The West Roxbury Main Streets (WRMS) organization is hosting its fifth annual Art Walk on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The Artwalk first hit West Roxbury streets in 2022, and WRMS Executive Director Lindsay Chase said it is a great way to connect artists and businesses and give shoppers a reason to come by. This year, Chase said they have about 20 artists and 25 businesses showing their stuff up and down Centre Street.

“It’s just a great way to support many local entities,” she said. “Just in the most simple of terms, the idea is to increase the foot traffic of the businesses. They go in, look at the art and hopefully are shopping, dining or using a service depending on what business they’re in.”

Chase said it helps the artists too.

“They’re supporting the businesses and at the same time, supporting the artists because a lot of the artists sell their work that way,” she said. “Or, even if they don’t sell the specific work on display, they can get their name out there. People might love the work they do and reach out after.”

The opening event will feature a sidewalk sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, but the Art Walk itself will be up for a couple of weeks. Saturday will feature a kids play space over at B&M auto from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m., and Bread Thyme will feature a belly dancing performance at 11 a.m. B&M will have a live art demonstration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Bread Thyme will have one from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Chase said B&M donated its parking lot and the kids play space will feature art activities as well as the live art demonstration.

“It should be a whole lot of fun,” she said.

Chase said WRMS will be hosting its own photography gallery for the Walk featuring its bread and butter: local business owners.

“So back in June when we were celebrating West Roxbury’s 175th anniversary, we had hired a local photography Jonathan Ulman, and he grew up here in West Roxbury and took portraits of business owners,” she said. “They came out so great and everybody was so excited about them, we’re showing them for Art Walk this year. It’s called ‘The Faces Behind the Places.’ We’ve hung some up at Hastings Street, Recreo will be hosting some on the walk to their back patio, and the Parkway YMCA will also be hosting some.”

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Chase said some business owners were very happy with their portraits, and some were a little less enthusiastic.

“They loved it!” she said. “I mean, some of the responses were, ‘Oh God!’ with their head in their hands, but for the most part everybody really enjoyed it and really enjoyed working with Jonathan. They had a lot of fun with it and everybody really enjoyed it. We want residents to see the people behind the businesses and the people doing the work.”

Chase added, however, that she did not get a portrait done.

“Everybody was like, ‘Did you get yours?’ I’m not putting my face up there, I don’t have a business!” she said with a laugh.

Chase said the Walk also helps to beautify the Main Streets district, which she said has been a focus of WRMS lately.

“We’re really working to beautify the corridor for the businesses and this Art Walk really helps that,” she said.

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