In a small, socially-distanced setting, Columbus residents gathered downtown to participate in the eighth annual Art Walk, an event created to support artists across the state.

The Art Walk allows local and regional artists to display and sell their work to residents in the area. From jewelry and paintings to guitars and violins, downtown Columbus experienced an amplitude of artistic talent on Thursday, Oct. 8.

In addition to selling artwork, many local musicians played at street corners during the event, including five MSMS students in Ms. Barham’s Instrumental Performance class that live in or around Columbus.

Junior Hayden Anderson enjoyed the opportunity to see his classmates outside of a Zoom screen.

“I really enjoyed talking to all the MSMS people there and getting to meet everyone. It was super fun, and the artists that I talked to were really talented,” Anderson said. “Everyone did an amazing job, and the event was really well-planned. I loved getting to see my friends playing music as well.”

Columbus residents, as well as those from neighboring communities, wore masks and remained socially distant throughout the evening. The pandemic has economically affected artists, as they have been unable to sell their work. The Art Walk enabled approximately forty local artists to sell their work and finally profit from their talents. 

Similarly to Anderson, junior Kayla Riley admired the unity of Columbus for the Art Walk and appreciated the socially distant setting.

“It was actually a really nice experience, especially with everyone wearing masks. It was like a breath of fresh air getting to see the Columbus community coming together and appreciating the arts,” Riley said.

The date of the Art Walk changed from Sept. 22 to Oct. 8 due to the presence of Hurricane Sally across Mississippi. However, the rescheduling did not impact the city much, as a large number of people attended throughout the two-hour event.

Senior Natalie Staggers spent most of her time at the Art Walk listening to the music, and she shared her appreciation for both the artists and those who came to the event.

“The music was great, and it created such a nice atmosphere for the Art Walk,” Staggers said. “It was also really nice to see that, despite the pandemic, people in the community still came out and supported local artisans and musicians.”