Friday from 7-10 p.m.
Many of the studios gave visitors an opportunity to purchase art and paintings. Artwalk Gainesville is a free event that provides a variety of art and entertainment held the last Friday of each month with venues spread throughout downtown.