Friday is forecasted to be another spring-like day in Greeley.

So, how about an evening out and a stroll downtown for a look at art — visual and performance art — created by approximately 2,000 students in Greeley-Evans School District 6?

Works from Greeley-Evans K-12 students, plus art students from the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community College will be displayed at 27 locations throughout the city Friday evening as part of the sixth annual District 6 & Friends Art Walk.

Locations of the District 6 & Friends Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2022 in downtown Greeley. The cover art of the art walk brochure was designed by Greeley Central student Selah Krommendyk. (Map: city of Greeley). 

The art walk is open from 5-8 p.m. Friday and serves as a celebration for national Youth Art Month in March. Students from 25 District 6 charter and non-charter schools and Dayspring Christian Academy are participating in the art walk, which draws a high level of interest from art teachers at both the public and charter schools, according to one organizing teacher Lauren Thurman from Frontier Academy.

Student art should be on display at the 26 downtown locations through the end of the month, said Greeley Central's Joni Wilson, who is working with Thurman on the organization. The Union Colony Civic Center, with Van Gogh-themed pieces from Winograd K-8 students on the second level and a variety of art by District 6 high schoolers in the Tointon Gallery, will host through March 21.

Live music and performances from 11 District 6 student groups — choirs, singers, ensembles, mariachis, and dance troupes — are also on the schedule at three locations Friday, adding to the evening feel of a community and art-festival atmosphere downtown.

"Greeley does have a pretty good creative scene, and I think we all really enjoying getting our students to be a part of that because we are really proud of the work that goes into it that they do and what they're expressing," Wilson said.

GREELEY, CO - MARCH 02:Artwork created by Greeley-Evans School District 6 students is installed for the District 6 and Friends Art Walk in the Tointon Gallery at the Union Colony Civic Center in downtown Greeley March 2, 2022. The event, which kicks off Friday, March 4, is part of youth art month. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

The student art work will be appear in locations from WeldWerks Brewing Co. on 8th Avenue and 6th Street to the north, where pieces from UNC will be shown — to Madison & Main Gallery and Ablas Gallery & John Galt Coffee Co. on 16th Street to the south. Meeker Elementary School students will have their work at Madison & Main (927 16th St.), while the Frontier Academy Jazz Band is scheduled to appear Thursday evening at Ablas (709 16th St.).

Aims student works will be on display at Brix Brew & Tap on 8th Street.

"I think that Friday night, honestly, is what keeps me going," Thurman said. "I try to walk around and just feel the energy. It's so good to see people enjoying art just for art's sake. Not really for any reason, but just to go and enjoy and see what the kids did."

The school district receives support on the event from the city of Greeley, Greeley Downtown Development Authority and Greeley Creative District.

City of Greeley senior public art technician Stan Scott spent time Wednesday morning on preparations for displaying the high school artists' at the Tointon Gallery — the city's only art gallery — located between the UCCC and Greeley Recreation Center.

The student art displayed at the Tointon venue represents art of different mediums: photography, paintings, drawings, ceramics, digital illustration and mosaics.

"Anyone and everyone can connect with Youth Art Month and we're really going for an inclusive program," Scott said. "I feel like the city is a part of the community and Youth Art Month is an apt time to showcase our community and make a connection with the people and culture and art in it."

Greeley Mayor John Gates read a proclamation recognizing March as Youth Art Month in the city during Tuesday's city council meeting.

"One of the city council's goals is to make better connections to students in Greeley, and to help them be better engaged citizens," city of Greeley public art coordinator Kim Snyder said. "Any connection to schools, colleges and District is an important part of that mission."

The art walk started in 2016 with former Eaton School District and Greeley Central art teacher Patti Paiz-Jones, who had a vision, dream and desire to bring art into the Greeley community, Thurman said. Thurman, in her sixth year at Frontier Academy, joined on to help after hearing Jones present the idea to art colleagues at a professional development session.

Wilson, also in her sixth year at Central, worked with Jones on the art walk for about a year before Jones' retirement.

Thurman said teachers have two different portions of the art walk where they can enter their students' art. This year, the K-12 themed show is based on food at the Academy of Natural Therapy at 625 8th Ave. For theme, teachers could design a lesson around food and enter works from a class or grade. With the other portion, the art is assigned to one of the other 25 downtown locations.

Thurman said most teachers likely select artwork for the show through the year as students produce projects and assignments.

"It is a kind of a best of the best show, which is nice," she said. "It makes it fun to see and ooh and aah over the artwork."