Huge annual PhinneyWood Artwalk is Friday and Saturday at more than 70 venues

The annual PhinneyWood Artwalk – The BIG One is this Friday and Saturday with more than 100 artists at more than 70 venues throughout the neighborhood. The Artwalk runs from 6-9 p.m. Friday and again from 12-5 p.m. Saturday. Artists may not be present at each venue both days (check the Artwalk website for details).

Friday night is especially fun as hundreds of neighbors turn out (especially if the weather is good) and it turns into a kind of neighborhood party. Some venues will have free refreshments or music or kids activities. Some restaurants and pubs will offer Artwalk specials.

Here are just a few highlights of different events and artists, but check the Artwalk website for full details of each artist and venue, plus a map.

Neighborhood photographer Linda Brooks created The Empower Project, showing at Chaco Canyon Organic Café at 8404 Greenwood Ave. N., to showcase Seattle-area tween girls showing off their self-confidence through their skills and talents. The images are paired with quotes from those close to them.

Brooks and some of the girls featured in the project will be present Friday evening. The photography exhibit will remain up at Chaco Canyon through the month of May.

(I)n her decades working as an educator, she has recognized that the tween years are a time of big transitions and a time when self-esteem can be vulnerable. What if we put more emphasis on celebrating this time? What if we took an opportunity to reflect back to girls how strong, talented, and courageous they are! Imagine how this could positively impact girls as they head into their adolescent years.

The Seattle Recycled Arts Festival takes place at The Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., in the upper parking lot and on the upper floor in the Phinney Center Gallery. It includes a juried recycled art exhibit of art using repurposed and recycled materials, eco-fashion show on Friday, “Fix-It” clinic, outdoor sculpture garden, art car roundup, Art+Tech+Trash Marble Maze, children’s interactive area led by Seattle ReCreative, information booths, donation drive for textiles and household goods, and food trucks. Recycled art (ready to hang, sculptural and wearable) will be on sale.

The Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., will host local artists Steven Garmanian (below) and Bridget Sexauer on Friday evening. (The main part of the library will close at 6 p.m. as usual, with access only to the meeting room and restrooms, no other library services.)

Garmanian’s paintings feature dream-inspired animistic imagery of totem, sentinel and guardian figures. Sexauer’s paintings have an industrial art aesthetic and are inspired by old machinery found on fishing vessels around the Sound.

Caffe Vita, 7402 Greenwood Ave. N., features landscape paintings by Beth Goodman (below).

Home Espresso Repair, 6501 Phinney Ave. N., is hosting a group show of painters who all met at Pratt Fine Arts Seattle: Sandra Patterson, Liz Tatchell, Teri Hammeran, Mopsy Epstein and others, working in oil, water color, acrylic and mixed media.

The Fixture Gallery, 8221 Greenwood Ave. N., features the paintings of Mike Biskup (below).

In his paintings, everything flows together. Colors, lines and shapes – people, places, and things are woven into one harmonious, functional system. He wants to subtly remind viewers that we humans, in all our diversity, are essentially interconnected, and with thoughtfulness, can function together harmoniously as well.

Woodland Park United Church, 302 N. 78th St., is hosting numerous artists (some will be present) and musicians, including photographer Randy Partin, mixed-media artist Noah Wesley, painter and sculptor Sig “Vick” Wesley, high school photographer Liam Sullivan (below) and photographer Linda Falconer. The church also will have live music throughout Friday evening and Saturday evening, including a song circle Friday night and piano, jazz, pop, classic and more on Saturday (check the Artwalk website for a list of musicians and times).