Volume 1 • Issue 8
November 19, 2014
Island City Art Walk Under New Ownership Photo: artwalkonwiltondrive.com
By Michael d’Oliveira When it comes to art on Wilton Drive, Thomas Alford likes to joke, “I’m kind of taking over the whole street.” Earlier this month, Alford, an artist and Wilton Manors resident, purchased the rights for the Island City Art Walk from Krishan Manners and Tony LoGrande. And Alford, who already organizes monthly street cleanings of Wilton Drive through the county’s Adopt A Street program, says it’s just the start of his plan to make Wilton Drive and the city as a whole more of an artistic destination. “I want to see Art Walk more community involved. Tony and Krishan did a wonderful job . . . [but] I want to carry it to its next stage.” During the event,
sponsoring business along the street host an artist and their work and many serve wine and hors d’oeuvres. Under Alford, the Art Walk has already undergone changes – a move from the Third Friday of the month to the third Saturday and VIP passes good for discounts to participating businesses – and more are on the way. He envisions a music festival, more money from businesses because of increased foot traffic, utility boxes made colorful with artistic decorations and working with guest houses and using Art Walk to attract tourists. He also wants to expand the event beyond Wilton Drive and recruit artists from the
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Local Wilton Manor Resident Hopes to Fund Upcycle Project on Kickstarter By Natalya Jones They say a man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Cindy White, a Wilton Manors resident for the last 23 years, lives by that saying. “A couple of years ago, I began upcycling furniture as a hobby and a way to redecorate,” White said. “I have found really great furniture pieces thrown out in the bulk trash or that friends have given me before they put it out for bulk pick up. I repair, sand, repaint, and reupholster when needed to bring the pieces back to life, making them beautiful once again.” White even manages to fix items seemingly damaged beyond repair. “Some pieces that can’t be
repaired I turn into something completely different and new (For example, dresser or desk drawers),” she explains. “If the dresser or desk is no longer repairable, I will keep the drawers and I will make pet beds with them.” White has always crafted as a hobby, from painting ceramics with her mother at the age of 7 or 8 years old to teaching others how to scrapbook to handpainting toy soldiers and holiday trains made by putting terracotta flower pots together and more. However, White’s hobby extends far more than just a mere hobby.
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